CHAPTER 1 Call Me When She's Dead

"Doctor! BP is dropping!"

"She's still bleeding!"

"We need another unit of Type A blood. Now!"

The entire operating room was in chaos.

An intern nurse stood frozen, her trembling hands stained with fresh blood.

"Doctor..." she said weakly. "The blood bank just informed us... the Type A units reserved for Mrs. Cross were released to another emergency case."

The head surgeon snapped his head toward her.

"What do you mean they were released?"

"They received an urgent request a few minutes ago."

Silence.

For a brief second, nobody moved.

The only sounds left were the rapid beeping of the cardiac monitor and the muffled instructions echoing inside the operating room.

The metallic scent of blood filled the air.

The young nurse swallowed hard.

She had assisted in difficult surgeries before...

But never one where a patient was running out of time because there was no blood left to save her.

On the operating table, the woman's face had turned frighteningly pale.

Her lips barely moved.

"...Adrian..."

The nurse leaned closer.

"Ma'am?"

"...Adrian... Cross..."

The medical staff exchanged glances.

Everyone knew that name.

Adrian Cross.

President and CEO of Cross Holdings.

One of the youngest billionaires in the country.

Without wasting another second, the head surgeon grabbed his phone and dialed the number listed as the patient's emergency contact.

It took three attempts before the call finally connected.

"Mr. Cross." His voice carried an urgency he could no longer hide. "Your wife is in critical condition. She's suffering from massive postpartum hemorrhage, and we've already exhausted the Type A blood prepared for her."

He closed his eyes briefly.

"Please... if you can, come to the hospital."

"This may be your last chance to see her."

A few seconds passed.

Then a calm, emotionless voice answered.

"Is she dead?"

The surgeon's grip tightened around the phone.

"...No, sir."

"Then call me when she is."

Click.

The line went dead.

No hesitation.

No concern.

Nothing.

Lying on the operating table, Elena felt the last spark inside her quietly disappear.

So this is how little I meant to you...

Even now...

You still wouldn't come.

"Doctor!"

"She's crashing!"

"We've lost her pulse!"

"Start CPR!"

"Charging!"

"Clear!"

Her body jerked violently from the electric shock.

Again.

"Charge!"

Again.

"Still no pulse!"

"One more!"

The medical team refused to give up.

But Elena could no longer hear them clearly.

Their voices faded into distant echoes.

The bright operating lights slowly blurred.

Everything became quiet.

At only twenty-seven years old, she was about to die.

She had spent years loving one man.

She abandoned her own dreams.

Walked away from her family.

Gave up everything just to become the perfect wife for Adrian Cross.

In the end...

She wasn't even worth a final goodbye.

If I ever get another chance...

I won't make the same mistake twice.

•••

"Ma'am?"

A familiar voice gently pulled her back.

"Mr. Cross asked us to prepare you for tonight's charity land auction. Which gown would you like to wear?"

Elena's eyes flew open.

She sat up abruptly.

The bedroom.

The walk-in closet.

The morning sunlight spilling through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Everything looked painfully familiar.

She slowly looked at herself in the mirror.

No scars.

No pale complexion.

No exhausted eyes.

She looked exactly like she had...

Five years ago.

Her breathing became uneven.

No...

This couldn't be happening.

She and Adrian had only been married for a month.

The charity auction...

It happened years before everything fell apart.

Her fingers instinctively gripped the edge of the vanity.

Did I...

Come back?

"Ma'am?"

Sophie held up a white designer gown.

"How about this one? Mr. Cross usually likes this style."

Elena stared at the dress.

Then she smiled.

A sad...

Almost mocking smile.

Back then, she had slowly changed herself just to become the kind of woman Adrian preferred.

She wore white because another woman loved wearing white.

She copied someone else's style...

Hoping Adrian would finally look at her.

How ridiculous.

Her gaze shifted toward another gown hanging quietly inside the closet.

Deep burgundy.

Elegant.

Confident.

"That one."

Sophie blinked.

"The burgundy gown?"

"Yes."

"But... I thought Mr. Cross preferred—"

"I didn't ask what Adrian prefers."

Her voice wasn't loud.

It was calm.

Firm.

Different.

For a moment, Sophie simply stared at her.

She had worked for Elena long enough to know one thing.

Something had changed.

"And Sophie."

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"Have someone remove every white dress from this closet."

"...All of them?"

"Every single one."

She looked at her reflection once more.

"I don't need them anymore."

"I'll wear this."

Hinugot ni Elena ang burgundy gown mula sa closet.

Tahimik na napatitig si Sophie.

"Ma'am... are you sure?"

Elena didn't even look back.

"Very."

Saglit na nag-alangan ang assistant.

"What about the white dresses?"

Elena met her own reflection in the mirror.

"They're not my style anymore."

"Should I keep them in storage?"

A faint smile appeared on Elena's lips.

"No."

"Have them donated... or throw them away."

"I don't need them anymore."

Hindi na nagsalita si Sophie.

Tahimik siyang tumango at lumabas ng silid.

Naiwan si Elena sa harap ng salamin.

Matagal niyang pinagmasdan ang sariling repleksiyon.

The woman staring back at her looked alive.

Confident.

Beautiful.

Hindi pa siya iyong babaeng unti-unting naubos sa kakahintay ng pagmamahal ng asawa niya.

At sisiguraduhin niyang hindi na mangyayari iyon muli.

This time...

Si Adrian ang matututong mawalan.

---

Pagsapit ng gabi, isa-isang huminto ang mga luxury cars sa harap ng Grand Imperial Hotel.

Nagniningning ang buong ballroom sa ilalim ng crystal chandeliers habang sunod-sunod na dumarating ang pinakamakapangyarihang pangalan sa business world.

Nang bumukas ang p***o ng itim na sedan, kusang napalingon ang mga tao.

Bumaba si Elena.

The burgundy gown hugged her figure perfectly without trying too hard.

Soft curls framed her face, while the tiny beauty mark beneath her left eye gave her an effortlessly elegant charm.

Hindi siya overdressed.

Hindi rin siya nagpapakitang-gilas.

Pero mahirap siyang hindi titigan.

Sa VIP entrance, isang matangkad na lalaki ang napahinto sa paglakad.

Nakasuot siya ng white dress shirt na bahagyang nakatiklop ang manggas, black slacks, at leather boots. Isang sigarilyo ang nakasabit sa pagitan ng kanyang mga daliri habang tahimik niyang pinagmamasdan ang babae.

"Who's that?"

Napalingon ang kaibigan niyang si Lucas.

"Seriously? You don't know her?"

Sinundan niya ang direksiyon ng tingin nito.

"That's Elena Vale."

"Adrian Cross' wife."

Napangisi si Lucas.

"And speaking of Adrian..."

"Kakarating lang siya."

"...with another woman."

Mukhang magiging interesting ang gabing ito.

Hindi sumagot ang lalaki.

Nanatili lang ang tingin niya kay Elena.

"Honestly," dugtong ni Lucas, "I still don't get Adrian. Kung ako ang may asawa na ganyan kaganda, hindi na ako titingin sa iba."

Walang naging reaksyon ang lalaki.

Paglingon muli ni Lucas...

Wala na ito sa tabi niya.

"Damn."

Napailing siya.

"Alam ko na naman kung saan ka pupunta."

Mabilis siyang sumunod.

---

Sa kabilang entrance...

Mahigpit na nakakapit si Shelia sa braso ni Adrian.

"This place is... overwhelming."

Bahagya siyang ngumiti.

"Maybe I shouldn't have come."

"You'll get used to it."

Diretso lang ang tingin ni Adrian sa unahan.

"If you're going to work in this industry, you'll be attending events like this all the time."

Tahimik na tumango si Shelia.

Bago sila tuluyang pumasok sa ballroom, lumapit ang executive assistant ni Adrian.

"Sir..."

"Hihintayin po ba natin si Mrs. Cross?"

Agad na kumunot ang noo ni Adrian.

"I specifically told you not to inform her."

Napayuko ang assistant.

Bago pa siya makapagsalita, mahinang humawak si Shelia sa manggas ni Adrian.

"Please don't blame him."

"Ako ang nagsabing huwag na siyang sabihan."

Nag-alangan siyang ngumiti.

"I just didn't want people talking... especially about us."

Napabuntong-hininga si Adrian.

Hindi niya gustong magkaroon ng eksena ngayong gabi.

"It's fine."

Pagkatapos ay binalingan niya ang assistant.

"Find Elena."

"If she's here..."

"Send her home."

"Yes, sir."

Ngunit bago pa man ito makaalis...

Biglang nagsimulang magbulungan ang mga bisita.

Unti-unting napuno ng tunog ng camera shutters ang ballroom.

Napalingon ang assistant sa main entrance.

Nanlaki ang mga mata nito.

"Sir..."

Mabagal na lumingon si Adrian.

At sa sandaling iyon...

Nakita niya ang babaeng hindi niya inaasahang darating.

Elena.

At sa unang pagkakataon matapos ang matagal na panahon...

Hindi niya agad siya nakilala.