He Ruined Me, Though Dad Saved Him

Synopsis

The week of my father’s funeral, I received my undergraduate acceptance letter from Columbia College. My father, a veteran firefighter, had died saving Cole Whitaker. On his deathbed, he had entrusted my future to the very boy whose life he’d bought with his own. Now, standing in the funeral home chapel, Cole was making a public spectacle of his promise to take care of me. He wanted me to give up Columbia. He wanted me to follow him to a State University in Texas. In my past life, I did exactly what he said. After graduation, we had a quiet little wedding. But it wasn't until I found out I was pregnant that the truth shattered my reality: the marriage license Cole had given me was a forged document. He was already legally married to my best friend, Juliette McKenna. They even had a two-year-old child together. When I confronted them, Cole just looked at me. "I wish your dad had never saved me. Then I wouldn’t be chained to a tragedy." I lunged at him, screaming. Juliette shoved me hard. I hit the ground. In a pool of my own blood, I lost my baby. When I woke up, my mind was shattered. In a haze, I slipped from the balcony and plummeted to my death. Then, I opened my eyes. I was back at my father’s funeral. Cole stood in front of me, his eyes red-rimmed, playing the noble survivor. "Mr. Hart died to save me. Evelyn, I swear to you, I will take care of you for the rest of my life." I forced down the hatred clawing at my throat and met his gaze. "There's no need." I looked at him. "Living a decent life is the only thanks you owe my dad." "I'm going to Columbia."