Marco courted me after he healed. A year later, we married. I thought it was love.
But now, I realized… it had never been his choice.
His grandfather held the strings.
And if he found out Marco was cheating? That Marco wanted me gone?
The old man would destroy him.
I could see it now, the flicker of real fear in Marco’s eyes. He couldn’t lose me. Not because he loved me, but because if he did, he’d lose everything.
And that… gave me power.
For the first time since Celeste’s death, hope sparked in my chest.
I had nothing left to lose. But Marco? He had everything to lose. And I was going to make sure he did.
—
And that night, I picked up my phone to call Marco’s grandfather, my hands trembled.
This was it. My way out.
My thumb hovered over the screen, heart pounding in my chest. One call, and everything would change. I could be free. I could finally breathe again.
But before I could dial, my phone buzzed in my hand.
Marco.
A sick feeling curled in my stomach. I hesitated, then answered. “What?”
His voice was tense, clipped—so unlike his usual arrogance. “Grandfather had a heart attack. He’s in the hospital.”
The world tilted beneath me.
I clutched the phone tighter. “What?”