I moved back to my apartment & few days later bathut durend op my then seathing
Wenge wat tun? Wow you’re working rumors abd her on
I stared at ham T have no idea what you’re talking why”
He willed and held up the university forum on his phone
Exposed Grad Student Sophie having an affair with a marned professor)
The thread below was a cascade of venom, every reply tearing Sophie apart
I let out a laugh before I could stop myself. Arthur grabbed my arm hard enough to leave bruises his eyes bloodan
with rage
1 was going to make this right between us. But you don’t deserve that. Those posts sent her into another depressive
spiral You’re going to apologize to her.”
He didn’t even realize how hard he was gripping me. It felt like he was about to crush my arm. I gritted my teeth and
spoke through the pain.
1 didn’t write that post
Arthur didn’t believe me. Then who? Who else would have a reason to target her?
Before I could argue any further, his phone rang It was another professor, panic clear in his voice
Prodevor Hastings, you need to get here now. Chloe’s mother showed up at the hospital and attacked Sophie Sophie’s
bysterical shu’s threatening to jump”
Arthur’s face went white. He half dragged me to the hospital
The whole ward was in Chaos Sophie’s cheeks were swollen and blotchy from the slaps My mother stood heal the dist staring at the with wide, terrified eyes
Chise man lay a hand on her
I had never seen my mother this frightened I turned and looked at Sophie holled in the corner and winething hist
Arthur courbed beside Sophie and helped her to her feet his jaw set then be straightened aut isoked at my muffer
Tweet, th
my lofting people You can explain yourself at the police station
depped in tome ut my mother my eyes new and red and the tears id heen holding Hically bruke My mom would
41146
never do something like that
Sophie let her body tremble at exactly the right moment. “Professor, why do they hate me so much? Maybe I shouldn’t
even be alive.”
Something inside me cracked wide open. I screamed at her. Then go ahead. Nobody’s stopping you.”
That was all it took. Arthur’s face went cold. He flicked his hand toward the officers in the doorway, one sharp gesture –
take her away.
I threw myself forward, trying to reach my mother, but hands caught me and held me back. They were escorting her almost to the door when her body seized mid–step and she crumpled to the floor.
“Mom!” I tore free and dropped beside her. My voice was shaking so hard the words barely formed. “She’s having a heart
attack. Get her to the ER. Now.”
Arthur froze. For a split second, he moved toward us.
Then Sophie collapsed behind him. He stopped, turned, and scooped Sophie into his arms without hesitation.
Your mother’s probably faking it because she knows she’s in trouble. Sophie needs a doctor first. Your mother can wait.”
The ground seemed to disappear beneath my feet. I nearly dropped to my knees and begged him. He still sent the
officers to take my mother to the station.
My father died when I was young. My mother had never had much education, but she raised me on her own, washing dishes in restaurant kitchens until her hands cracked and bled. The night before I was supposed to marry Arthur, she pressed her life savings into my hands along with the gold earrings she had worn every day for thirty years.
“If he’s not good to you, don’t you dare suffer through it. You come home to me.”
She was the only person in this world who had ever loved me without asking for anything in return.
Her lips were turning blue. I dropped to my knees on the cold tile floor, begging for help until my voice gave out Nobody
came back.
Arthur left without looking at me.
I sat outside the emergency room, cold to the bone, my hands and feet numb, until someone finally came to treat her The wait felt like it stretched across years
The doctor emerged at last. He shook his head
I’m sorry. You should start making arrangements.
I got to my feet mechanically, like my body belonged to someone else My tears were simply gone
dried up spent
44 14
Chapter 4
Litrad
INSTALL
nothing left.
My phone glowed with a new message from Arthur.
[Your mom crossed a line. Sophie’s trying to hurt herself again because of what happened. If she’s stable by tomor we’ll still have the wedding.]
I walked without knowing where I was going. It felt like my chest was being split open, one rib at a time, like some inside me was coming apart for good.
A hand reached out and caught me before I fell. Strong and steady, holding me up when I had nothing left.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I’m late.”
The next morning. Arthur tucked Sophie into bed and drove to the hospital to collect me. The room was empty by time he got there.
His face went tight. “That’s impossible. Her mother’s still here.”
The nurse looked at him evenly. “The patient’s body was transferred to the funeral home yesterday.”
A
ely still.
message with a singl
records from my abortion.
as necesitan
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
