Chapter 7
The next morning, just after sunrise, a car engine roared to life in the yard.
Helen opened her eyes and listened as Carter drove away. She was about to relax when the door suddenly burst open.
A sharp slap landed across her check, burning painfully.
Freya stood by the bed, her eyes full of hatred. “Helen, how could you be so shameless? Your husband’s dead, and now you’re after mine?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
Helen clutched her face, but then it clicked. It was because of last night’s incident.
What a joke. She was legally married to Carter, yet another woman was criticizing their closeness.
“It wasn’t like that. He-”
“Shut up!” Freya suddenly knocked a candle off the bedside table. “Don’t think you can seduce him just because you’re pretty! I’ll prove who matters to him!”
The candle’s flame caught the curtains, and the fire spread fast.
“Are you insane?” Helen jumped off the bed to run, but Freya gripped her wrist tightly.
“Why so scared?” Freya sneered. “Do you think I’ll die with you?”
She leaned in, her voice icy. “Before I came in, I had someone call Caleb. Guess who he’ll choose to save first?”
Thick smoke filled Helen’s lungs, bringing tears to her eyes. She struggled desperately when hurried footsteps echoed beyond the door.
“Freya! Helen!”
As Carter ran into the burning room, Helen’s mind drifted to their wedding night when he hugged her and whispered, “Helen, no matter what, you’ll always be my first choice.”
But now, he didn’t even glance at her. He scooped Freya into his arms
and ran.
“Carter…”
Helen reached toward him, but fallen beams blocked the way.
The scorching heat burned her skin. As she collapsed, she thought she saw Carter again, back when he stood behind the stage of the art troupe, smiling as he slipped a milk candy into her hand.
*車車
“Helen? Can you hear me?”
Surrounded by the sharp scent of disinfectant, Helen slowly opened her eyes.
Carter sat beside her, his face unshaven and with dark circles under his
eyes.
“You just had a skin graft. Don’t move.” He tried to help her up, she dodged him..
but
QU
Chapter
“Skin grafting?” Her voice was hoarse. She couldn’t believe what she
heard.
Carter frowned. “You started the fire and nearly killed Freya. A skin graft is nothing compared to that. Why are you so worked up?”
Helen let out a shaky laugh as tears rolled down her cheeks. “She blamed me? And you believed her without a second thought?”
“Who else would I believe?” he said, rubbing his temples. “I’m her
husband.”
The word ‘husband‘ stabbed at her like a blade.
Helen suddenly yanked the needle from her hand. “Then why are you
still here? Leave!”
She threw the IV bottle to the ground, shattering it. Carter grabbed her injured hand. “Helen, calm down. I know you’ve been mistreated. Just wait ten more months until the baby’s born-”
“Get lost!” Helen hurled a pillow at him. “I never want to see your face. again!”
The pillow hit his shoulder lightly.
Carter stood still, his throat moving as he swallowed hard. Then, he turned around and walked out.
After the door closed, Helen spotted a small box of milk candy beside the bed.
It was her favorite treat.
She picked it up and threw it against the wall.
The candies scattered across the floor–just like her shattered heart.
