2

That night, I packed some of my everyday clothes into a suitcase.

The latch clicked shut just as Carlos pushed open the door and walked in.

He'd already changed into a loose robe, and he smelled faintly of woodsy soap after his shower.

I glanced at him, then went back to what I was doing.

"Why aren't you with Nina? She just moved in. She needs company."

Carlos stopped short and frowned. "You're my wife. Why would I keep Nina company? My nights belong to you."

His words struck me as bitterly ironic.

After the lights went out, Carlos moved closer behind me. Out of habit, he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me tight against his chest.

He rested his chin on top of my head and let out a long breath.

"Alice, thank you. I'm the luckiest man alive to have you by my side."

Listening to his steady heartbeat, I closed my eyes and moved his arm off my waist.

When I woke the next morning, his side of the bed was already cold.

My phone buzzed on the pillow. My lawyer had sent over the legal separation papers.

A message came with them: "Donna, you and your husband must live apart for at least six months before you can divorce."

Before I could read them closely, my bedroom door suddenly flew open, and someone rushed in.

The elderly maid was white as a sheet, her voice shaking so badly she could barely speak. "Donna! Something terrible's happened. The Don's been shot!"

My mind went blank. "What did you just say?! Where is he?!"

The maid rushed to explain. "At the family hospital. The Don took Mrs. Russo to the jewelry store earlier today to pick out some jewelry, and they were ambushed. He was shot in the back protecting her!"

Fear drowned out all reason.

I didn't stop to think. I even forgot that I'd already decided to let him go. I threw on some clothes and raced out of the estate.

At some point, it had started to rain.

I sped all the way to the hospital and arrived soaked to the skin, a complete mess.

I raced down the hall to his room. My hand shook uncontrollably as I pushed open the door.

But the moment the door opened, my panic vanished.

Inside, Carlos was sitting up in the hospital bed, a little pale, his back wrapped in thick bandages.

Nina lay against his chest, sobbing so hard her shoulders shook.

"Carlos, if anything happened to you, how would I go on? Sam's already gone. If you left me too, I really would..."

Carlos raised a hand and gently stroked Nina's hair.

The ruthless Don's voice was unbelievably tender, as if he were soothing a child.

"Silly girl, I'm fine, aren't I? Don't cry. I'm sorry I made you worry."

He looked at her with a tenderness I'd never seen from him before.

It was like a bucket of ice water had been poured over my head, shocking me fully awake.

Slowly, I let go of the door handle and walked out of the hospital.

The rain was coming down harder, and I didn't bother with an umbrella. I let the cold rain soak me through.

That night, after I got home, I came down with a high fever.

Memories from my last life came rushing back, whether I wanted them to or not.

In my last life, Carlos was injured years later while he was abroad.

When I heard he'd been shot, I was already pregnant. I spent the entire night at church, praying to God and begging Him to spare Carlos, even if it meant taking my life instead.

It wasn't until much later that I learned the truth. Before his wounds had even healed, he heard that Nina and her child were being bullied and rushed over with a gun. He remained under emergency care for three days before he finally woke up.

Because I'd knelt for so long, I nearly lost my own baby.

The insistent ring of my phone pulled me out of those painful memories.

My old college professor's gentle voice came from the other end.

"Alice, our university's archaeology team recently discovered an Old Kingdom site in Egypt. We need experts in ancient Egyptian language and history for the project. You were the top student in my class. Would you be interested in joining us?"

I wiped the tears from my face and answered firmly.

"Professor, I'd love to join!"

The professor sounded thrilled. "Wonderful! We leave in a week. You'll need to make your arrangements before then."

I hung up with a faint smile of relief.

Carlos, this time I'm leaving your world for good.