2

Chapter 2

NORA WINSTON 

A dry laughter tore through my throat as I stared at Sandra's text.

I should beg her for my own husband?

It wasn't her fault but Bryce's.

I thought about the first time I met Sandra one year ago.

She'd been abroad when I got married to Bryce, and only came back on his birthday last year.

She'd approached me with a practiced smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Heard you're Bryce's wife..." Her smile had faded as she glanced at Bryce across the room with a look I haven't forgotten for a second even after years. Jealousy.

"Bryce and I are quite close. You won't get jealous of us later, would you?" 

I had simply smiled, not knowing what I was in for. To me, she was just being sarcastic. I thought it was a normal sibling bond, until I saw the way she looked at him like he was her whole world.

Then I realised that she didn't just see him as her brother.

Then... Bryce started keeping late nights, and most times smelling of Sandra whenever he came come. No explanation. Just that usual soft smile, and the warm hug while pretending nothing happened.

I should've walked away. Perhaps he would've let me go, but to where?

My dad doesn't even care about whatever happens to me here. This marriage was my way of paying him back for picking me up from the orphanage and raising as his daughter anyway.

I dragged myself to my feet and stumbled, my hand reaching for the table for support.

Even now, I couldn't think of walking away. Not because I had nowhere to go, but a part of me was still holding on to the hope that was obviously not there...

*****

NEXT DAY

I paced restlessly in the living room, holding my phone to my ear.

I paused as the call dropped for the ninth time.

I glanced at the wall clock. 

Past nine.

Bryce hadn't come back from the office. 

He always texted me if he would be late, but today, he wasn't taking my calls nor replying to my texts.

Part of me told me to give up. He was probably with Sandra.

He didn't come home last night and even today.

I was almost believing his words, accepting my fate that he never cared about me when he did what he knows best to do... Giving me hope.

My gaze dropped to my phone as I clicked on the text he'd sent me earlier.

'Hey! Did you have breakfast?'

'Hey! It's almost lunchtime. What are you having for lunch? Do you need me to order you something to eat?'

I stared at the screen, biting my lips.

I didn't know what to believe anymore. Would he have sent this if he really didn't care?

Perhaps we just needed to talk about this again. 

I dialed his number again, and after ringing back for a moment, it ended with a beep.

I exhaled deeply as my hand dropped to my side, my heart already racing fearfully.

Did something happen to him? Bryce wasn't the type to ignore my calls and texts. Not even in the early stage of our marriage. He'd always taken my call even when he was in the middle of an important meeting.

I paced again for a moment, then something crossed my mind.

His assistant.

I paused, and just as I was about to dial the number, something caught my attention on the TV.

A car crash.

I casually glanced at it and took my attention back to my phone, then paused.

Wait! That car...

My eyes flicked back to the TV screen, and I froze, my jaw dropping to the ground.

The car model, color, and even though the number plate was blurred, matched the one Bryce drove yesterday. Every detail.

My hand trembled as I reached for the remote control and increased the TV volume to hear the news.

‘… The victim has been rushed to the health centre'.

That was the only thing I heard.

My blood ran cold, knees bucking beneath me, my hand subconsciously moving to my stomach.

No. It can't be.

My eyes searched around blankly for a moment, then I bolted out of the house and hauled a cab to the hospital.

I arrived at the hospital minutes later and headed straight to the reception. 

"I'm here to see my husband..." I said to the receptionist, barely catching my breathe.

"Your husband?" The receptionist stared at me blankly.

"He was involved in an accident."

She stared at me confusingly for a second, then looked through the hospital record.

She lifted her gaze to me and said, “Ms, we don't have any male accident victim today...”

She hadn't even finished speaking when I spotted a man walking down the hallway.

Bryce?

My legs moved before I could make the conscious decision to leave, my eyes fixed on him, trying to confirm if it was really him.

He paused in front of one of the wards, and I saw the side of his face. 

It was really Bryce... Except that he wasn't hurt. He looked perfectly fine for someone who was rescued from that damaged car.

Was I mistaken? Was I worried for nothing?

He walked into the ward, and just as I was about to follow him, two female nurses walked past me, their conversations made me freeze on the spot.

"Mr. Winston was practically losing his mind when they brought her in.”

“Of course he should. Any man would freak out to see their girlfriend in that situation." 

“Girlfriend? I thought she was his sister.”

“Adopted sister.”

“Oh.”

I halted abruptly. His girlfriend?

A stabbing pain moved through my chest, my lips trembling as the realisation hit me hard.

It wasn't him but Sandra who was involved in an accident.

I stood rooted to the same spot, my fingers tight at my sides, my legs trembling beneath me, begging for rest.

My hand found the wall and I crashed against it, releasing the breath I was holding unknowingly, tears burning at the back of my eyes.

I swallowed hard, blinking back my tears as I dragged my feet forward even though every instinct was screaming at me to turn back

from here. 

I got to the door and paused.

Sandra's arms were around Bryce's neck, their lips locked in a passionate kiss.

My breath stopped...