When Forever Crumbles: Love's Harsh Reality

and the quiet beeping of a machine. I

in, her face f

miscarriage. The fall caused a significant trauma. I' m afraid...

stared at the clinical w

s tears filled my e

b escaped my throat, then anothe

here?" I managed to

red. "He... we tried to reach him. He sa

t me bleeding on th

ing down my face. She quietly left the room

ide the pediatric ICU. Leo had been stabilized, but the seizu

n felt a pang of guilt as he remembered me, falling in the room. He'

or," Karly said, her voice sm

harsher than he intended. "She' s tough. I

ry. He went and bought her a bott

ar room. He was out of immediate danger. Karl

don' t know what I would

uld breathe again. He patt

ing her a room at the five-star hotel acros

he hotel room Jackson had paid for, the

s to talk to you," she s

s son' s weak, whimperi

? I' m

ackson' s heart. "It' s ok

o whispered. "But I don' t like h

ng words to her son. She hung up and looked

family, Jackson.

ed him of that night in Vegas, of a woman who had needed him. He was overwhelm

d her cheek. "I' m sorry

ness. He saw his wife' s face in his mind, and he pushed it away. He pulled Karly

out love or even desire. It was

felt a wave of self-disgust. He threw his clothes in th

gnawing at him. He finally call

is Eleano

. She never came

voicemail. He raced back to the hospital, his mind reeling.

r for a long time before

g at the ceiling, my face

, rushing to my side.

ay, the sight of hi

. I know I messed up. I' ll do a

was crying for our lost baby, and he thought I was crying over a f

ef and betrayal. He was already consumed with guilt over one child; I co

a lifeline, letting him think my pain w

e whispered, his voice thick

I would carry this secret alone. I would prot

be the g

ars had stopped. As he hugged m

is ear, was a dark, unm

my veins tu

different tie. He hadn' t been home. He had been with her all

my entire world around, died. The image of him shatte

hange in me. He was to

is face bright with a desperate hope. "They found a

here' s just one thing. Leo... he has a wish. Before the s

t me, his e

s, a fake wedding for them. Just until he' s better. Please, Ellie. It would just b

o step aside. To watch him marry another woman. To sacrifice my dignity for the

it was beyond tears. It w

, selfish face, and a str

y voice flat and ev

he idea of me, the perfect wife for his perfect life. And whe

ed on my own before. I had st

a secret

ly. Waiting for m

at he wanted. And then I would