His first love

Alina

I froze. I wanted to run. I wanted to hide behind a tombstone. But my feet were glued to the ground.

Liam looked up. His eyes locked onto mine.

For a second, I saw shock on his face.

Then, it turned into anger. Pure, cold anger.

He said something to Amily, then strode toward me. His long legs ate up the distance between us.

Amily followed him, looking confused but effortlessly beautiful in her black dress.

"I didn't think you would stoop this low, Alina.” Liam spat as he reached me.

I took a step back and clutched my purse to my chest. I had no idea what he was saying. "Liam, I…"

"Are you following me?" He asked. His eyes were dark, scanning my face with disgust. "Did you check my location? Is that it? You saw I was out, so you tracked me down like some jealous, crazy ex-girlfriend?"

"No!" I shook my head frantically. "I didn't know you were here! I swear!"

"Oh, please," Liam scoffed. "You expect me to believe that? We are in a cemetery, Alina. You hate places like this. You are only here because you are obsessed with controlling me."

"Liam, stop." Amily said softly as she stepped up beside him and placed a gentle hand on his chest.

I looked at her hand. It looked so natural there. Like it belonged.

"She probably just misunderstood." Amily said, looking at me with wide, innocent eyes. "Alina, we aren't doing anything wrong. We are just visiting a friend of mine who passed away years ago. Liam was kind enough to drive me. That's all."

She smiled at me. It was a kind smile but it made my stomach turn.

She was the nice one. She was the angel. And I was the crazy, jealous wife.

"I…” I had to take a deep breath to speak. “I don't care why you are here." I paused and swallowed the lump on throat. "And I wasn't following you. I was just leaving."

I tried to walk past them.

Liam grabbed my arm. "Don't lie to me." He growled. "You don't get to act the victim. You followed me."

"I didn't!" I cried out.

"Come here." He started dragging me. He pulled me toward a grave a few yards away the one they had been standing near.

"Liam, you are hurting me!" I gasped, trying to pry his fingers off my arm. I was terrified he would hurt the baby.

"Look!" He pointed at the headstone. "'Sarah Jenkins.' Amily's childhood friend. That is why we are here. See? Nothing wrong here. Just me being a decent human being to a grieving friend. Something you clearly don't understand."

"I believe you!" I yelled. But tears were already stinging my eyes. "Just let me go!" I tried to yank my arm back with all my strength.

Liam let go suddenly. I stumbled back, losing my balance. My elbow swung out wildly and hit Amily square in the chest.

"Oh!" Amily gasped. She stumbled back in her high heels, tripping over a tree root. She fell onto the grass.

"Amily!" Liam roared.

He rushed to her side and knelt down instantly. He looked at her like she was made of glass.

"Are you okay?" His voice was filled with a panic I had never heard him use for me.

"I am fine." Amily winced as she rubbed her arm. "It was an accident. She didn't mean it."

Liam stood up slowly. He turned to face me. If looks could kill, I would be buried right next to my parents.

"Apologize." He commanded, leaving no room for argument.

I stood there, trembling. I was the one he had dragged. I was the one he had bruised. But he was looking at me like I was a monster.

"It was an accident." I whispered. "You grabbed me..."

"You hurt her." Liam stepped closer, towering over me. "Because you are jealous. Because you are petty. Apologize to her. Now."

I looked at Amily who was watching us from the ground with pity in her eyes. I looked at Liam, the father of my child, looking at me with pure hatred.

Something inside me broke.

"No." I said.

Liam looked stunned. "What did you say?"

"I said no." I wrapped my coat tighter around myself. "I am not apologizing. I am going home."

I turned my back on him and started walking. I walked fast, my head down, tears streaming down my face.

I just wanted to get to my car. I just wanted to escape.

"Walk away then!" Liam shouted after me. His voice echoed through the silent cemetery. "Run away like a coward! You have no respect, Alina! You have no heart! You follow us here and ruin a moment of grief just to make a scene!"

I stopped.

The wind blew my hair across my face.

You have no heart.

I couldn't take it anymore.

I wiped my face with the back of my hand. I took a deep breath that rattled in my chest. Then, I turned around.

Liam was helping Amily up. He looked at me, annoyed that I had stopped.

"What now?" He snapped. "Are you going to throw another tantrum?"

I stared at him. I stared at the man my parents had died saving.

I raised a shaking hand and pointed to the two grey headstones behind me, the ones I had been kneeling in front of when he found me. The ones with the fresh white lilies.

"I wasn't following you, Liam." I said calmly, making sure my words reached him.

Hearing what I said, Liam frowned.

"I didn't know you were here.” I continued, my voice breaking on a sob. "I was here to visit my parents."

He went still. His eyes flicked to the headstones I was pointing at. He read the names.

Richard and Cynthia Carter.

The color drained from his face.

He had forgotten. He had forgotten where they were buried. He had forgotten that today was the anniversary of the day they saved his life.

"They are buried right there." I whispered. "I just wanted to say hello to my mom and dad."

I didn't wait for his answer. I didn't wait to see the guilt if he was even capable of feeling it wash over him.

I turned back around and walked away, leaving my husband and his first love standing in the silence of my grief.

I didn’t cry on the drive home.

The tears had dried up the moment I turned my back on Liam and Amily in the cemetery.

Standing over the graves of the people who died to save him, he had treated me like a monster. He had dragged me, bruised me, and humiliated me for a woman who hadn’t shed a single tear for his life.

The hope was finally dead.

I pulled up to the silent estate and left my car running in the driveway. I didn’t have much time. I didn’t know how long he would stay with Amily but I needed to be gone before he returned.

I ran up the grand staircase and burst into the master bedroom.

My hands were shaking but my mind was crystal clear.

I went straight to the walk-in closet and dragged my old suitcase down from the top shelf.

I didn’t pack the expensive dresses Liam had bought me for his corporate galas.

I only took what was mine.

My favorite coats. A few sweaters. My everyday shoes from the bottom rack.

I zipped the suitcase shut and dragged it out into the bedroom.

Then, I walked over to the dark wood bedside table. I opened the bottom drawer and pulled out an envelope.

Inside were the divorce papers I had printed before going to the graveyard.

I was too afraid to sign them, too weak to actually leave.

But now I wasn't.

I placed the papers on the table and picked up a blue pen. I stared at the signature line.

But before I could sign it, the sound of tires violently skidding outside echoed through the open window.

My heart jumped into my throat. I looked out the glass.

Liam’s car.