Fate's Cruel Edit

Aaron Tanner's panicked shouting echoed in my ears, circling like a relentless wind, and my heart felt like it was being torn apart, piece by piece.

Blood streamed from the wound on my head, but the pain didn't register—I couldn't think about it. My eyes, dazed and heavy, searched for him.

There he was, holding Grace Whitman tightly in his arms, panic written all over his face.

"Is it your leg? Did you hurt it in the fall?" he asked her, voice trembling. "Don't be scared, Grace, just hang on. I'll get you to the hospital right away!"

My breath was growing ragged. The pain was a dull roar inside me, but I forced myself to speak.

"Honey… help me… save me…"

But the man I could almost reach, the one who was supposed to see me, didn't even glance my way.

Instead, he cradled Grace and ran—rushed down the stairs like nothing else mattered.

"Grace is hurt! Call an ambulance!" he shouted.

I watched until his figure disappeared from sight, and in that moment, it felt as if I'd plunged into ice. A sharp, merciless pain stabbed through me.

In the face of danger, my husband had left me behind—the wife who had thrown herself in front of him to take the blow. He had carried the woman he truly cared for and run without hesitation.

The people around me were panicking, fleeing in all directions. No one noticed me in the corner, abandoned, left with no help.

The pain grew worse. My eyelids were too heavy to keep open. I bit my lip until I drew blood, telling myself over and over, 'Audrey, don't fall asleep. Stay awake. You have to hold on…'

I swallowed the metallic taste rising in my throat and used the last of my strength to cry out.

"Help… someone… help…"

It felt like I was screaming, but the sound barely made it past my lips. My vision blurred, my head spun.

And just before I lost consciousness, I remembered our wedding day.

Before family and friends, Aaron had dropped to one knee, looking up at me with reverence and love. He held me so tightly, promising, "I don't believe in fate. I only know that you are the love of my life."

I had believed him. Every memory of our love felt vivid, still so close—yet now, he had abandoned me for another woman without a second thought.

I didn't understand. Was fate truly something we couldn't fight? Had it really pulled him, irresistibly, into Grace's arms?

My whole body ached, each breath felt like fire. I couldn't tell whether the pain came from the wound or from my heart.

Darkness fell like a curtain.

When I came to, I was lying in a hospital bed.

A familiar voice called out beside me—my best friend, Kathy Rodney.

"Doctor! She's awake! The patient's awake!"

Tears rimmed her eyes as she leaned over me. "You idiot… do you know how badly you were hurt? There's a hole in your head!"

I couldn't muster enough energy to respond.