Chapter 2 · When My Fiancé Sided With Her, I Left Him

Every time I looked at Olli, it felt like my heart was being ripped apart.

But that old mansion was the only keepsake my mom left behind for me.

How could I ever give it up to the woman who killed my mom and stole her place in our family? How could my mom ever rest in peace knowing that?

"Nadia, you've got one minute left," Marcus said, his voice icy.

Thud!

My knees gave out, and I didn't care about dignity anymore.

"Marcus, I'm begging you. Please let Olli go!" I choked out. "Why does Olli have to be dragged into our mess?

"When he was little and almost died from parvo, you were the one with tears in your eyes. You cared about him, too. How can you do this to him now?

"Please, just give Olli back to me. He's barely hanging on. Can't you see that? I'm begging you."

Marcus didn't say a word. He simply stared at his watch, his voice cold as ice as he counted down.

"Ten seconds left..." he said. "Five seconds... Doctor, you can inject—"

The syringe was raised high, and Olli was sprawled on the floor, barely clinging to life.

At that moment, I finally understood how truly cold-blooded Marcus was.

I went limb, utterly broken, and cried out, "I'll sign it!"

My hands trembled as I signed the agreement.

Marcus gave a satisfied smile and handed the agreement to Shirley, who was behind him.

Shirley flashed a smug grin and waved the agreement at me.

"Really appreciate it, Nadia," she said, her voice thick with mockery. "Soon, I'll bring my mom over and we'll both move into the old mansion, just like we deserve. She's going to be so happy."

I couldn't be bothered to say another word to her. I turned to Marcus.

"Can you let Olli go now?" I asked.

Marcus nodded and gestured for the bodyguards to release Olli. Then he crouched down, reaching out to help me up.

Suddenly, Shirley screamed in terror from behind me. "Help! Somebody help me. My wheelchair's acting up."

As she yelled, her electric wheelchair lurched backward, accelerating out of control.

In a flash, the wheelchair rolled right over Olli and crashed into the wall, finally coming to a stop.

"It hurts! My legs hurt so much!" Shirley cried out.

At least she could cry out in pain.

But Olli's paws were tied up. It couldn't move or escape. It had to endure the crushing weight of the wheelchair rolling over it. It let out a pained yelp, then fell silent.

Marcus ignored Olli completely and stepped right over it.

He scooped up the pale Shirley in his arms, his voice gentle as he comforted her.

"It's okay. I'm here. I'll get you to the hospital," Marcus said gently, comforting Shirley.

Then he rushed out, carrying her in his arms.

I crawled and stumbled over to Olli, seeing blood already trickling from the corner of its mouth.

At the clinic, I grabbed the vet's hand and yelled, "Save it. It's not breathing! Aren't you a vet? Please, save it."

The vet felt for Olli's breath, then shook his head at me.

"Ms. Hanley, the dog's passed," the vet said gently.

A loud buzzing filled my ears, drowning out everything else.

*****

That afternoon, I could hardly remember how I made it to the crematorium, clutching Olli's lifeless body like a walking corpse.

I had no family to speak of.

My mom died early, and my dad cheated.

All these years, the only ones I truly cared about were Olli and Marcus.

But now, Olli had died a horrible death, and Marcus had betrayed me.

Standing next to the blazing incinerator, I felt a coldness in my bones that no amount of heat could ever melt away.

My phone buzzed twice in my pocket.

It was a message from Marcus.

He typed: [The wheelchair just rolled over Olli. I heard Olli still making noise, so it should be fine, right?

[Shirley was pretty freaked out though. I'm staying at the hospital with her tonight, not coming back. Since you signed the agreement, make sure you withdraw the lawsuit tomorrow.

[Don't be sad. I'll love you even more from now on.]

I didn't reply.

I picked up Olli's urn, and as I looked down, my gaze landed on the ring on my middle finger. The irony was almost unbearable.

Love? Fuck love.

Marcus knew full well how much it would hurt me, but he still went through with it.

That wasn't some accident. That was a deliberate choice.

Given the choice between loving me and hurting me, he picked hurting me.

That was something I could never, ever forgive.

That afternoon, I didn't withdraw the lawsuit. Instead, I spent the night packing and moved out of the place we once shared as a couple.

I took off the ring that once proved he and I loved each other.

I threw it onto the coffee table.

The ring was nothing but garbage, and Marcus's love was even worse, just worthless junk.

My phone buzzed again.

It was a message from the airline.

It read: [Dear Ms. Nadia Hanley, you have successfully purchased a ticket for Flight CA8785 from Denver City to Lumisford. The flight departs at 10:15 AM the day after tomorrow. Have a safe journey!]

Chapter 2

Every time I looked at Olli, it felt like my heart was being ripped apart.

But that old mansion was the only keepsake my mom left behind for me.

How could I ever give it up to the woman who killed my mom and stole her place in our family? How could my mom ever rest in peace knowing that?

"Nadia, you've got one minute left," Marcus said, his voice icy.

Thud!

My knees gave out, and I didn't care about dignity anymore.

"Marcus, I'm begging you. Please let Olli go!" I choked out. "Why does Olli have to be dragged into our mess?

"When he was little and almost died from parvo, you were the one with tears in your eyes. You cared about him, too. How can you do this to him now?

"Please, just give Olli back to me. He's barely hanging on. Can't you see that? I'm begging you."

Marcus didn't say a word. He simply stared at his watch, his voice cold as ice as he counted down.

"Ten seconds left..." he said. "Five seconds... Doctor, you can inject—"

The syringe was raised high, and Olli was sprawled on the floor, barely clinging to life.

At that moment, I finally understood how truly cold-blooded Marcus was.

I went limb, utterly broken, and cried out, "I'll sign it!"

My hands trembled as I signed the agreement.

Marcus gave a satisfied smile and handed the agreement to Shirley, who was behind him.

Shirley flashed a smug grin and waved the agreement at me.

"Really appreciate it, Nadia," she said, her voice thick with mockery. "Soon, I'll bring my mom over and we'll both move into the old mansion, just like we deserve. She's going to be so happy."

I couldn't be bothered to say another word to her. I turned to Marcus.

"Can you let Olli go now?" I asked.

Marcus nodded and gestured for the bodyguards to release Olli. Then he crouched down, reaching out to help me up.

Suddenly, Shirley screamed in terror from behind me. "Help! Somebody help me. My wheelchair's acting up."

As she yelled, her electric wheelchair lurched backward, accelerating out of control.

In a flash, the wheelchair rolled right over Olli and crashed into the wall, finally coming to a stop.

"It hurts! My legs hurt so much!" Shirley cried out.

At least she could cry out in pain.

But Olli's paws were tied up. It couldn't move or escape. It had to endure the crushing weight of the wheelchair rolling over it. It let out a pained yelp, then fell silent.

Marcus ignored Olli completely and stepped right over it.

He scooped up the pale Shirley in his arms, his voice gentle as he comforted her.

"It's okay. I'm here. I'll get you to the hospital," Marcus said gently, comforting Shirley.

Then he rushed out, carrying her in his arms.

I crawled and stumbled over to Olli, seeing blood already trickling from the corner of its mouth.

At the clinic, I grabbed the vet's hand and yelled, "Save it. It's not breathing! Aren't you a vet? Please, save it."

The vet felt for Olli's breath, then shook his head at me.

"Ms. Hanley, the dog's passed," the vet said gently.

A loud buzzing filled my ears, drowning out everything else.

*****

That afternoon, I could hardly remember how I made it to the crematorium, clutching Olli's lifeless body like a walking corpse.

I had no family to speak of.

My mom died early, and my dad cheated.

All these years, the only ones I truly cared about were Olli and Marcus.

But now, Olli had died a horrible death, and Marcus had betrayed me.

Standing next to the blazing incinerator, I felt a coldness in my bones that no amount of heat could ever melt away.

My phone buzzed twice in my pocket.

It was a message from Marcus.

He typed: [The wheelchair just rolled over Olli. I heard Olli still making noise, so it should be fine, right?

[Shirley was pretty freaked out though. I'm staying at the hospital with her tonight, not coming back. Since you signed the agreement, make sure you withdraw the lawsuit tomorrow.

[Don't be sad. I'll love you even more from now on.]

I didn't reply.

I picked up Olli's urn, and as I looked down, my gaze landed on the ring on my middle finger. The irony was almost unbearable.

Love? Fuck love.

Marcus knew full well how much it would hurt me, but he still went through with it.

That wasn't some accident. That was a deliberate choice.

Given the choice between loving me and hurting me, he picked hurting me.

That was something I could never, ever forgive.

That afternoon, I didn't withdraw the lawsuit. Instead, I spent the night packing and moved out of the place we once shared as a couple.

I took off the ring that once proved he and I loved each other.

I threw it onto the coffee table.

The ring was nothing but garbage, and Marcus's love was even worse, just worthless junk.

My phone buzzed again.

It was a message from the airline.

It read: [Dear Ms. Nadia Hanley, you have successfully purchased a ticket for Flight CA8785 from Denver City to Lumisford. The flight departs at 10:15 AM the day after tomorrow. Have a safe journey!]