Love in the Eye of the Storm

Chapter 5

"Buddy!" I saw a flash of pain in Alexander's eyes, but he didn't push me to apologize to Chelsea. Instead, his gaze turned cold as he focused on her.

"Chelsea, why did you kick Buddy to death?"

Chelsea, who was so used to being coddled by him, suddenly looked panicked at the harshness in his voice. But as quickly as it came, she shifted back into her helpless act.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to..." She shook her head, tears streaming down her face as if she were the one who'd been hurt.

"I was in pain, trying to find you. Then Buddy jumped on me, barking and biting. I got so scared, I... I just pushed him down the stairs! I never thought he'd die! I swear, I didn't want to hurt him!"

Her sobs grew more dramatic, making it harder for her to speak clearly.

"You're lying!" I shouted, my voice cracking with fury. "I saw it all! Buddy didn't attack you! You kicked him down the stairs on purpose!"

I couldn't stand the thought of Buddy dying like that, and I couldn't let Chelsea smear his memory. I thought for sure Alexander would see through her lies, after all, Buddy had saved his life once. But then, I heard him say something that made my blood run cold.

"Madeline, can't you let it go? Chelsea said Buddy was attacking her. If that's the case, she was just trying to defend herself. She didn't do it on purpose. It's just a dog. You can't compare a dog's life to a person's safety!"

I was stunned.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. My heart ached so badly it felt like I'd lost the ability to cry.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, he was downplaying Buddy's death, defending Chelsea. He had promised to take care of Buddy, but now he was acting like it didn't matter.

Buddy's life was short, he was already thirteen, struggling with old injuries. How could he have attacked anyone? Alexander was smart; he knew Chelsea was lying. But he wouldn't question her.

I looked at him, feeling empty, like I didn't even know who he was anymore.

The eighteen-year-old Alexander, the one who had treated me like a treasure, was gone. The man standing before me now was someone else entirely, wearing an expensive suit and carrying a heart that seemed to have changed along with his wardrobe.

I barely recognized him anymore, and I was terrified of loving him.

"Chelsea... she hurt me so bad! Am I going to die? I'm so scared!" Chelsea whimpered, snuggling against him like some fragile thing.

"Don't worry, I'll take you to the hospital right now!" he said, scooping her up without a second thought and rushing out.

Watching him rush to her side, I felt a wave of bitterness hit me. She had only minor injuries, but he treated her like she was on the brink of death. Meanwhile, I was dying from pancreatic cancer, and he treated me like I was being unreasonable.

It was laughable.

The man who promised to love me until the end was now pouring all his affection into someone else, leaving me with nothing. So, I decided I didn't want him anymore.

I started to laugh, a harsh, bitter laugh, but it didn't bring me any joy. As I laughed, blood trickled from my lips.

I didn't want to stain Buddy's body with my blood, so I wiped my mouth and carefully lifted him, taking him outside to the back of the yard. I struggled to carry him, but I had to give him a proper goodbye. Slowly, I made my way to my brother's grave.

My brother had been my rock, and I knew he would want to be there for me, even now. After Alexander and I bought the house, I had moved my brother's grave to the hillside behind it. With the help of some staff, I dug a small hole next to his grave and gently laid Buddy to rest beside him.

Soon, I would join them on that long road, reunited at last.

I stood there, lost in my grief, watching the sun rise and set. Time seemed to stand still, and I was consumed by the ache in my heart.

Eventually, the staff coaxed me back to the main house. They commented on how thin I'd gotten and urged me to eat dinner, but my heart was broken. They could see my pain, but Alexander was entirely focused on another woman.

I picked at my food, but couldn't swallow. In the concerned glances of the staff, I excused myself to the bedroom.

Lying in bed, sleep wouldn't come. Staring at the white ceiling, memories from eleven years ago flooded my mind. It was the anniversary of the day we adopted Buddy. Despite his own hunger, Alexander had bought a big cake to celebrate Buddy's birthday, the day we rescued him. He'd promised to celebrate Buddy's birthday every year.

My brother used to tease Alexander, saying he treated Buddy better than he treated people, calling him family. But now, Chelsea shed a few tears, and Alexander brushed Buddy's death aside like it meant nothing, like Buddy had somehow deserved it.

I couldn't shake the image of Buddy lying there in a pool of blood, and my heart felt like it was tearing apart. My body ached, like it was falling apart.

I fumbled for some painkillers, and after swallowing them, the pain eased a little. But the agony persisted, and I was drenched in cold sweat, too weak to move. My eyelids were heavy, and just as I was about to drift off, I felt the bed dip beside me. Alexander's hands found me, pushing my skirt up to my waist.

I realized it was him.

His touch, once so tender and familiar, now felt foreign. His hands were coated with Chelsea's perfume. I recoiled in disgust.

"Don't touch me!" I snapped.

He tried to pull me closer, but I pushed him away with all my strength.

"Madeline, what are you doing?" His annoyance flared, confusion and anger mixing in his expression.

I turned on the bedside lamp, meeting his gaze steadily. I felt nothing, empty, neither sad nor happy.

"Alexander, let's get a divorce."

"What did you just say?" His hands froze, disbelief written all over his face, as if I were being unreasonable.

I spoke calmly, like a still lake, "I said, let's get a divorce."