Chapter 4

The smoke got thicker, and Elise's head started spinning.

Gritting her teeth, she forced herself up against the wall and stumbled toward the door.

A fallen beam blocked the way.

No chance.

Elise stared at the flames, then rushed to the window.

She shoved it open, and the cold air cleared her head a little.

Down below, Colsen ran out carrying Snowy.

Bella threw herself into his arms.

"Colsen! I was so scared!" Tears poured down her face. "I thought Snowy was gonna die in there. We raised it together. It's been part of us from the start..."

Colsen stiffened, like he wanted to pull away.

But with Bella crying that hard, he finally lifted a hand and patted her back.

"Don't cry. It's okay now. Snowy's safe. So are you."

Watching them, Elise felt something inside her go cold.

Then numb.

She stopped waiting for someone to save her.

She climbed onto the windowsill, took a breath, closed her eyes, and jumped.

The fall lasted seconds.

Too fast to even feel scared.

Then—

Thud.

Pain ripped through her body.

She lay there as warm blood pooled beneath her.

"Mrs. Locke! Oh my God! Mrs. Locke jumped!"

At the maid's scream, Colsen spun around.

Then he saw Elise.

Lying in a pool of blood.

"Elise!"

For the first time, she saw something new on his face.

Shock.

Disbelief.

And even... panic.

Elise looked at him and tried to speak.

But only blood came out.

Then everything went black.

***

When Elise woke up again, the sharp smell of antiseptic hit her.

White ceiling.

She tried to move, but pain shot through her whole body, especially her legs.

"Elise!"

She turned her head.

Colsen sat beside the bed, eyes bloodshot, stubble covering his jaw. He looked wrecked.

He grabbed her hand.

"You're awake? How do you feel? Does anything hurt?"

His voice shook.

Elise didn't answer.

She just slowly pulled her hand out of his.

Colsen's hand froze in midair.

His face changed.

He figured she was mad about the fire. About him not saving her first.

"Elise," he started quietly, "when I went in, I didn't see you. I thought you'd already gotten out, so I grabbed Snowy. It's not just some dog. It's—"

Elise almost laughed.

'It's what? A symbol of your love for Bella? Proof of all those perfect memories you two had?'

"If you were in there, why didn't you call me?"

'Why didn't I call you?'

Elise finally looked at him.

No anger. No hope.

Just calm.

"Because I don't expect anything from you anymore."

Colsen flinched like she'd hit him.

"What do you mean... you don't expect anything from me?"

His voice was rough. Something hollow opened in his chest.

Elise looked at him like he was a stranger.

"Exactly what I said. I don't expect you to save me. Choose me. Or... love me."

Colsen's heart lurched.

He opened his mouth, but his phone rang.

Bella.

He walked to the window and answered with his back to Elise.

She couldn't hear what Bella was saying. She only saw the tension in his face.

At first, he sounded annoyed.

Then he finally gave in.

"I know."

He hung up and came back to the bed, looking torn.

Before he could say anything, Elise beat him to it.

"Go." Her voice stayed painfully calm. "I really don't need anyone here."

Colsen's chest tightened so badly he could barely breathe.

He opened his mouth, but in the end, all he said was, "Bella's dealing with something. I... need to handle it. I'll be back soon."

After a beat, he added, "I know you're mad about what happened. That's why you're saying stuff you don't mean. Don't worry. It won't happen again."

He paused.

"The anniversary of your mom's death is in a few days. I'll go with you to visit her grave."

Elise's lashes trembled.

"My mom's death anniversary is the same day as Bella's birthday."

She let out a quiet laugh.

"Aren't you gonna celebrate with her?"

Colsen clearly hadn't expected that.

His face stiffened for half a second.

Then he looked away. "What does her birthday... have to do with me?"

Elise almost smiled.

'How could it not?'

In five years of marriage, Colsen always had "something" that day.

Year one, a business trip.

Year two, a meeting.

Year three, a client.

Only later did Elise find out the truth.

Her mom's death anniversary was Bella's birthday.

Every year, Colsen flew more than ten hours to see Bella overseas, stood outside her place all night, left a gift, then walked away.

This year, Bella was back.

Now he could see her himself.

Show her exactly how he felt.

"Oh, really?"

Elise said nothing else.

Too tired to keep talking, she closed her eyes.

Her silence only frustrated Colsen more, but he had nowhere to put that anger.

He stared at Elise's pale face, her eyes still closed.

"There's nothing between Bella and me. Don't get the wrong idea."

The words almost came out.

But in the end, he just said, "Get some rest. I'll come back later."

Then he turned and hurried out of the room.