I Survived the Crash; Our Love Didn't

My ex-husband, Julian Hayes, stared at my face, his eyes widening in shock as he took a step back. "How did you—"

This time, I was the one staring him down. "Happy with what you see?"

He fell silent for a few seconds, then looked away. "After the accident, I kept looking for you. I spent six months trying to find you… I found the car, completely totaled, but there was no sign of you. Everyone said you were dead, but I refused to believe them…"

I gave him a bitter, mocking smile.

Back then, he'd wanted nothing more than for me to die. Funny how he couldn't bring himself to believe it when he thought I actually had.

I shook my head halfheartedly, hoping he would just take his order so I could leave. "As you can see, I'm alive, Mr. Hayes. Now, could you please confirm your delivery?"

Just then, a little girl in pink fleece pajamas came running out of the house and threw her arms around Julian's leg. "Daddy, why haven't you come back inside to read me a bedtime story?"

Julian's expression softened instantly, his earlier tension melting away.

He bent down, scooped her into his arms, and affectionately nuzzled her rosy cheek. "Sorry, sweetheart. Daddy ran into an… old friend. That's why I took so long."

"What are you two doing, hanging around in the doorway?"

A young woman called out from inside, sounding amused.

It was Nina Bennett.

The moment she caught sight of me, her smile froze.

But she was nothing if not a good actress. Within seconds, she'd slipped right back into her sweet, innocent persona and exclaimed in surprise. "Oh my God! Samantha Reed? Is… Is it really you? You're alive!"

Then she smiled at the little girl. "Annie, this is Mommy's big sister. Say hello to Aunt Samantha."

My nails dug into my palms.

Annie Hayes.

I spent three whole days poring over baby-name books to choose that name for the child I never got to meet.

And Julian had given it to the daughter he had with Nina.

Annie turned and looked straight at me with her big, clear eyes.

But when she noticed the crisscrossing scars on the exposed skin above my mask, she buried her face in Julian's shoulder and whimpered. "Mommy lied! She's not my aunt! She's ugly! I don't have an ugly aunt!"

Julian's face filled with concern. He quickly cradled her in his arms, rocking her gently. "It's okay, Annie. Don't be scared."

Nina stood beside them and gave me a smug little smile that was almost impossible to catch before offering a fake apology. "I'm so sorry, Samantha. She's just a little girl. She doesn't know any better. She didn't mean to hurt your feelings, so please don't take it personally."

I nodded, my expression unchanged.

When Nina realized she wasn't getting a reaction out of me, her eyes instantly filled with tears.

She tugged at Julian's sleeve and said in a wounded voice, "Julian, look at her… Do you think she still blames us?"