Chapter 3

2

“Caleb, do you think Avery is hiding because she doesn’t want to help me?” Brielle asked, looking like a wounded puppy.

Caleb reached out and gently stroked her hair.

“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. It’s just a blood condition. Even if she won’t help, I’ll search the whole world to find a donor for you.”

Brielle pouted, leaning into his touch. “But Avery’s blood type is the only one that doesn't make me feel sick. The doctors said they’ve never seen a better match.”

Caleb looked at the locked door, his voice filled with a dark promise. “Then I’ll dig through the earth itself to find her for you.”

My heart still stung, even though I knew I shouldn't care.

Watching them stand there brought back a flood of memories I tried to bury.

Caleb and I met when we were teenagers. Back then, he was like the morning sun―bright, warm, and full of hope.

I was the one who fell in love first.

Eventually, we got married. I thought he was my rock, my everything.

I stayed by his side through the long nights of studying and the years of being broke.

He promised he would protect me forever. And for a while, he actually did.

But life is messy, and dreams often crumble when they hit reality.

When he was trying to break into the high-stakes world of politics, I did everything I could to help him.

That was when I met Zane, the spoiled son of a wealthy senator.

Zane was a predator who spent his days chasing women. From the moment he saw me, he wouldn't leave me alone.

It escalated until one night at a gala, Zane tried to force himself on me. Caleb didn't hesitate; he smashed a crystal decanter over Zane’s head.

That one act changed everything.

We lost all our connections, and we had to give up everything we owned just to keep Zane from pressing charges.

That night, Caleb held me and apologized over and over.

He told me he would make it up to me. He promised that once he was successful, no one would ever hurt me again.

He kept half of that promise. Once he became powerful, no one dared to touch me.

Except for him. He hated me more than anyone else ever could.

I didn't want to think about the past anymore.

I looked at his cold, handsome face. The summer wind blew his hair, highlighting the deep frown lines on his forehead.

He held Brielle close, but his eyes were fixed on the tall weeds growing around our old front porch.