Chapter 2 ~ Left in the cold

“Mrs Scott! Mrs Scot!!” Edward and the driver tapped on the car window but received no answer. The snow was in full force, making it hard for them to see if she was still inside. 

“Are you sure she is in the car?” The driver asked, fearfully.

“Yes. In this weather, where could she have gone? Grab something we can use to smash the car window in case she passes out.” Edward instructed quickly. Regret and fear were clogged in his chest, for he didn’t mean to leave her alone.  

As the driver walked to the car to grab what they could use, Edward continued tapping on the window,

The world slowly returned to Dahlia in fragments, and she blinked, groaning as she slowly opened her eyes, feeling a dull ache in her bones. 

“Madam… Madam Dahlia?”

She lifted her head slowly, her neck stiff as a rod, and her vision blurred while pale morning light seeped through the rain-streaked windshield. Her body was curled awkwardly in the passenger seat, making her limbs numb and her skin icy. For a moment, she did not understand where she was, only that she was exhausted down to her marrow.

With the last of her strength, she clicked the button, and Edward swung the door open, his mouth hanging open upon seeing the state Dahlia was in. 

“I’m so sorry,” the driver said when he joined Edward to help her up. Both men are buried in guilt,

 “The rain started from nowhere, and it became too heavy last night. The mountain road collapsed in places. I couldn’t go up until it stopped.”

Dahlia’s lips parted, but no sound came out at first. She had waited so long that time itself had thinned and stretched into something unreal. She didn’t even realize that night had passed, and she had fallen asleep in such a place. 

“It’s fine,” she finally said, her voice hoarse. “Please… take me home.”

‘After all, you didn’t leave me out here. Silas did.’ She thought bitterly. 

When they arrived at the villa, even at the sight of familiar iron gates opening before her, Dahlia felt nothing. A month ago, seeing these gates gave her hope that the man she loved would one day love her back. But after last night, it was obvious that it was never going to happen, and for the first time, she really questioned her marriage. 

Feeling like every bone in her body was frozen, she went straight to the bathroom where she turned the tap to extremely hot water like she wanted to wash off every hurt of the past. 

Hot water poured over her, stinging her frozen skin while steam filled the air until she could barely breathe. She pressed her hands to the marble wall and let the water hide the sound of her sobs. Her shoulders shook, and her chest felt tight, while the tears mixed with water. 

After what seemed like forever, she stepped out of the shower and was about to step into the room when she heard Jane, one of the maids, whisper angrily to another maid. From the look of the new set of dry clothes on the bed, Dahlia could tell Jane brought them and assumed she was still in the shower as she whispered to her friend,

“How could Mr. Scott be so cruel to his own wife? He seriously left her on the mountain all night just so he could cuddle that home wrecker Joyce!”

“Did you see her when she walked in? I felt so bad, I bet it was freezing up there!” another replied. “And what if there were wolves? Or an accident? She’s his wife, for heaven’s sake.”

“If I were her, I’d pack my shit and get the hell out. Money be damned!” Jane scoffed as they began to walk away, their voice reducing until they completely disappeared. 

Dahlia stood still, the towel clutched tightly around herself, her heart hollowing with each word. Even strangers could see the cruelty of it. Even servants knew what she had been pretending not to know.

Someone who loves you will not abandon you.

Someone who loves you will not trade your safety for another woman’s comfort.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she dressed up slowly, her heart slowly hardening and her mind coming to terms with what was inevitable.

A divorce!

A knock at the door snapped her out of her thoughts. “Come in.” 

Expecting to see Jane or another maid, Dahlia groaned at the sight of the last person she wanted to see. 

Standing before her was Joyce. Looking fresh and active for someone who said they were dying just yesterday. 

“Oh Dahlia!” She stepped further into the room. “ I just found out what happened,” Joyce said, walking closer. “I didn’t know you were left on the mountain all night. If I had known, I never would have gone with Silas first.”

“I was worried about you,” Joyce continued. “You must have been so scared. The mountains can be dangerous at night. I couldn’t sleep when I thought about it.”

Dahlia’s fingers curled slowly at her sides, her heart, which was cool a few seconds ago, boiling to the point of a volcano about to erupt. 

She felt mocked and taunted. She knew Joyce was enjoying every second of this, and just seeing her stand and be smug reminded her of every painful memory. The missed dates, the arguments, and misunderstandings. They all revolved around this witch!

And because she didn’t know when to shut up, she went on to say. “I’m glad you’re home safe. Please don’t be angry at Silas. He was just worried about my health. You know how weak I am.”

Joyce reached out as if to take her hand, “You won’t misunderstand him, right? He didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Dahlia looked at her as she rose slowly from the bed. Joyce swallowed and slowly took a step back, but Dahlia closed the gap again. She was shocked to see that look in Dahlia’s eyes because no matter what she did in the past, she just smiled and took it. This time, however, something was different, and it made Joyce afraid. 

Dahlia took a few strands of Joyce’s hair and wrapped them around her finger while smiling like a maniac, “If I see you in my room ever again, I will do unspeakable things to you. Stay the hell away from me. Do you understand?”

Joyce, surprised by the new change in Dahlia, could only nod. 

She then stepped back and said, “Good. Now take your fake concerns, your fake apologies, your fake delicate body, and get the fuck out of my room.”