Chapter Two: Shattered Trust

Ophelia POV

"Thank you so much for everything, Marcus," I whispered, giving my brother one last quick hug. "I'll see you soon, okay? But please be careful leaving. I don't want people seeing us together out here."

"I will, don't worry," Marcus said, squeezing my hand. "I'm just so happy everything is finally working out for you, sis."

"Me too," I smiled, though the feeling of being watched still made my skin crawl. "That flash of light really spooked me. We need to be more careful about meeting in public like this."

"You're right. This should be the last time we risk it," Marcus agreed, glancing around the parking lot nervously. "After Next week's contract signing, you won't have to hide anymore anyway."

I nodded and watched him walk toward his car before turning back toward the event center. My heart was still racing from whoever had taken that photograph, but I tried to push the worry away. Next would change everything, I could finally stop living this lie.

I pushed through the glass doors of the Sacramento Events Center, expecting to find Landon still surrounded by reporters and well-wishers. Instead, I spotted him immediately near the main reception area, and my stomach dropped.

There she was again. Dr. Rose Miller stood far too close to my husband, her hand resting on his arm as she spoke to him in low, intimate tones. She was showing him something on her phone, leaning in so close that her shoulder brushed against his.

"This woman is always hanging around my husband," I muttered under my breath, anger flaring in my chest. "What is wrong with her? Taking credit for my work wasn't enough? Now she has to be all over him like some desperate puck bunny."

I watched as Rose threw her head back and laughed at something Landon said, her hand lingering on his arm far longer than necessary. The sight made my stomach turn. She had already stolen credit for the experimental treatment that saved his career – the treatment I had helped develop and tested on myself first while she wasn't even in the operating room. Now she was acting like she owned him too.

"I've kept quiet about her lies for too long," I said to myself, straightening my shoulders. "This is getting ridiculous, and I won't stand for it anymore."

I walked toward them with determined steps, forcing a smile onto my face despite the fury burning inside me.

"Hey babe, sorry I stepped out," I said, sliding up next to Landon and placing my hand firmly on his other arm. "Are you guys finished here? Can we go home now?"

Landon looked down at me with that warm smile that still made my heart skip, completely unaware of the tension crackling between Rose and me. "Yeah, we're done. Rose was just showing me some articles about tomorrow's contract signing with the Sterling Hawks. Pretty exciting stuff."

"Oh how wonderful," I said, my voice tight as I looked at Rose. "I'm sure the articles mention how amazing your medical team was during Landon's recovery."

Rose's eyes flashed with something cold before she covered it with her professional smile. "Actually, they focused mainly on my innovative treatment approach and how I personally oversaw every aspect of Landon's care. But speaking of going home, could I possibly catch a ride with you both? My car is at the mechanic shop, and they won't be done until tomorrow morning."

Before I could object, Landon was already nodding. "Of course, no problem at all. You saved my career, Rose. A ride is the least I can do."

My jaw clenched, but I forced myself to stay calm. "That's... fine."

As we made our way toward the exit, several of Landon's teammates and other hockey players crowded around us in the lobby area.

"Yo, Hayes! Congrats on the MVP award, man!" called out Jake Morrison, a defenseman from Landon's current Sacramento team.

"Thanks, brother," Landon grinned, stopping to shake hands and exchange back-slaps with the group.

"We heard about the Sterling Hawks contract signing tomorrow," said another player, clapping Landon on the shoulder. "That's the big leagues, dude. You're about to join hockey royalty. Those guys have won three Stanley Cups in the last decade."

"Can't wait to see you dominating on that ice in a Hawks jersey," added someone else. "You deserve it after that comeback from your knee injury. That was some serious ice time you missed."

"Yeah, man, when you went down during that power play last season, we all thought you were done," Jake said, shaking his head. "But Dr. Miller here worked some real magic on you."

Rose beamed at the praise while I bit my tongue so hard I tasted blood.

The praise continued as we slowly made our way through the crowd, with Landon soaking up every word about his upcoming move to the major leagues. I should have been happy for him, but all I could think about was the mysterious photographer and the sinking feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

When we finally reached Landon's car in the parking garage, Rose immediately moved toward the front passenger seat.

"Oh, I hope you don't mind if I sit up front," she said, already opening the door. "I get terribly carsick in the back seat, especially after long days performing complex surgical procedures. All those hours in the operating room really take it out of me, you know?"

I wanted to tell her exactly where she could sit, but Landon was already agreeing before I could speak.

"Sure, that's fine. Ophelia doesn't mind, do you babe?"

I gritted my teeth and slid into the back seat without a word, watching as Rose settled herself comfortably next to my husband like she belonged there.

As Landon started the engine, my phone rang. Marcus's name appeared on the screen, and I knew he was probably worried about the photographer incident. I quickly hit the decline button, not wanting to discuss family matters with Rose listening to every word.

"Who was that?" Landon asked, glancing at me in the rearview mirror.

"Nobody important," I said quietly. "Just a wrong number."

The phone rang again immediately, Marcus's name flashing insistently. I declined it again, feeling increasingly anxious.

"Seriously, Ophelia, what's going on?" Landon's voice was sharper now, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror with a look I'd never seen before. "You've been acting strange all evening. Sneaking out to take calls, being secretive. What are you hiding?"

"I'm not hiding anything," I protested, but my voice came out weaker than I intended. "It's just telemarketers, you know how they are. They keep calling from the same number trying to sell insurance or something."

"That's obviously a lie," Landon said, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. "You don't decline telemarketer calls twice in a row. You just let them go to voicemail."

Rose turned in her seat to look at me, her expression full of fake concern. "You know, Landon, I hate to say this, but I did see Ophelia outside the event center earlier. She was... well, she was hugging someone. A man, actually. People were talking about it."

My blood turned to ice. "What are you talking about?"

"I saw you in the parking area," Rose continued, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "You were embracing some man very intimately. Several people noticed it too. They were saying things like 'Look at the hockey star's wife hugging someone else.' I felt so bad for you, Landon. That kind of gossip isn't good for your image, especially right before your big contract signing."

"WHAT?" Landon slammed on the brakes so hard that we all lurched forward. "You were hugging another man? Outside while I was giving my speech about thanking my wife?"

"Landon, it's not what you think" I started, panic rising in my throat.

"Then what is it?" he shouted, turning around to face me fully. "Who were you hugging? Who keeps calling you? What the hell is going on, Ophelia?"

"It was just someone I bumped into, it was nothing—"

"Don't lie to me!" Landon's voice cracked with hurt and anger. "I can see it in your face. You're lying to me about something, and I want to know what it is right now!"

"Landon, please, you need to calm down and drive," Rose said, placing her hand on his arm. "You're going to get us all hurt."

But Landon was beyond listening. His foot slammed down on the accelerator as he turned back to the road, his hands shaking with rage.

"Three years, Ophelia! Three years we've been married, and now I find out you're sneaking around behind my back? The night before the biggest moment of my career?"

"You don't understand" I tried again, tears streaming down my face.

"I understand perfectly!" he screamed. "My wife is cheating on me, and everyone at that event saw it happen!"

The speedometer climbed higher as Landon's anger consumed him. Buildings and streetlights blurred past us as he raced through the Sacramento streets, completely out of control.

"Landon, slow down!" I cried out, gripping the back of his seat.

"Why should I? So you can get home and call your boyfriend?"

Rose was gripping the dashboard now, her face pale with terror. "Landon, please, you need to stop the car!"

But it was too late. Through my tears, I saw the massive delivery truck running the red light at the intersection ahead. Time seemed to slow as Landon, blinded by his rage and betrayal, drove straight into its path.

The last thing I heard before the world exploded into twisted metal and shattered glass was my own scream echoing through the night, and the terrible realization that my perfect life was about to end in the most horrific way possible.