Chapter 6: Accident

Finally, he realized what all his friends and family had seen all along. Emma was not the woman he longed for, nor was she worthy of his love. Alden felt dizzy, his mind spinning from the devastating shock. He didn’t know what to do — storm in and unleash his fury or hold back his emotions? He was afraid. If that despicable pair mocked his foolishness, what would he do? When the truth came out and scandals erupted, how disappointed would his family be?

Alden stood frozen, staring blankly before helplessly turning away. But a part of his rational mind urged him to stay sharp. He needed to act wisely. Regaining composure amidst the turmoil, Alden took out his phone. His hands trembling, he began recording the entire scene. His gaze, filled with disgust and fury, captured everything.

Suddenly, his mother’s words echoed in his mind:

 “Emma will leave this marriage the same way she entered it — with nothing.”

It turned out that Mrs. Agatha had been right. She foresaw this outcome and had laid down conditions before allowing the wedding to take place. Alden suddenly realized how naive he had been, forever a gullible child easily deceived. For two years, the rosy world he believed in had been nothing more than a carefully crafted illusion by Emma, forcing him to blindly follow her.

After ensuring he had gathered sufficient evidence, Alden grabbed his briefcase and left the house. He didn’t know where to go or who to call first. In a chaotic state of mind, he drove aimlessly.

The scorching summer sky suddenly poured down heavy rain. Was it the heavens mourning the tragedy Alden had just endured?

It hurt. To have love turn into agony in an instant was unbearable. Just yesterday, he had been joyfully planning to start a family, hoping to make his happiness complete. And now, everything has shattered. But perhaps this was a blessing in disguise. His future children would not have to endure the darkness and filth that Emma had left behind.

The rain kept falling, and Alden continued driving in a state of turmoil. Everything before him was a blur. He was lost, directionless, hoping someone would guide him out of the darkness.

A single question kept repeating in his mind: What should I do now?

Alden couldn’t make the decision on his own. But surely, there was someone he could trust.

Someone who would know what to do…

Yes, of course! Alden suddenly remembered. There was one person he could always rely on in moments like this.

With some difficulty, he took out his phone and decided to send the video to his older brother. Alden trusted that Gavin would figure out the best solution to help him through this mess.

However, in his distracted state, he wasn’t paying enough attention to the road. His focus wavered. He didn’t realize how fast he was driving, lost in his thoughts and emotions.

Before he could process what was happening, a loud crash echoed through the heavy rain.

A horrifying collision.

Everything before Alden’s eyes turned hazy. The sounds and images blurred together. His mind spiraled into confusion. And just before he lost consciousness completely, he realized one dreadful truth —

He had hit someone.

…

Last night, Cara had to work overtime to finish that damn thesis — an assignment given during the summer break. After countless efforts, she finally completed it, but her body was exhausted, and she barely managed to get some sleep.

This morning, when the alarm clock went off, Cara didn’t hear a thing.

When her subconscious reminded her of the time, she jolted awake, panic surging through her. A quick glance at her wristwatch confirmed her worst fear — she had missed the bus to school. The best option now was to take the subway. But there was one problem: the station was quite far from her apartment.

Without wasting another second, Cara dashed out as fast as her legs could carry her.

She skipped breakfast. Her clothes were still a bit disheveled. None of it mattered — the only thing on her mind was getting to her destination on time. According to her packed schedule, after submitting her assignment at school, she had to head straight to her part-time job at a Japanese udon restaurant run by a kind couple. In the afternoon, she’d be waiting tables at a coffee shop, and by evening, she would take the final shift at a nightclub.

That was Cara’s daily routine: working three consecutive shifts, squeezing in study time whenever possible, and sleeping no more than four hours each night. No social outings, no dates, no friends to hang out with. For the past four years, this had been her life.

Despite everything, Cara never felt miserable or pitiful. On the contrary, she was grateful. Life hadn’t been too cruel to her. At the very least, she had her health — a strong, resilient body that allowed her to push through each day.

Overcoming all obstacles, Cara was a shining example of perseverance — someone worthy of admiration and respect.

As she ran with all her might, weaving through the busy traffic, her heart pounded fast, sending sharp pain through her chest from the exertion. Her breaths grew heavy and labored. Her lungs struggled to supply enough oxygen to keep her pace steady, and she knew she was using up every bit of energy she had, leaving nothing in reserve.

Suddenly, the sunny sky darkened, and an unexpected summer rainstorm hit without warning.

Instinctively, Cara glanced up at the sky, frustration and helplessness washing over her.

"Of course. The universe just had to mess with me," she muttered under her breath.

There was no time to react to such fickle weather. Like everyone else caught in the downpour, she wasn’t prepared. No umbrella. No raincoat. Nothing.

All she could do was lower her head and run faster, hoping to avoid getting completely drenched.

The rain didn’t slow down the hustle and bustle of the streets. On the contrary, it made people move even faster. Cara dashed through the downpour, her shoes soaked and slipping on the wet pavement.

When she reached the crosswalk, she came to a halt, waiting for the traffic light to change. Despite her urgency, she reminded herself to stay calm and be mindful of her surroundings. The moment the light turned red, she sprinted across the street.

But at that exact moment, a car swerved too quickly, unable to slow down in time.

A deafening crash echoed through the rain, slicing through the steady sound of the downpour.

The bystanders barely glanced in her direction before pulling their jackets tighter and hurrying on. No one had the courage to stop.

Cara’s body was flung into the air, soaring briefly before crashing back down onto the cold, unforgiving pavement.

Pain hit her from all directions. She could feel every part of her body aching from the violent impact. The harsh collision with the ground left a deep, agonizing ache in her bones. A sharp crack resonated in her ears — it sounded like her bones shattering into pieces.

She tried to hold on to consciousness, but her vision blurred.

The bustling sounds of the street faded into the distance, blending with the relentless patter of rain.

"Please… don’t let me die…" Cara whispered, her trembling hand weakly reaching out for something — anything — to hold on to amidst the chaos.

Her fingers grasped at nothing but air. Her most treasured possession, her journal, lay nearby. The pages, torn and crumpled, fluttered in the wind and rain, scattering across the road.

The faint light around her slowly dimmed, fading into the background. The lively city noises grew distant, replaced by an overwhelming silence that pressed heavily on her chest.

Everything slipped into darkness.

Cara didn’t know if she was still alive or if she had crossed the thin line between life and death.

Somewhere deep in her mind, a fragile voice whispered, “This isn’t the end.”

But she had no strength left to respond. Her body felt impossibly heavy.

And finally, the darkness swallowed her whole.

Perhaps a new chapter was beginning — one that would emerge from pain and uncertainty.