Chapter 2

I hugged him around the neck, burying my face in his chest.

He laughed, his chest rumbling. "Are you really this happy to marry me?"

"Yes! I'm so happy! I've never been this happy in my whole life!" I said.

I reached up on my tiptoes and kissed him. He didn't pull away, just gave me that loving look.

For a moment there, it truly felt like he loved me back.

But real life wasn't a fairy tale romance. Reality hit me hard, and it hit me fast.

There was no wedding, no honeymoon, not even our parents' blessing.

Freddie and I just signed the papers, and that was it. We were married.

But after we got married, I realized life wasn't as happy as I'd hoped.

Freddie never really got over Georgina. He'd just stare at her photos and videos on his phone, totally spaced out. And whenever she posted something on Instagram, he'd keep going back to it for days.

I saw it all, and he didn't even bother to hide it.

At last, we started fighting again and again, until it felt like we were stuck in a loop.

I always spoiled Freddie, treated him like he was the center of my world, but he never once tried to meet me halfway.

The last time, he finally dropped all pretenses and mocked me, "Seriously, what's the point of you making a scene? You think just because we signed the papers, you get to control me now?

"You've been tagging along after me for years. You know better than anyone what's going on between me and Georgina!

"Yeah, I love her. I can't get over her. So what?"

It felt like someone had stabbed right through my heart, the pain so sharp I could barely breathe.

Yeah, no one knew better than me just how much Freddie loved Georgina.

Freddie was the golden boy of the Berry family. He was both the most popular guy and the top student, and as he got older, he became the one everyone looked up to in his circle, always calling the shots.

He was so proud, so dazzling, never once bowing to anyone.

But in his freshman year, he fell head over heels for Georgina at first sight, and for her, he'd throw all his principles out the window.

There was this one time when Freddie's sworn enemy kidnapped Georgina and tried to force Freddie to kneel. He didn't even blink, just went down on his knees without a second thought.

I was there too, hiding in the corner and quietly calling an ambulance. By the time the cops showed up, Freddie was beaten to a pulp, blood all over him, but Georgina was safe in his arms, completely unharmed.

Thinking about all the things Freddie did for Georgina over the years, things that made me so jealous, so insecure, I could barely even let myself remember them. My sobs came out in shaky gasps.

"If you love her so much, then why did you marry me?" I choked out.

"If you hadn't gotten pregnant without my say-so, do you really think I'd have married you?" he sneered.

He let out a cold laugh, stomping all over my dignity.

With that, he slammed the door and stormed out.

I don't know how long it took before I could finally breathe again. Then, in a daze, I left that so-called "home."

I didn't take any luggage, didn't even grab my phone.

I wandered the unfamiliar streets like a lost puppy, not knowing where I was going.

It started to rain, but I didn't bother to find shelter.

I didn't see the point in running from it.

I didn't even know why I was still alive.

I ended up at the bridge by the river without even realizing it.

I fell. I didn't even try to stop myself.

The freezing water hit me like a punch to the chest, flooding my lungs. I tried to fight, but it didn't take long before I just let go.

Maybe it's better this way. Just let it end.

But fate had other plans.

I didn't die. When I opened my eyes, Freddie was right there by my hospital bed, keeping watch over me.

He looked pale and haggard, his eyes bloodshot, hair all messy, and stubble covering his jaw.

As soon as he saw me wake up, Freddie immediately reached for my hand, his voice trembling. "Alyson, you're finally awake?"

In that moment, you could see real happiness in his eyes, a kind of relief and joy, like he'd just gotten back something he thought he'd lost forever.

I tried to speak, but my throat was so dry it hurt.

He hurried to give me some water, then kept apologizing nonstop at my bedside.

"Alyson, I'm sorry. I never should've said those things to hurt you, and I definitely shouldn't have left you all alone.

"I promise I'll never do it again. Please, don't do anything reckless. For the baby's sake, please forgive me."

I glanced down at my belly, six months pregnant and still round. It looked like the baby was fine.

"Freddie, let's get a divorce," I said, my voice steady but cold.

He was stunned, like he never expected me to say that.

"Don't be ridiculous, Alyson. Don't do this just to spite me," he said, his voice soft and pleading.

"Go be with Georgina," I said, my voice cold and steady.

"Don't ever mention her again!" Freddie snapped, his voice rising. "From now on, she's off limits."

I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting back the tears, but they still slipped out and soaked my lashes.

He gently wiped my tears away, teasing, "Babe, you love me to death and still dare to talk about divorce? If we really split up, are you planning to take another dive into the river?"

"None of your business!" I snapped.