Chapter 4
Marshall's eyes went wide with panic. He bolted into the bathroom, scooped Dorothy up in his arms, and dashed out the door.
Before I could even process what was happening, something acrid hit my nose, and I instantly felt dizzy, like the whole room was spinning.
What the hell was Dorothy up to?
I stumbled out of bed and nearly crashed into the doorway, just in time to see Dorothy clinging to Marshall, crying her eyes out like a kid who'd lost her way.
She wailed, "You just walked out holding Serena in your arms.
"Don't you want me anymore?
"Fine, let's just die together then!"
Turns out, she'd snuck into my room, disguised as an orderly, mixed bleach and toilet cleaner to make toxic gas, all just to stage this over-the-top melodrama.
And now, there they were, huddled together on the stairs, looking just like a pair of star-crossed lovers.
It was like I didn't even exist to them.
Marshall tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear, cupped her tear-stained face, softly murmuring comfort, as if she were the only person in the world.
He said, "I'll have another wedding with Serena, and next time, I'll help you pull off another one of your crazy stunts.
"Come on, don't cry, alright?"
But Dorothy just broke down, sobbing even louder.
She wailed, "Just go and have your perfect wedding with her. Why do you even care about me?"
She sobbed, "Now that she knows everything, what's the point? Even if we try ten more times, it's ruined.
"This regret will never go away. You'll always owe me for this!"
Watching her fall apart, Marshall looked heartbroken. His eyes were full of panic and guilt, totally lost.
He blurted out without thinking, "Just tell me how you want her to die, and I'll go along with it—whatever you want."
I turned my back on him and pressed myself against the window, like maybe that could keep his words from getting to me.
But they still hit me, like a bullet exploding right in my chest.
I yanked the wedding ring off my finger and hurled it out the window. The faint clink as it hit the ground was oddly soothing.
I put one foot over the edge, ready to finally end it all.
Just to go back to the world where I really belonged.
But right then, that familiar system voice chimed in again.
It said, "If you jump now, the timeline will reset. You'll be back at square one, starting your walkthrough all over."
I held my head, laughing through tears. Guess all I could do was just wish they'd finish me off quickly.
Was this really what happened to people nobody loved?
Whether it was the anger or the poison, I couldn't tell—my vision went dark, and I passed out.
I had a nightmare, trapped in the same hellish loop over and over, with no way out.
When I came to, I wasn't in the hospital anymore, but in a cabin that rocked gently with the motion of the ship.
I glanced at Marshall, confused, and he helped me sit up, his gaze soft and gentle.
He said, "We're having our new wedding right here, on this luxury cruise ship.
"Just relax. I'll handle everything. You're going to love it."
Then he took my hand, his fingers softly tracing over my ring finger.
He said, "Since you lost your wedding ring, I ordered a brand new one just for you. I'll slip it on your finger at the ceremony.
"And... Dora's helping out this time. She feels bad about what happened before."