Chapter 6

Cathryn gasped, trying to catch her breath. "Okay."

I couldn't watch another second.

Their bodies, tangled up like that—it made me sick. Hit me so hard I almost dropped right there.

The pain wasn't just in my chest anymore. It ripped through me, like a thousand blades carving me open. Every cut raw. Every wound refusing to heal.

I thought about our wedding night—how careful he'd been, so gentle, holding me after and swearing I'd be his one and only.

In our two years together, I begged for a child. He always blamed my health, said it wasn't safe.

Even when I cried, begged—he still said no.

And now, here he was, loving someone else with that same tenderness... ready to have a baby with her.

So it wasn't my body. It was me. I was never enough for him.

That's why, when it came down to me or her—he chose her. She was the real wife.

Zachary... you betrayed me, after all.

The hit was too deep. Pain exploded in my chest, and I coughed up blood.

I slapped a hand over my mouth, gasping, nausea clawing at my throat as I stumbled away.

Almost collapsed more than once. My tears soaked through my collar long before I hit the exit.

Enough.

After all that heartbreak, I was just... done.

If he loved her, then what was I still doing here?

I started planning my escape. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere I could fall apart in peace, patch up these invisible wounds on my own.

Not long after, Zachary came back—with Cathryn at his side.

He gave me that soft look. "Baby, it's raining. She's into performances too, so I let her stay."

I nodded. Said nothing.

Didn't call them out.

The whole show, he kept me tucked close, rubbing my stomach like always, fussing like I was still his world.

But I knew his right hand was laced with Cathryn's the entire time.

One arm wrapped around me, the other holding her. Guess he liked having the best of both worlds.

Whatever.

Just a little longer.

When the show ended, he pulled out a jewelry box. Inside was a stunning necklace.

"You like it?"

Cathryn gasped. "Oh my god, that's the 'Forever and Always' necklace he had custom-made! It's literally priceless!"

I gave a small nod. Played along.

Zachary clipped it around my neck, smiling like he just hung the moon. "It's gorgeous. Looks amazing on you."

I glanced at Cathryn.

Something shifted in her eyes—dark, sharp. Jealousy, maybe.

Out of nowhere, Cathryn swayed and stumbled, slamming into a metal stage prop.

"Watch out!"

Someone yelled, but it was too late—the metal door came crashing down.

Zachary lunged, grabbed Cathryn, and pulled her out of the way.

I wasn't so lucky.

I watched it fall, powerless.

Bang.

The impact crushed me to the floor. Pain exploded through my skull as blood spilled down my face. My vision blurred.

Right before everything went black, I heard Zachary's voice, frantic. "Sierra..."

But I already knew—in that one second of danger, she was the one he chose to save. Not me.

***

I drifted into a long, aching dream.

In it, I saw everything—Zachary and Cathryn, wrapped up in their perfect love story. His soft touches. Her glowing smile.

He gave her a big, beautiful wedding. She gave him a child.

And me? He threw me out like trash.

I begged him to stay. He turned his back. Told me to leave.

They built their picture-perfect life while I sobbed, broken and alone.

When I finally woke up, my pillow was soaked through.

The first thing I saw?

Two silhouettes in an embrace.

"Don't cry. She'll be fine."

Zachary was holding Cathryn, gently patting her back.