Chapter 3

3

Fallon and I first met on a movie set where she worked as legal counsel.

I fell deeply in love with her serious, dedicated demeanor.

As the set's lead special effects makeup artist, I rarely had direct interactions with her.

That changed the day her toxic family stormed the set, demanding cash.

They threatened to marry her off to a wealthy man twenty years her senior if she didn't pay.

She came to me in tears, saying she would stay and marry me if I helped her out of that nightmare.

Seeing the woman I adored weeping so helplessly tore my heart apart.

I agreed without a second thought, knowing full well she was only marrying me for my money.

I didn't care; I foolishly believed that devotion over time would eventually win her heart.

All my hopes shattered into dust the day her childhood friend, Gavin Shaw, reappeared.

When I caught them in an intimate embrace on set, Fallon lashed out at me immediately.

"You're already married to me, isn't that enough? Gavin and I aren't even officially together!"

"Stay out of our business, or I swear I'll divorce you right now!"

Terrified of losing her, I swallowed my pride and endured the humiliation in silence.

Yet my tolerance only fueled their shameless behavior.

Fallon visited Gavin's sets without shame, openly flirting with him in front of everyone.

She even began spending nights in his hotel room.

When I called her, she snapped at me to get lost and blocked my number.

The entire crew gossiped behind my back, pitying the cuckolded husband.

Unable to take the disgrace any longer, I cornered Gavin to confront him man to man.

Inside the dressing room, Gavin wore a smug, venomous grin.

"You can't even keep your own wife in bed, and you want to blame me?"

"You should be thanking God I haven't made her divorce you yet. Who gives you the right to lecture us?"

"You're just a pathetic makeup guy. You're not even in my league!"

He looked at me like I was a circus clown, laughing off every warning I gave him.

Pushed to the brink, I threatened to cut off all financial support to Fallon if they kept seeing each other.

I even reminded him that the very indie film he was starring in was funded by my money to make Fallon happy.

Hearing that, Gavin's expression darkened with sinister malice.

His bloodshot eyes glared at me with pure hatred, though he didn't dare speak another word.

I thought my threat had worked, completely blind to the murderous intent brewing in his heart.

After the wrap party that night, a sudden fire broke out on the soundstage.

I was packing up the makeup room when Gavin slipped back in under the guise of retrieving his belongings.

As I made a run for the exit, someone struck the back of my head with brutal force.

The last thing I saw before blacking out was Gavin's twisted, mocking smirk.

When I choked on thick smoke and regained consciousness, I was lying broken on the burning floor.

Through the flames, I saw Fallon rushing into the inferno.

I weakly reached out toward her, but she walked right past me without a glance.

She sprinted straight toward Gavin, who was safely away from the worst of the blaze.

"Gavin, don't be scared! I'm here to save you!"

Not only did Fallon leave me behind, but she also kicked a heavy metal vanity cabinet as she fled.

The cabinet crashed down, pinning my legs to the floor and crushing my bones.

"Get out of the way and stop playing dead! If you slow me down from saving Gavin, you're dead meat!"

I was left alone to be consumed by the roaring flames.

Before taking my final breath, I stared at the door, still praying she would come back for me.