Chapter 2

After the initial wave of emotion passed, I grew calm.

I decided. I would divorce Stephen Norton.

That bastard was too busy with his first love, Susan Welch, to even pick up his phone while I was fighting for my life. A man like that wasn't worth keeping.

In this life, I would end things with him before the accident happens. I wouldn't let history repeat itself.

But I would have to be careful with the divorce.

My parents, David and Grace, were military. They lived in base housing, surrounded by their colleagues.

If I moved back home after divorcing, the gossip would spread through the compound in no time.

My mom and dad would lose face in front of everyone they work with.

Sitting there, I thought back to my previous life.

Before the crash, I was still foolishly holding onto a thread of hope about Stephen.

I kept thinking that once we had a child, he'd finally let go of his first love and her son. That he'd finally come back to our family.

I blamed myself for being so pathetically naive in that life.

I made a vow to myself.

This time, I will change my fate. I won't let myself die broken and betrayed on that highway.

Looking back at that previous life, Stephen and I, Gina Lacey, had been married for less than six months.

I had thought our marriage would be filled with sweetness and warmth.

But I never expected our peaceful life would be completely shattered when his first love, Susan, returned.

Susan Welch, the girl who totally owned Stephen's heart all through high school.

Now she was back in Baycrest, divorced and raising a four-year-old child on her own.

Ever since she returned, our lives had been anything but calm.

In that life, on this very day, my birthday.

Stephen had held me gently before leaving for work and whispered, "Honey, I'll come home early tonight to celebrate with you."

My heart had been full of hope. I prepared an elaborate dinner, even took my time with my makeup, wanting to look my best.

But as the hours passed, the sky outside grew darker.

I sat at the dining table, surrounded by carefully prepared dishes and a birthday cake with its candles still unlit.

Little by little, my anticipation faded with every tick of the clock.

By 9 PM, Stephen still wasn't home.

Just as I picked up my phone to call him, a text came through from Susan.

[I'm so sorry, but Stephen won't make it back tonight. Harry's running a fever, and Stephen didn't feel right leaving them alone at the hospital.]

Reading it, I could only smile bitterly.

Honestly, I'd lost count of how many times this exact scene had played out in just the last few months.

I remember one time we'd made plans to see a newly released movie on the weekend.

I'd bought the tickets early, excited for what was supposed to be a romantic date.

But right before the show started, Stephen called.

"I'm so sorry, honey," he said, voice full of guilt. "Something came up with Susan. Harry took a bad fall, and she can't handle it alone. I have to help. Let's catch the movie another time."

I swallowed my disappointment and forced myself to sound understanding. "Okay... go ahead."

Then there was the time I spent all afternoon preparing a special dinner, hoping we could enjoy a quiet evening together.

The food went cold waiting for him.

When I finally called, all I heard was his weary explanation. "Susan's car broke down with her and the kid stuck on the roadside. I have to go pick them up. Please don't wait for me," he said.

That night, I sat alone at the table, surrounded by untouched dishes, my heart sinking.

This kind of thing had kept happening over and over these past six months. I couldn't even keep track anymore.

And with every letdown, my heart grew a little colder.

In my previous life, I still clung to the tiniest shred of trust in Stephen, mixed with a hint of sympathy for Susan and all that she was going through.

On my birthday, I couldn't help myself from texting Susan: [How's Harry doing?]

She replied almost right away: [Still under observation, but with Stephen here, he should be fine.]

My heart ached with a sour bitterness, and I dialed Stephen's number.

Stephen answered, sounding totally wiped out. "Honey, I'm sorry. Harry suddenly developed a fever. I can't get away."

Suppressing the lump in my throat, I asked, "Is the child alright?"

Stephen said, "Still not sure. The doctor's taking a look at him."

After a moment of silence, I asked, "When will you be able to come home?"

He hesitated before saying, "It might be a while longer. Don't wait up for me, go to bed."

I bit my lip, trying not to sound too hurt, and said, "You know today's my birthday, right? Did you forget?"

There was a heavy silence on the other end, and after a long pause, he finally answered, "I'm sorry, baby. Once things settle down here, I'll make it up to you, I promise."

I hung up, tears I could no longer hold back streaming down my face.

Staring at the empty room, I murmured to myself, "Is this the marriage I dreamed of?"