All Chapters of The Love He Left Behind Along the Way: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Sarah's POVI had just changed out of my wedding reception dress when Zane Hayes burst into the dressing room. "Babe, why are you mad at me?"The handsome man looked anxious as he hurried over and grabbed my hand, eager to explain himself. "Didn't we agree we'd still give each other space after we got married? Hiking is my only hobby. You know that."I held back the tears stinging my eyes. "But you never told me your hobby involved sleeping in the same tent as other women."Zane wiped a tear from the corner of my eye with his thumb and gave me a bitter smile. "What are you thinking, baby? When you're outdoors, there's no difference between men and women."If you're on a long-distance hike or climbing a snow-covered mountain, you're so exhausted that you practically pass out the second you lie down."Everyone's separated by sleeping bags, so there's really nothing to worry about. If you're going to be that particular about it, you might as well not go at all."I pressed my lips t

Samantha stuck out her tongue and muttered, "If Zane didn't always take care of me, I wouldn't act like this."The others at the table burst out laughing again."Zane definitely takes care of you!""You've been hiking for three years, and you still can't even carry your own one-person tent. Every time we go out, Zane has to haul all sixty pounds of cookware and gear, plus your tent."And now it's gotten even more ridiculous. Samantha just posts whatever she needs in the group chat, and Zane buys everything and brings it along for her."My fingers tightened around my wineglass.I'd lived with Zane for five years. I didn't want him eating takeout all the time, so I bought groceries and cooked for him every day after work.Once, we'd run out of salt, and I asked him to pick up a bag on his way home. He acted as though I'd asked him to carry a boulder."Babe, I'm an executive, for God's sake. I go to work in a suit every day, and you want me walking around with some cheap bag of sa

Zane hesitated, as if he wanted to say something.Just then, his phone rang. The moment he answered, his expression turned grim.He got to his feet and immediately began gathering his hiking gear."You hurt Samantha's feelings at the karaoke bar, and she isn't answering my calls or replying to my texts. I heard she's planning to hike the Blackridge Trail alone. That route is deadly for someone at her skill level! I have to find her and bring her back!"With that, he slung his hiking gear over his shoulder and walked out without looking back.The room suddenly felt empty and silent. I forced a pale smile.Compared to his love of hiking, I had always been insignificant.I sighed and picked up the wedding gown he'd kicked across the floor again.But no matter how hard I tried, the stain wouldn't come out.…By the time I returned the rented wedding dress and made it home, a message popped up in the family group chat.Several relatives who had traveled from out of town for the w

Samantha's message popped up without warning.Samantha: [So? Did your wife forgive you when she saw the bracelet?]She'd even included a "Tell me how amazing I am" sticker.But for the first time, Zane wasn't in the mood to joke around with her.The thought of Sarah going on her honeymoon with another man sent a sharp pang through his chest.Then he considered how his own actions must have looked from her perspective.He'd gone off on their honeymoon and spent it with another woman.A vague sense of unease crept into Zane's heart. He picked up his phone and sent Sarah a series of voice messages."Come back and explain yourself.""Samantha and I aren't what you think. Stop sitting there making up scenarios in your head every day!""I didn't sleep in the same tent as her this time. And it wasn't just the two of us on the Blackridge Trail. Everyone in the group can vouch for that. Just come home first!"He sent all three messages, but the signal wasn't great.Three little circ

Zane began asking everyone he knew for news of Sarah.But there was still no word from her. It was as if she'd vanished off the face of the earth. She had even quit her stable nine-to-five job, leaving her coworkers baffled."Our company is so stable. The pay isn't great, but she gets off work early. She could still make it home every day to cook for you. Who knows what she was thinking."Zane drove home. As he waited at a red light, the answer suddenly came to him.Sarah had once had dreams of her own.When they'd first met, she'd been a photographer who constantly traveled for different shoots.After injuring her leg, she'd taken that stable job and devoted herself to being the perfect homemaker, spending all her time taking care of him.Even his love of hiking had started because of her.Back then, Sarah had wanted to photograph the northern lights. He'd followed her all the way to Northvale, and beneath the dazzling aurora, Zane had confessed his love."Sarah, I'll take yo