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Chapter 10
After driving through two traffic lights,
Lily suddenly jerked the wheel and pulled over.
Her hands shook as she gripped the steering wheel. Then, without warning, she slapped herself—hard—across the face. Twice.
It was her fault. All of it.
She had caused the accident.
She had signed off on the surgery.
Now, Ethan's body was weak. Fragile.
Even a healthy person might not survive a plane crash.
What chance did he have?
Her breath came in short, panicked gasps. She fumbled for her phone, opening her messages with Ethan.
His profile picture stared back at her—smiling, warm, alive. For a second, it was like he was still here. Still hers.
Right now, she needed proof he existed. Needed to see traces of him.
Her fingers trembled as she traced his photo. Over and over.
Their last messages were from two days ago.
She had explained about the banquet.
Poured her heart out.
Ethan never replied.
He always replied. Always.
No matter what.
Her texts had a special notification.
Her calls? Answered before the first ring ended.
When had that changed?
Lily hadn’t even noticed.
Everything shifted after the accident.
She scrolled up, further back.
Wedding plans. Five years of them.
"Lily, what do you think of this dress? You’d look stunning in it. You always do."
"Should we do our photos like this? I want them everywhere at the venue. I want everyone to see how happy you make me."
"The rings I got last time don’t fit right. Can we swap them? You said you had a surprise for me… Did you design them? You’re too good to me."
She had designed a ring.
But not for Ethan.
For Harrison.
The wedding? A lie.
Five years of excitement. Five years of deception.
And he never suspected. Never doubted.
He thought he’d found the perfect wife.
Every word on the screen blurred as tears fell. She typed frantically, pouring out everything she’d never said.
How much she loved him.
How much she owed him.
Red exclamation marks mocked her.
Ethan had blocked her.
Lily didn’t hesitate. She sped back to the rescue site.
Too late.
The sea gave up nothing. No traces. No body.
Meanwhile, my plane touched down overseas.
The crash? Staged.
A gift, just for Lily.
She wanted me broken. Wanted me to suffer. Wanted me trapped in her lies.
So I gave her a farewell present.
My friend met me at arrivals, took one look at my wheelchair, and nearly shattered.
"What happened? Lily swore she’d take care of you."
"Was it her? Why’d you have to come here for surgery? Tell me it wasn’t her. Jack, open your eyes! Stop protecting her!"
I wiped his tears away, smiling.
"I’m fine. Really."
"I chose to stay with her. Consider this lesson learned. I’m done. Leaving? It’s for the best."
"What about the surgery? I don’t want my family worrying. Let’s wait until I’m healed."
He nodded fast. "It’s ready. The best specialists are waiting. They’ve reviewed everything—success rate’s high. We can’t wait. Let’s go now."