2

JUNE

Fate had to be mocking me. There was no other explanation for this kind of cruelty.

My father had warned me from the very beginning, and somehow that made everything hurt worse.

I gripped the steering wheel so tightly my fingers ached while tears blurred the road ahead of me.

I could still hear my father’s voice from years ago. I tried to block it out, but all my efforts were beyond futile.

You are at the peak of your career, June. Don’t throw your life away for a man you barely know.

But I hadn’t listened. Back then, I thought he simply didn’t understand love. I thought he was being unreasonable and difficult, but now, I realized maybe he had understood it far better than I did.

A sob climbed painfully up my throat as I remembered the first day I met Rick so clearly it made me sick.

He had been brought into the emergency room covered in blood after a car accident. I’d performed his surgery myself. Six hours standing over his body while monitors beeped around us and nurses rushed in and out.

I saved his life, and the moment he woke up, exhausted, pale and stitched together, he looked straight at me and said weakly.

“So… are you single?”

“What?” I had actually laughed. “Try surviving the next twenty-four hours first.

He laughed back and I thought that was the end of an anesthesia induced joke, but he kept on trying, and for an entire year.

He sent flowers sent to the hospital, coffee deliveries during overnight shifts, he was always waiting outside after work just to walk me to my car and even calling me beautiful like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I had refused him so many times.

Then one day, somewhere between his persistence and his gentleness with Angel, I fell in love with him without noticing, and during that year, he told me everything.

Or at least I thought he did.

He told me his ex had abandoned him leaving him with a baby to raise alone.

He told me her name was Chloe. He told me he got into the accident because he was chasing after her car, desperate to stop her from leaving.

I had cried for him that night. Like a complete fool I sobbed because I couldn't help but ask myself why a woman would throw away a gem of a man like him. Little did I know that there was something more.

Her name was Diane, not Chloe, and she hadn’t abandoned him at all. She had been his wife the entire time.

My chest tightened so violently I could barely breathe.

This morning he had kissed me goodbye, this morning he told me he loved me, this morning I believed him, but none of them were real.

A broken sound escaped my throat as tears poured harder down my face.

What else had been a lie? What else didn’t I know? Was his name even Rick?

My phone suddenly rang, pulling me back to the present. I looked down automatically and it was Rick.

Speak of the devil.

The moment I saw his name, something inside me snapped. My vision blurred completely, then the worst thing happened.

A horn blared loudly, tires screeched, and something slammed violently into my car. The impact jerked my body sideways so hard my head struck the window.

Pain exploded through my skull, and then darkness swallowed everything.

I had no idea how much time passed after that or what the fuck had happened in that space of time, but when I opened my eyes again, the world smelled like antiseptic.

Hospital. I was in the hospital. The realization came slowly and the white ceiling, machines beeping softly nearby confirmed all of that. My head throbbed so badly I nearly groaned.

“You’re awake.” a voice cut through my thoughts, and I turned weakly towards the direction it came from.

A middle-aged doctor stood near the bed with a clipboard in his hand.

“You had a concussion,” he explained gently. “And you lost consciousness from shock.”

Shock. I almost laughed.

As a doctor myself, I knew the accident alone hadn’t caused this. My entire life collapsing in the span of one afternoon probably had.

“What happened?” My voice sounded rough.

“You rear ended another vehicle.” He paused. “Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.”

I closed my eyes briefly in relief. I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if my misfortune had been responsible for another person's injury, or worse, death.

“My phone?” another thought hit me immediately. “Where is it? Do you…”

“The gentleman who brought you in brought your belongings as well.” He picked it up from the bedside table and handed it to me. “He also paid your hospital bill before leaving.”

Of course he did. Even strangers were kinder to me today than my own husband.

My hands shook as I unlocked my phone, and when my gaze fell on the screen, I almost yelled. There were no other missed calls from Rick.

My chest hurt again, but I dialed him anyway. It went straight to voicemail, and I wished I was surprised.

A million and one thoughts ran through my mind as I stared at the screen for several seconds before texting instead.

I had an accident. I’m in the hospital.

A minute later, my phone rang.

It was Rick and I answered immediately.

“June?” His voice came sharp with panic. “What hospital? Are you okay? What happened?”

If I hadn’t known the truth, I would have sworn this man loved me more than his own life.

“I'm okay.” I swallowed painfully. “The doctor said I have a concussion.”

“What hospital are you in?” he demanded again.

“Oakview.” I gave him the name quietly.

“I’m on my way.” The line disconnected immediately afterward.

I stared blankly at the phone in my hand, trying to collect my thoughts. Even now, part of me wanted to believe him and that was the pathetic part.

Not the lies, not the fake marriage, but the fact that I still wanted him to tell me this was all a misunderstanding.

An hour later, Rick burst into the room looking disheveled and pale.

“Jesus Christ,” he breathed, rushing toward me. “June.”

“What happened?” His hands cupped my face carefully like I was fragile glass. “Tell me you're okay.”

I looked into his eyes, the same eyes I had trusted for ten years, and suddenly all I could think was:

How many times have you lied while looking at me like this?

“I lost control of the car,” I said quietly and his jaw tightened.

“You could’ve died.” he muttered, but his voice sounded angry instead of emotional, like the idea offended him. “Don't do that again.” He sat beside the bed and brushed hair away from my forehead gently. “You scared me.”

I nearly broke right there, because he sounded sincere. He lied beautifully and if none of this had happened, I would have actually believed he meant it.

A while later, his phone buzzed. I saw the screen light up briefly before he turned it over quickly, then he stood.

“I’m just going to take this outside,” he said smoothly. “Office stuff.”

Office stuff. My stomach twisted, but I didn't say a thing.

How many times had I believed that excuse?

The moment he stepped outside, I followed him quietly. The hallway lights felt painfully bright against my headache as I moved closer, but I didn't let that stop me.

Rick stood near the corner with his back partially turned to me, his voice softer than I had ever heard it.

“No, stay in your office, love,” he murmured into the phone. “I’ll come to you.” Silence followed after that, then he smiled faintly. “The maid got into an accident, so I had to come check on her.”

The maid. My knees almost gave out beneath me. Years and years of care, and love, just to be reduced to a mere maid.

He continued casually, his voice pulling me back to the present. “Of course our daughter wants to see you.”

Our daughter, not Angel, not my daughter too, but their daughter.

“Tonight works perfectly,” he said. “The doctor said June has to stay overnight for observation anyway.”

My vision swam so violently I thought I might collapse again. The thought was tempting, but I stumbled backward before he could see me and rushed into my room.

By the time he returned with food bags in his hand, I was already lying in bed pretending nothing happened.

“You should eat something,” he said gently.

“No, thank you.” I stared at the tray without appetite. “I’m not hungry.”

“June…” He frowned slightly. “This is not the time that be stubborn.”

“I just want to sleep.”

“Okay.” Concern softened his face immediately, while I fought the urge to call him a liar. “Rest up.” He brushed his fingers through my hair. “I have to head back to work for a while, but I’ll come tomorrow with Angel.”

I nodded weakly, while he kissed my forehead before leaving, and the second the door closed behind him, I got out of bed.

I knew hopping out of bed wasn't safe, but I didn't have a choice. I would rather pass out than let this opportunity pass me by.

I didn’t bother asking for discharge papers. Instead, I changed quickly, ignored the pounding in my skull, and followed him out of the hospital.

I watched from a distance as he disappeared into one of the administrative offices. A few minutes later, he emerged again, but this time, with a woman on his arm.

She was beautiful. In fact, no word in the dictionary could be used to describe how ethereal she looked. She had dark hair falling over one shoulder as she laughed softly at something he said, and on the office door behind them were the words:

Dr. Diane Reeves Head of Surgery

I stopped breathing. No wonder he called back immediately. He wasn’t afraid for me, he was afraid I would see her.

I followed them outside in a daze and climbed into a cab after their car.

“Where to?” The driver asked where we were going.

“I…” My throat tightened painfully as I stared ahead. “Just follow that car.”

I saw the confusion in his eyes, but luckily he didn't ask any questions as he started the vehicle. We drove for what seemed like hours, before the ride ended outside one of the most expensive restaurants in the city.

I watched Rick step out first before helping Diane out beside him. Then they walked inside together like a couple. No, like husband and wife.

My chest felt hollow, but I followed slowly until I reached the entrance, and froze at the sight in front of me.

Rick’s mother sat at the table, his sister beside her, and Angel, my baby, was sitting between them.

“Mummy!” The second she saw Diane, her face lit up completely. “You're here.”

I physically flinched as Angel jumped out of her chair and ran straight into Diane’s arms.

“Oh, sweetheart.” Diane hugged her tightly while laughing. “I missed you. Look how big you've grown.”

I stood there unable to move, unable to breathe. The waiter brushed past me and I barely noticed.

Inside the restaurant, they looked like a family, a real family.

Rick smiled while pulling Diane’s chair out for her. His mother spoke warmly to her, his sister laughed with her and Angel held her hand excitedly while talking about something at school.

Everyone knew, his family knew, his friends knew, even Angel knew, everyone except me.

The fool, the maid, the free nanny. For ten years they had all played me, played me so good I didn't even suspect a thing.

Tears streamed silently down my face as I pulled my phone out with shaking hands. I took a couple of pictures before exiting the camera app. I wasn't sure what the pictures were going to be used for, but that would come later.

My finger hovered over a number I hadn’t called in seven years, and for a second, I allowed doubt to creep in.

The last time I spoke to my father was when I begged him to help Rick financially after his company nearly collapsed.

I had chosen Rick over him and over everyone. My father warned me then too, but still I stayed.

I wiped my face shakily before pressing call.

The phone rang once, twice, and then on the third ring, he picked up.

“June?” My father’s deep voice nearly shattered me completely.

I covered my mouth as a sob escaped. For a moment I couldn’t speak at all. Then finally, I whispered:

“You were right, father.” Silence answered me, but I continued anyway. “Rick lied to me.”

I expected anger, disappointment, an “I told you so.”

Instead, my father spoke softly. “It’s time to come home, sweetheart.”