Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Stand In Wife's Revenge : Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

The weight of the world fell on me once more as soon as the elevator doors opened. I took a shallow breath to try to steady myself as the hospitals sterile cold air seemed to press in on me.Despite Avas quiet but reassuring presence at my side I was only able to concentrate on the fear that was tearing at my chest. I was surprised when the doctor who had been waiting at Fionas room entrance called us into a different room.This room was more clinical colder and surrounded Fionas motionless body with a few more monitors and beeping devices. As we entered the door clicked softly behind us and my gaze instantly landed on her. Still unconscious Fiona lay in bed still connected to a system of machines that hummed softly all around her.She was more lifeless than I had ever seen her and her skin was ghostly pale. The room seemed to be so still that everything around us seemed to be absorbed. She was constantly reminded of her vulnerability by the machines around her. With the use of a vent

It seemed like an endless drive back to the mansion. My thoughts were anything but calm despite the cars constant hum being almost calming. I couldnt stop seeing pictures of Fiona's lifeless icy body.I couldnt get rid of the nagging sense of familiarity. Somewhere somehow I had seen her before but where? The question kept coming back to me like a never-ending tornado preventing me from sleeping.My thoughts kept returning to her no matter how hard I tried to concentrate on anything else. I had to keep it in mind. I needed to understand why everything felt so strange and where I knew her from. However it grew more elusive the harder I tried to remember it like a dream that vanished the moment I made an effort to understand it. I could sense Alexanders silence next to me. I could tell that something was bothering him too even though he hadnt spoken much since we left the hospital. Although he appeared to be distracted by the drive his eyes were focused on the road. A silent strain pe

I moved slowly down the corridor my steps getting heavier as I went. Uncertainty permeated the air around me but I was unable to go back at this time. What was it about Fiona that made me feel so familiar? Why did I feel as though I knew her from somewhere else—somewhere beyond the surface of our shared life?This question had been circling around in my head all night. Despite Alexanders caution and all the evidence that it was a bad idea I started to walk in the direction of her room. I knew that I should have left and gone back to sleep but I was unable to do so. I needed to know.Whatever was dragging at my thoughts I had to find it. When I got to Fionas room I was hesitant. I could hear the faint hum of silence on the other side as the polished wood of the door reflected the soft glow of the hallway light.The hallway was deserted when I looked over my shoulder half expecting to see Alexander standing there observing me. I was by myself with my thoughts and the house was quiet. In

I stared at the file in my lap while sitting there with trembling hands. I was unable to take my eyes off the pages even though the words seemed to blend together. The weight of everything I had discovered was pressing down on me like a suffocating fog and my mind was racing.Everything I believed to be true about the relationship between Alexander and Fiona was completely upended by this revelation. He was never loved by Fiona. Never. The thought alone was enough to chill me to the bone. I had always thought that there was a strong unbreakable bond between them—something genuine—that underpinned their marriage.Alexanders gaze on Fiona in the hospital was something I had witnessed. When he said her name his eyes softened. He had been waiting for her to return to him and for her to wake up. I sensed the devotion in every word he spoke and the hope in every action.Fiona though had never felt the same. After her fathers passing she had seen her marriage to him as a business deal a way

The steam continued to cling to the air as I exited the shower seemingly attempting to smother the weight of my thoughts. I had hurriedly dressed as I made my way to the closet my pants still wet from the water clung to my legs. When I wanted to feel I reached for a sleeve of a shirt I always wore. Typical.The cool cloth brushed against my skin but it didnt make the pain inside me go away. It couldnt. I went to the shelf where I kept the items I wanted to remember. However I didnt find the pricey mementos cufflinks or luxury watches particularly appealing tonight. It was Fionas framed photo. The one I concealed behind all the unimportant things in my life tucked away at the back. I reached for it feeling as though it were a delicate object that I might break if I wasnt careful my fingers grazing the cool frame. The photo was old and had some yellowing around the edges.The love in her eyes caught in that moment remained burning brightly even though the colors had faded over time. I