From Drowning to Darling: A Second Chance

eady to tear up my marriag

e, his face a mask of annoyance. He told me to apologize to Kennedy,

ight to Kennedy, who was faking drowning. He believed her lies,

for a woman who had betrayed him in the past. He even used my o

ning had been a baptism. I finally understood:

for my chronic pain, to Kennedy. He then demoted me to a guest in my ow

pte

air thick with the smell of

ge application,"

yes widening slightly. "Eva? What' s w

e just need to update some info

meticulous. A mistake on an offic

my family for years, still looked concerned. He pulled the

his voice. "Is everything

g in the air

stating a fact that felt like pois

look in his eyes. It was the look I' d

right, Eva. You're his fiancée. If you wan

A bitter smile touched my lips. "Thank y

clicked shut behind me, I walked to the nearest trash can. I tore the marri

as o

.

en up to the sharp, ster

Aubrey sat in a chair beside me, his arms

er of annoyance crossed his fea

he said. It was

deep ache flared in my abdomen, a cruel reminder of the IED bl

ey's voice was sharp, impatient. "Y

nn

ing the memory of what hap

ked up behind me, a smug smile on her face. She said somethin

breath. My leg, the one with the m

surge of hope. Then he swam right past me, toward Kennedy, who was flaili

t black was Kennedy, safely on the bank,

voice colder than the lake

ebrows drew together in a

ke, Eva. She could have died

harsh, ugly sound. "I pushed her

ened from impatience to

ve been jealous of her from the start. You saw me talking

ulous, so twisted, that all

m just a simple soldier. How could I possibly compete

I was just an accessory, a handsome, stable woman he could show off. Bu

about her. About the way she looked at me

n me. I was being paranoid. I was i

. So incred

those dark, freezing moments, I finally understood. I could not fix this. I could

pression brisk. "Mr. Gregory, Ms. Fe

I gave a slight nod.

at my easy compliance, quickly replaced

hen I get back, I expect you to

l

' t com

grinding pain. I didn' t wait any longer. I disconnected the IV myself,

I passed room 204, I heard Aubrey's voice. I

s sitting beside her, carefully peeling an apple for her, hi

s face etched with concern. I watched as she

ect, heartbre

dn' t be o

he looked at me, then at the scene in the

of the cold and the shock," she said, h

nedy in the bed. "

e just swallowed a little water. She doesn'

rrassment. Aubrey immediately stood up and strode to th

ervation," he declared, hi

isted, refusing to back dow

e words a clear threat. "My family is a major donor to thi

e me a sympathetic look, then t

der for justice, using his power and influence to prot

head and start

t," he ca

ut didn' t

owe Kennedy

oice empty of all

ding in the hallway. I ignored the doctor' s advice

City Hall. It was time