Love in the Eye of the Storm

Chapter 16

Alexander's face went pale.

"Madeline," he said, his voice shaking, "I swear, I'll come back right after. But I can't just let her jump."

I didn't say a word. I simply closed my eyes, exhausted.

Chelsea wasn't suicidal. Not from what I saw earlier today.

And Alexander? He wasn't coming back, not this time. Not ever.

He bolted out of the room before I could reply, his mind already locked on saving Chelsea.

"Asshole!" Tanya snapped, glaring at his retreating back. Her anger cracked, breaking into sobs.

"If your brother were still alive," she cried, "he'd beat the crap out of him for doing this to you."

She collapsed into my arms, shaking.

"I should've never supported your relationship with him. You deserve so much better. Maybe if you hadn't been with him, you wouldn't be this sick. Or in this much pain."

I held her close, rubbing gentle circles on her back.

"Don't cry, Tanya," I whispered. "You're way too pretty to ruin your face over him."

She cried harder.

"How are you not furious? How are you not heartbroken?"

"I'm not heartbroken over Alexander," I said softly. "I'm just mad I might not get to divorce him before I die."

I took a shaky breath.

"Promise me something, Tanya. Don't let him come to my funeral. I don't want his filth anywhere near me."

She shoved me lightly, still crying, then pulled me into another tight hug.

"Don't talk like that, Madeline! If you do, I swear, I'm not gonna be your friend anymore!"

I wanted to tell her the truth, that I didn't have much time left. But seeing her like this, I just couldn't.

Then my phone buzzed.

Chelsea had sent another video.

I clicked it open, and my blood ran cold.

She had hired someone to dig up my brother's grave.

The urn was shattered. His ashes... they were dumped in a river.

I watched, frozen, as the video showed people scooping dirt and fragments from around the grave and placing them into the broken urn. But it didn't matter, Daniel's ashes were already gone. Swept away by the current.

I had failed him. Even after all these years. I still failed to protect him.

It hurt. So damn much.

I clutched my chest, struggling to breathe. The pain was sharp, brutal, like something was ripping me apart from the inside.

"That bitch!"

Tanya had seen the video too. She never cursed, but now her whole body shook with fury. She looked like she could kill.

"Daniel saved her life! And she... she does this?"

She grabbed a fruit knife off the table, eyes burning.

"I'll go find her. I'll end her. Right now."

I wanted to let her. God, I wanted Chelsea to pay. But more than anything, I just wanted my brother's ashes back.

I needed to bring him home.

My head was spinning, but I forced myself out of bed.

"I have to find him..."

I staggered toward the door, but my legs gave out.

I crumpled to the floor.

"Madeline!"

Tanya dropped the knife and ran to me, wrapping her arms around me, panic written all over her face.

"Are you okay? Did you hit your head? Just hang on. I promise, I won't let her get away with this."

"I need to find my brother..." I whispered, my voice barely audible.