Scars of the Abandoned Bride

In the morgue, I stared down at my grandma's lifeless body, fresh tears blurring my vision.On my phone screen, a recent text from Bella Reid lingered. It was a video of her clinging to Ethan's hand while they stared at each other under a sky full of fireworks.[I told Ethan I wanted fireworks, so he planned a whole night of them. He's always loved me the most!] she'd written, smug as ever.The whole glittery scene felt like a slap. The silence in the hospital was ice-cold, pressing on me like a weight.Yesterday was supposed to be my wedding day. Right before we exchanged rings, Ethan got a call and just... walked out. My grandma, sitting in the front row, was so shocked she started coughing up blood. I begged for help, but all anyone did was laugh at my misery.I called Ethan again and again. No answer. By the time I got my grandma to the hospital, it was too late. She was gone.Ethan left our wedding for Bella.Even through my grief, I arranged her cremation and planned a sma

My face went pale as I staggered back, then tried to bolt for the door. But before I even got close, Ethan's bodyguards grabbed me, ignoring my struggles as they shoved me into the car and sped off to the hospital.I shoved my pregnancy report at the doctor, my voice shaky. "Look, this is from your hospital! Tell him I'm actually pregnant. A transfusion could hurt my baby."The doctor glanced at the report, then shot a quick look at Bella. "This isn't from our hospital. It's fake."I felt a chill. Bella must've already paid him off. I turned to Ethan, pleading. "He's lying! Take me somewhere else. You'll see—I really am pregnant!"But Bella slumped against Ethan, her voice all weak and pitiful. "Ethan, I feel horrible... Am I going to die?"Ethan's face tightened with worry as he held her. "No, Bella, I'm not letting that happen." He looked at the bodyguards. "Hold her down."I fought back, screaming, "Let me go! Ethan, you're gonna kill my baby! You're a monster!"Ethan just gl

After Ethan bailed, I checked myself out of the hospital.I found a quiet cemetery and finally laid Grandma to rest, giving her the goodbye she deserved."I miss you, Grandma." I sat by her headstone until it got dark, not ready to leave.With her gone, the city felt empty. At the airport, I didn't even have a real destination in mind—anywhere was better than here.I bought a random ticket and ended up in some small, quiet town. I rented a tiny apartment and set up Grandma's photo on the table, like she was still right there with me.Ethan kept blowing up my phone, saying he was losing his mind trying to find me. I ignored him for a while, then finally changed my number just to get some peace.Once I'd settled in, I started looking for a job. But with barely any experience, the big companies didn't want me.After yet another failed interview, I left the building, frustrated, and accidentally bumped into someone. We both crouched down to pick up the scattered papers."Sorry abou

Bella's face turned red as she gasped for air, her hand weakly reaching out. Just as she was about to pass out, Ethan let go, his eyes cold and unfeeling."Bella Reid, I won't let you die," he sneered. "You're going to live every day in misery."Watching it happen, I felt a grim sense of satisfaction. Bella was finally facing what she deserved.I glanced at Luke, and with just a look, we turned and left the room together.Outside, the rain poured down in sheets. I stared into it, remembering that night I'd stumbled out of the hospital, drenched and heartbroken. It had rained just like this.Luke told me to wait while he went to grab the car. But as soon as he left, Ethan came running out after me."Grace, please don't go," he pleaded, his eyes red. "I'm sorry—for everything. For our child. It was all Bella's lies; she tricked me."Sure, Bella was vile, but that didn't make Ethan innocent. He'd chosen to believe her, chosen to hurt me.I looked him dead in the eye, my expression