Goodbye, My Once‑Upon‑a‑Time

I sat in an unfamiliar room, eating the strawberries Jonathan Caruso had brought me while watching the feed from a hidden camera.

Jonathan, who had rushed out moments earlier, was now at the hospital. He had his arm around Kelsey Romano, whose belly was visibly swollen, as he accompanied her to a prenatal checkup.

Watching the two of them being openly affectionate with one another sent a sharp pain straight through my chest.

I tossed the strawberries aside and called Jonathan.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his clear voice carrying a touch of indulgence.

On the screen, Kelsey frowned slightly and glanced at him. Jonathan didn't notice at all and simply guided her into the ultrasound room.

"I was scared," I said. "I woke up, and you were already gone. I was afraid it was just a dream. I was afraid I hadn't really escaped."

The memories I'd buried surfaced all at once, and although I'd meant to sound fragile on purpose, my voice faltered anyway, a real tremor slipping through.

"It's okay, Nat. That's all over now. I'll be home soon. I'll stay with you."

He sounded tender, almost convincingly so.

True to his word, he didn't say another thing to Kelsey. He turned and left the hospital without looking back.

I shut off the camera feed, my chest tightening. The way he walked away so decisively was the same as it had been back then.

Jonathan returned to the mansion not long after, carrying a strawberry cake.

Barefoot, I rushed straight into his arms.

"Why aren't you wearing shoes again? I brought you a strawberry cake."

The words were painfully familiar, just as they were three years ago.

Jonathan had always liked buying me strawberry cake, and I'd always thrown myself into his arms like this, telling him how much I'd missed him all day.

"John, I missed you so much."

The words caught him off guard, and his expression froze for a moment, as if he'd slipped into a brief daze. Then, his gaze landed on the scar on my face, and clarity returned instantly.

I noticed the change and felt a flicker of mockery surface in my eyes.

We both knew there was no going back.

Jonathan helped me onto the couch, feeding me cake while gently brushing his fingers over the scar on my face. His brow was tightly knitted, and the concern in his eyes didn't look fake.

"I've already contacted the best cosmetic surgeons," he said. "It'll get better soon."

I nodded lightly and lowered my head to hide the hatred surging beneath my calm expression, then changed the subject.

"I want to go back to Colline delle Rose."

That was the estate Jonathan and I had designed and built together. The place was filled with memories from when we were in love.

"Not yet. They're renovating. Once everything's cleaned up, I'll take you back."

His gaze flickered, and his explanation didn't quite line up.

He was nothing like the man who had once sworn himself to me among the roses.

Then again, the Jonathan who had taken six bullets for me had nothing in common with the man who'd personally delivered me into hell.

When I still didn't respond, urgency crept into his voice as he added, "I mean it. Colline delle Rose will only ever have one mistress. Nat, it won't be long."

I cracked a smile that looked like it hurt. "I know. You love me the most."

Satisfied, he finally let out a breath.

The next second, a message flashed on his phone, and the ease on his face vanished.

"Amore, the doctor says there's something wrong with the baby."

Jonathan stiffened, grabbed his coat, and headed for the door. Only when he reached it did he seem to remember me.

"Nat, something came up. You don't have to wait up for me tonight. Lock the doors and windows, and make sure you're covered when you sleep."

What a hopeless romantic. Even then, he was still worried about me.

How touching.

After he left, the mansion sank into a dead silence.

I dumped the remaining strawberry cake into the trash. I hadn't eaten something that sweet in three years, and I wasn't used to it anymore.