Chapter 3
Alex didn’t come home that night.
I lay on the cold floor until morning, when the housekeeper found me and rushed me to the hospital.
He stammered excuses, claiming Alex was consulting specialists about my “new treatment plan.”
I knew it was a lie.
Scarlett’s bragging post was already live – chronicling their “couple” appearance at a Paris haute couture gala.
Their mile high “entanglement.”
Her caption dripped triumph:
“Take the hint and vanish! Make room for ME!”
“Think Alex loves you? Dream on! He pities the cripple!”
“One little move from me… watch him drop you!”
True to form, Scarlett vanished the day before the wedding.
Alex went berserk searching for her.
He even called me,
panic raw in his voice: “Is Scarlett at the house?”
In his haste… or maybe he just didn’t care to hide it anymore… the name “Scarlett” hit me like a physical blow.
We’d loved for eight years, shared intimacy. He still called me ‘Evelyn.‘
They’d known each other three months. He called her ‘Scarlett.‘
Maybe Scarlett was right.
Love doesn’t care about firsts, only who holds the heart.
Meeting Scarlett’s smug gaze, my voice was thick. “She’s here.”
I hung up.
Cutting to the chase: “You want to marry him?”
Her smile was pure victory. The curve of her lips even mirrored his.
“Of course. He dropped the lawsuit. Signed the accident settlement agreement. He loves me this much… why wouldn’t I marry
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Chapter 3
him?”
My heart lurched violently, as if split by blades.
“Settlement… agreement?” The words scraped my throat.
“Yep! See for yourself!”
Scarlett helpfully pulled out her phone, zooming in on the document. She even read it aloud, word for painful word. Ending with, “Evelyn Grant, no legs, but eyes work? See clearly now?”
My hand flew to my chest. My throat felt seared shut. Not a sound emerged.
Suddenly, the front door crashed open.
Alex burst onto the fourth–floor landing just as Scarlett grabbed me near the top of the stairs.
His eyes widened in horror. “Hurt her? I’ll kill you!”
Scarlett gave a broken laugh, eyes red. “You always blamed me for hitting her! But it was an accident! I’ll give her back her legs! Will you… love me then?”
With that, she shoved me hard and flung herself backward.
Thump. Thump. Thump. She tumbled down the stairs.
“NO!” Alex roared, eyes bloodshot.
He stomped hard on my stumps as he leaped past me.
Agony exploded. I curled into a ball, whimpering, as he cradled Scarlett, sobbing.
“Scarlett! Baby, talk to me!”
He trembled, desperate, a cornered lion.
The scene was hauntingly familiar.
Years ago, he’d held me just like that, voice choked: “Evelyn! Baby, talk to me!”
Same man. Same words.
But the one he loved… was her now.
I dragged myself up, breath ragged. “Alex!” I called weakly.
This time… please don’t leave me behind…
He didn’t respond. Scooping Scarlett up, he stumbled downstairs and out the door.
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Chapter 3
“Scarlett, I promise! Wake up, and I’m yours! Only you!”
His anguished cries echoed through the empty house, drowning out my feeble whimpers.
Through the stair rails, I stared at his retreating back.
My gaze dropped to the bloody footprints staining my bandages. A hysterical laugh bubbled up.
Laughter turned to sobs, tears soaking through my fingers.
I whispered, barely audible,
“Alex… I set you free.”
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.
