Chapter 7

A flicker of guilt crossed Sigmund’s face.

He pulled her into his arms, murmuring, “I’m sorry, baby. I got caught up and forgot. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

The next day, he took her out, keeping the destination a mystery.

Half an hour later, Michelle found herself standing in a bridal boutique.

When she saw the carefully selected gown Sigmund had chosen, her eyes widened.

“What are we doing here?”

“You’ve always wanted to get married, haven’t you? I thought you could try on some dresses. If you like one, we’ll buy it.”

His tone was calm, almost casual, but Michelle’s heart twisted painfully.

What was the point of buying the gown? To put it on display?

She didn’t understand what he was planning, but she did need to pick a wedding dress for her own wedding.

So, she quietly went along, trying on one gown after another.

Finally, Sigmund pointed to the last one and told the clerk, “This one. Have it wrapped and sent to this address.”

He wrote down the address of the villa, then walked over and wrapped his arms around her.

His breath was warm against her ear, his voice low and husky. “Baby, you look beautiful in this.”

Michelle forced a light tone. “This dress must be expensive. I’ll pay for it.”

“It’s just a dress. I can handle that,” he said, taking her hand, only to realize the silver ring she’d treasured for years was gone.

A strange unease crept through him.

“Where’s the ring?”

Michelle pulled her hand back calmly. “I put it away. I didn’t want to lose it.”

“It’s not worth much. If it’s lost, I’ll buy you another. Baby, just give me a little more time. Once I’ve saved enough, I’ll get you a real diamond ring and propose to you properly.”

Hearing the same lie once was already enough.

All Michelle felt now was bitter irony and cold laughter in her heart.

Sigmund’s fingers brushed over the faint mark where her ring had once been.

He lifted her hand and pressed a soft kiss against it.

Then, glancing past Michelle, his expression suddenly changed.

“Baby, try on a few more dresses. I’ll go grab us something to eat.”

Before she could respond, he let go of her and hurried out of the store.

Sensing that something was wrong, Michelle quickly changed and followed him.

When she finally caught up, her breath caught in her throat.

At the intersection ahead, a terrible crash had occurred.

Emily lay in a pool of blood, and Sigmund—injured himself—was cradling her tightly, refusing to let go.

When the paramedics arrived, both of them were rushed toward the ambulance.

With what little strength he had left, Sigmund gripped a nurse’s hand and rasped, “Save her first…”

Michelle stood frozen as the ambulance sped away, her mind blank.

“I think they were fighting,” a bystander said nearby. “The woman ran into the street out of anger, and the man tried to save her. Looks like he took the worst of it.”

“Yeah, I heard him begging her to forgive him before it happened. Guess they both paid the price.”

Michelle’s head buzzed.

She clutched her chest, bending over as a sharp, tearing pain spread through her heart.

Only then did she understand what it looked like when Sigmund truly loved someone.

A weak smile tugged at her lips—no anger or bitterness, just a hollow kind of irony for the three years she’d spent blind.

Her phone rang. The voice on the other end was steady and detached.

“Miss Lowe, your procedure is scheduled for ten o’clock tomorrow morning. Please arrive at the hospital in advance.”