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Chapter 5

Year on Year
An accident that never should have happened was caused by someone who never should have been driving my car, and it was all because of the man I once loved more than life itself.

Tears slid down my face silently, soaking the pillow in moments.

The nurse sighed and handed me a tissue. "We've been trying to reach your husband, but his phone keeps going to voicemail. Do you have contact information for any other family members?"

My husband. Zachary. The word jolted me from my grief like a shock.

Right. Zachary.

I needed to tell him what the woman he was so desperate to save had done.

My hands shaking, I grabbed my phone from the bedside table. The screen was shattered but still worked.

I found his number and called. This time, he picked up right away.

"Cece? What is going on with you? I've called you multiple times, but you didn't answer! Do you have any idea how worried I've been?" His voice was frantic, dripping with reproach.

I had no energy left to wonder if he meant any of it. I used every ounce of strength I had left to speak, forcing each word out, "Zachary, I was in a car accident. I'm at Ford Maternity Hospital..."

Before I could finish, he cut me off.

"What? You were in an accident too? What are the odds? Em got into an accident on her way back! I'm with her right now, dealing with it. She's terrified. Her arm is scraped up, and she's bleeding everywhere!" His voice brimmed with urgency and concern, but none of it was for me.

Her arm was scraped up, and she was bleeding everywhere...

I glanced down at the IV needle in my own wrist and my deathly pale skin. I almost wanted to laugh.

"Cecilia, how bad is it on your end? What did the driver say? Just handle things yourself for now and have a doctor check you out. I really can't leave here. Em's all alone. She doesn't have any family. It's heartbreaking. As soon as I finish up here, I'll come straight to you. Okay?"

His tone had that same unquestionable certainty. My problems could always wait.

At that moment, my heart died completely. I said nothing.

From the other end of the line, I heard Emma's delicate voice. "Zach, my arm hurts so much. The doctor said it might scar. I'm so scared."

Then came Zachary's gentle reassurance. "Don't be afraid. I'm here. Medical technology is so advanced now. A little scrape like that won't leave a scar. I had someone pick up that pasta from the place you love. He'll bring it over soon."

I could not listen anymore.

I hung up quietly. I opened my text messages and typed slowly, one letter at a time. Then, I hit send.

The message was brief: [We lost the baby.]
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    After sending that message, I deleted every trace of Zachary from my contacts. Then, I dialed another number—one I had rarely called since getting married. It was answered almost immediately.A steady, authoritative voice came through, tinged with barely concealed concern. "Cece, what's wrong?"Hearing that familiar voice, the tension I had held for hours finally snapped. I could not hold back anymore. I broke down sobbing. "Dad, I lost the baby."Dad's voice immediately grew urgent. "Where are you? I'm coming right now. Don't be afraid."After he hung up, I lay in bed, my mind blank. Half an hour later, Zachary burst into my hospital room like a madman. His face was ashen, his hair disheveled. His expensive tailored suit was wrinkled and creased. He looked like a mess.He rushed to my bedside and grabbed my hand, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse. "Cece! What did that text mean? What happened to the baby? You're lying, aren't you?"I did not look at him. I simply pulled my ha

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    "You gave my car to her?" My voice echoed through the empty garage, carrying a thread of desperation I had not even realized was there.I had chosen every ornament hanging in that car. No one other than my parents and Zachary had sat on the passenger seat, and now, just like that, he had handed over something so precious and personal to another woman."It's just a car." Zachary's patience had clearly run out. "Cecilia, can you not make things difficult for me right now? There's water everywhere over here! I'm hanging up. Get a ride yourself. I'll reimburse you for it."The line went dead. I stood there holding my phone in front of the empty parking space, feeling like the world's biggest fool.Reimburse me? Did he think everything could be measured in money? Did he think my dignity, my feelings, could all be given a price tag?In the end, I called for a ride. Sitting in the back seat, I watched the city scenery blur past the window. The winter sunlight in Halfort was pale and weak

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