Chapter 2

The ground was slick from a recent rain.

When I fell, I landed pretty hard.

My head was ringing, and the alcohol hitting me hard made me uncontrollably dry- heave.

My colleagues scrambled to help me up.

Liam glanced at me again, as if I were a wild-haired lunatic.

Probably worried I might hurt his new fiancée, he quickly opened the passenger door, shielding the woman as she got in.

Before she got into the car, she turned and looked at me.

My vision was blurry from the alcohol, but I clearly saw the undisguised hostility in her eyes.

My body swayed, and I cried, trying to lunge at Liam again:

“You can’t leave! I’ve been looking for you for two years! Please, will you come back with me?”

This time, my colleagues held me back.

They awkwardly apologized for me: “We’re so sorry, she’s had too much to drink. Our apologies.”

His eyes were filled with ice. “If you’re drunk, go home and sleep it off. Don’t cause any more trouble, or I won’t be so polite.”

My colleagues half-dragged, half-carried me away.

In my peripheral vision, I only saw Liam’s face, filled with utter disgust.

Our once-passionate marriage felt like a distant dream.

On the way back, I trembled, crying and murmuring to myself, “But he really is my husband.”

Liam was the man I had been married to for three years.

My colleagues took me home and helped me into bed.

When I woke up after sleeping, the bedroom was chillingly, terrifyingly silent.

The stark white light from the ceiling fixture shone into my eyes.

I stared blankly at the ceiling, recalling what had happened.

I even wondered if it had all been a dream.

The alcohol hadn't completely worn off, and my head was pounding.

I fumbled for my phone and made a call to confirm.

“Captain Miller, has Liam returned to Northwood?”