Love in the Eye of the Storm

Chapter 2

I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Gallbladder polyp removal was a simple procedure. Painful? Maybe. But nothing compared to the pain I was in. No one seemed to care about my suffering. For the first time, I seriously considered divorcing Alexander.

"Please let me stay," Chelsea's voice was sweet, dripping with manipulation. My stomach churned as another wave of pain hit me. I glared at her, my voice cold as ice. "Get out of my house."

The moment the words left my mouth, Alexander appeared from the master bedroom, wrapped in a bathrobe, his damp hair glistening with water. He'd just showered. His eyes landed on me, full of disapproval. "Chelsea helped me through a rough time. She's sick and has no family here. There's plenty of space in this house. What's the harm in her staying for a few days? Madeline, when did you become so cold-hearted?"

A sharp pain spread from my abdomen to my chest, making me double over. We'd been together for over a decade. Everyone knew how deeply he once loved me. I never imagined he would accuse me of being cold-hearted, especially not for the sake of another woman. Disappointment and agony swallowed me whole, each breath feeling like a struggle. I didn't want to cry in front of someone who had betrayed me, but when I opened my mouth, my voice cracked, trembling with emotion. "A-Alexander, I'm sick too."

He paused, his eyes briefly flickering with concern, but the moment passed. His perfect face turned indifferent, annoyed. "Do you always have to compete with Chelsea? Are you done being irrational, Madeline?"

So that was it. To him, I was just irrational. Even when I was dying.

I stared at him, trying to hold back tears, memories flooding my mind. Back when my brother passed, Alexander was 18. He couldn't bear to see me sad, so he did everything to make me smile again. He carried me on his back, running through the spring breeze, holding me under the stars as he made promises. He said he would love me for a thousand years and never let me be sad. If he broke his promise, he'd swallow a thousand needles. But now, those vows felt like a distant dream.

"Madeline, don't misunderstand. There's nothing going on between me and Alexander," Chelsea said, her eyes red, tears perfectly placed on her face. "The shower in my room is broken. That's why I used your bathroom. I'll take my things and go back to the guest room. Don't worry, I won't get in the way."

She turned to leave, and that's when I saw it, the lacy lingerie scattered across the bed we shared. It wasn't mine. I'd always been conservative with my clothing, but this lingerie was bold, seductive, completely Chelsea's style. Even if she'd just come in to use the bathroom, there was no reason for her underwear to be left on our bed. It was clear she hadn't just used the bathroom. She hadn't just come to shower. And I couldn't believe Alexander didn't know what she was doing. He seemed to let it all happen, almost like he enjoyed it.

Crash! The sharp sound of something breaking snapped me from my thoughts. I looked down and saw my necklace shattered on the floor. Chelsea's expression shifted for just a moment, a flash of malice before her innocent act returned.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I didn't notice it was on the floor and accidentally stepped on it. I really didn't mean it."

I stared at the broken necklace, tears welling up uncontrollably. It had been a gift from my brother. When I was 17, I survived a near-fatal car accident. My brother had heard about an amulet from a local legend and trekked up a steep hill to the old chapel to pray at each step. When he returned, he brought me the necklace, a symbol of his unwavering belief that it would protect me on my recovery. The day after he gave it to me, I woke up from my coma. Coincidence? Maybe. But it felt like a miracle. And now, standing on the edge of death, that necklace was broken. My brother died a month later, sacrificing himself to save a little girl. That girl was Chelsea.

Her family never thanked him. In fact, her mother had said, "It's his duty as a firefighter. I won't be guilt-tripped into gratitude." And now, the same girl whose life my brother saved was living in my house, destroying his last gift to me. The necklace could never be repaired, just like my brother could never come back. Just like I couldn't escape the fate of dying before I turned 27.

"I didn't mean it... I'm really sorry..." Chelsea whimpered.

"Get out!"

Hearing her fake sobs pushed me over the edge. I raised my hand and slapped her across the face.

"Ugh!"

"Madeline!" Chelsea's sobs grew louder, and Alexander, clearly worried I might hurt her again, instinctively shoved me away. I hadn't eaten, and the pain in my stomach and back was so intense that I could barely stand. With his strong push, I stumbled and fell to the ground.

"Madeline..." Alexander finally seemed to panic. He sent Chelsea out of the room and quickly bent down, wrapping his arms around me gently. "It's just a necklace. If it's broken, we can buy another. Why did you have to hit Chelsea?"

He paused, looking into my eyes, a strange softness in his voice. "Can you just stop? Chelsea helped me when I needed it. Now she's sick, and I can't just ignore her."

I felt like I didn't know Alexander anymore. He knew how much that necklace meant to me, yet he dismissed it so casually for Chelsea's sake. I regretted loving him so much. He tightened his grip on me, his tone softening, trying to calm me. "That night... I just wanted to help Chelsea. She reminds me so much of you when you were younger. Seeing her with those same beautiful eyes... I couldn't bear to watch her suffer."

Sure, Chelsea had a youthful face that reminded him of me at seventeen. But hearing him say that didn't touch me at all. I couldn't understand it. I used to laugh when I heard about someone looking for a replacement. But now, with me still alive, it just felt tragic. Why was he already looking for someone else? I was still here, why couldn't he wait until I was gone?

I couldn't help but feel that he was hasty. He should have waited, let me take my last breath and fade away, and then, and only then, could he seek someone else. But not while I was still here, a mere shadow in our shared life.

"Alexander, you should wait a little longer," I said, my voice bitter and sorrowful. "I'm not lying to you. I'm sick. I might have a month left. You should wait until I'm gone before moving on with Chelsea."

"Are you really cursing yourself just to push Chelsea away?" Alexander's arms loosened, a flash of displeasure crossing his face.

I could feel the coldness in his eyes. He had already moved on, and all I was left with was the ruins of what we once had.

"If you can't let Chelsea go, then I'll leave. If I walk out today, I won't come back."