Love on the Rocks

With a deafening thud, I crashed from the climbing wall.

For a moment, the world seemed to fall into absolute silence.

A surge of searing pain overwhelmed me, smashing through every last bit of my resolve. Cold sweat soaked my body as I lay on the ground, pale and trembling.

I was completely immobile. Every nerve in my leg screamed in agony, and each sharp jolt fired straight to my brain.

People in the surroundings erupted in chaos. Panic rippled through the onlookers as my coach, the medic, and friends raced toward me.

I struggled to take a deep breath and forced myself to turn my head and look for my wife.

Ella Ferris, the CEO of O&E Group, had always been poised, aloof, and indifferent toward me, even at home. Yet, she'd unexpectedly taken time off to attend my competition on this day.

Now that I was met with an accident, I was afraid she would be worried. However, as soon as I spotted her, I was stunned. I even forgot the excruciating pain that wracked my body.

She wasn't looking at me.

While everyone else was focused on my injury, Ella clung to him—her childhood friend, Owen Turner.

Her arms wrapped tightly around him as she murmured words of comfort.

It was as though he was her real husband.

Dumbfoundedly, I stared at the two of them. I had never seen Ella look at anyone with such tenderness.

Then, Ella suddenly whipped her head around and shouted, "Owen's fainted! Where's the medic? Get the medic over here, now!"

At that very moment, the physical pain was nothing compared to the hollow ache in my chest.

I had fallen from over 30 feet, my condition unknown. Yet, all my wife cared about was whether another guy had been frightened.

Ella continued barking orders at her bodyguards, demanding they escort the only medic on site to Owen's side.

Meanwhile, from where I lay, I caught a glimpse of Owen's subtle expression through the shifting crowd.

He was nestled against Ella as he briefly opened his eyes and shot me a triumphant smirk before quickly feigning unconsciousness again.

His performance was pitifully transparent. But Ella was too blinded by worry to question it. Even if she suspected he was faking, she wouldn't risk gambling on the off chance he truly needed help.

Her concern for Owen went far beyond the bounds of friendship. Compared to him, I—her husband—barely even mattered.

I felt my strength drain away. The realization that my existence meant so little to her hit harder than the fall itself.

A coughing fit rose in my throat, and I spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Call an ambulance!" my coach, Alex William, yelled while rushing to my side despite his age.

He glared furiously in Ella's direction, and his face flushed red with indignation. "Ella, Ronald's your husband! He's critically injured! How could you send the only medic away?"

Ella turned to him with icy detachment and said coldly, "It's just a fall. He'll be fine. Ronald, you really went all out for this stunt. Are you happy now that you got all the attention?"

She added, "Someone cover him up. Owen's afraid of blood."

A bitter smile tugged at my lips.

Everyone here knew how much I loved climbing. I would never jeopardize my career over some ridiculous ploy.

"It's… not…" I tried to explain, but my voice was too weak.

Although Ella didn't hear me, she noticed my lips moving and rolled her eyes. "Owen has a fragile health. Let the medic check on him first."