Chapter 3

It struck me that Damian was capable of worrying for someone else.

When news of his frontier assignment arrived in my past life, Rosalyn had fainted from worry. Anxious and helpless, all I could think of was praying for his safety at the church.

I climbed over 1,000 stone steps on my hands and knees, bowing every three steps until my knees were permanently ruined.

On the day he left, he saw me leaning on a crutch. Not only did he show no concern, but he also snapped, "What's the point of this superstitious nonsense? You'd be more useful keeping your limbs intact so you can actually make my parents a couple of decent meals.

"You're not a young lady anymore, Carla. It's time you learn to be a decent daughter-in-law."

Now, all Heidi had was just a tiny nick on her finger. It wouldn't even leave a scar, let alone a permanent injury, yet Damian made it seem like the sky was about to collapse. He sucked on the wound as if terrified that she might feel even a trace of pain.

"You knew 'Drift' is Heidi's favorite book, Carla. What were you trying to do by hiding a razor blade in it?"

Damian's eyes were bloodshot. He scooped up Heidi and headed straight out. Each of his firm footsteps landed like a hammer blow to my chest.

Heidi blushed and made a show of struggling, only to cling tighter to him. Her eyes were full of open provocation.

Before I could say a word, Damian kicked the door shut with a loud bang.

I stood frozen in place with my fingers tightening around the book.

"Carla! Your hand!"

Blood was gushing out. It turned out that my favorite book held an even sharper razor blade.

Like before, Heidi still saw me as her rival in love, but it was so unnecessary. This time, I wouldn't fight her for Damian.

After Damian's scene, the book club was dismissed on the spot. Ryder carefully bandaged my fingers and wrapped them in so much gauze that he meant to turn me into a mummy.

"Are you sure you're not going to the hospital? Then I'll just have to use everything I know to wrap it up nicely for you."

As he spoke, he leaned closer. His breath feathered against my ear with every word he said.

"Tell me, sweetheart. What would you do without me one day?"

I turned my head, and my nose accidentally brushed against his cheek. "Just stay stuck to me like a bandage. It's not like I'm driving you away…"

Ryder stared at me in surprise before a sudden flush crept up his neck. Then, he laughed quietly at himself. "Nope. I'm not being a third wheel."

He shot me a quick, indignant glare and turned away.

I found that behavior a little weird.

…

The next morning, with one hand bandaged, I was sorting through Mom's keepsakes with the other when Damian started pounding on my door in rage.

"You had someone revoke Heidi’s competition spot, didn't you?"

His collar was loose, and his usual composure was nowhere to be found. I had never seen him act so unhinged for anyone.

"It wasn't me."

I pushed at his shoulders and tried to get him to leave, but Heidi ran over and dropped to her knees in front of me with a thud.

"Carla, I know that your aunt is someone in charge of the program. I'll tell everyone that I cut my hand by accident, and it has nothing to do with you at all.

"I'll clear your name… Could you please just give me back my slot?"

She wiped her tears as if I had backed her into a corner.

"You didn't have the talent to keep your spot, so why are you blaming me after losing it?" I couldn't help but snap back.

Then, a deafening ring erupted in my ears. The world went silent for a heartbeat, and my left cheek flared with a searing pain.

Damian's hand, which he had just used to slap me, was still shaking. "You've gone too far, Carla. Does someone's future and dreams mean so little to you? Did you sabotage Heidi just because I gave you a little teaching?

"We grew up together. Was it really necessary to go this far?"

I shot him a cold look.

If there was one person in this world who had no right to preach about going too far, it was Damian.

Hadn't he gone too far by abandoning his bride on their wedding night to flee to the frontier with his mistress?

Hadn't he gone too far by faking his death and tricking me into caring for his parents for the rest of my life?

Hadn't he gone too far to visit my grave for the first time, 40 years after I died, just to beg me to stop haunting them?

His eyes fell on my bandaged hand, and he gave a short scoff. "Heidi hurt her hand, so you wrapped yours up too.

"Are you trying to win my pity? Too bad your acting is overdone."

"Get lost!" I screamed and ruthlessly shoved him. The sudden exertion of force caused blood to seep through the gauze.

Damian froze at the sight. "Carla, you—"

All the strength drained from my body. I should have listened to Ryder yesterday and gone straight to the hospital.

The wound was probably infected now. Otherwise, why would my head feel so heavy, and my thoughts so blurred?

For a moment, the world spun into darkness.

"Carla!"