Chapter 3 He Let Go of Me First

From Noah's tone, it was clear they had met many times before.

But strangely, my heart didn't ache the way it usually did. I felt calm.

Theodore took my hand and whispered, "Noah's still young. Don't overthink it, okay?"

I gently withdrew my hand from his grasp.

The pain inside me grew sharper, each movement sending a jolt through my bones as if invisible hammers pounded relentlessly.

"I know," I replied quietly.

It had rained heavily the day before, and the road leading to the lake had been washed out. We had no choice but to get out and walk.

Noticing how weak I was, Theodore instinctively reached for me, his hand hovering with concern.

Then, a panicked scream tore through the air.

"Get away from me! All of you, get away!"

I looked up.

Ruby was surrounded by several men, her face streaked with tears. The moment she saw us, she cried out, "Help me! Theodore, help me!"

Her voice trembled violently, and her terror was impossible to ignore.

Without hesitation, Theodore let go of me and rushed toward her. "Don't be scared!" he shouted. "I'm here!"

Weakened by pain, I stumbled the moment he let go, crashing hard onto the unforgiving ground.

Jagged gravel bit into my side, tearing my skin and sending a white-hot burst of pain through me. Warm blood spilled quickly, gritty with embedded stones.

Though I had grown accustomed to pain after so many punishments, a muffled gasp still escaped my lips.

When I looked up, my husband was already holding Ruby, his face tight with panic.

Clenching my jaw, I forced myself upright, refusing to stay down.

Ruby was crying, her voice soft and trembling. "I thought I'd never see you again, Theodore."

Before she could finish, her body went limp.

Theodore's eyes reddened as he scooped her into his arms and rushed her back toward the car. Noah burst into tears too and ran after them on his short little legs.

"Hurry! Take us to the hospital! Ms. Sinclair fainted!"

The driver looked at me, bloody and alone, as if he wanted to say something.

Yet, Theodore's furious voice came from the car first. "What are you waiting for? Move!"

The engine roared to life, and the car sped away.

I stood there in a daze.

From beginning to end, not one of them looked back at me.

Blood soaked through my dress, and pain pressed into every nerve until even breathing became difficult.

Still, I remained silent.

I only stood there and watched them disappear.

With their departure, it felt as if another fragment of my memory slipped away too.

"It's alright," I murmured to myself. "I'll be leaving soon anyway."

Glancing at the blood trickling from my wound, I ripped a strip from my dress lining and pressed it firmly to stem the flow.

Limping and half-dazed by pain, I began the long walk home from the mountain.

Hours slipped by as I trudged onward.

…

When I finally reached the city outskirts, Theodore finally sped toward me in his car, looking panicked.

"Ruby fainted," he explained the moment he got out. "In that situation, I had no choice."

He hurried over to me, his voice tight with urgency. "Amanda, I panicked."

The guilt and worry on his face looked real enough. When he grabbed my hand, his fingers were trembling.

I only looked at him quietly.

Then, with some effort, I pulled my hand free and asked, "When are we getting divorced?"

Theodore froze. "Divorced?" he repeated. "When did we ever say anything about divorce?"

He stared at me, stunned. "Amanda, what's wrong with you? Why are you saying things like that?"

He stepped toward me, reaching out as if to touch my forehead.

Then, he finally saw the blood, the tear in my dress, and the wound I had been carrying all along.