He Faked His Death,She Died Waiting for HimChapter 1
Ten years after my husband's death, I learned the truth from his own brother: he was still alive.
A luxury villa tucked deep in the mountains. That was where he'd been hiding.
My hands trembled as I pushed open the front door. That familiar face, lounging on the couch, his arm draped lazily around another woman.
"Nathan, it's been ten years. Don't you ever think about going back to see your wife?"
Nathan Henson tightened his grip on the woman in his arms, his voice cold as stone.
"Her condition requires a kidney transplant. But I already gave one of mine to you. If I donate again, I'm dead."
"She'd never say it outright, but she'd cling to me until I caved. Faking my death was the only way out."
"Whether she lives or dies, it's no concern of mine."
His words drove through my chest like needles.
He probably never knew. After he "died," I found out I was carrying his child.
I raised our daughter alone. Ten years spent drowning in guilt and grief.
And he would never know that my own life was nearly over.
Ten years of devotion. Ten years of widowhood. Ten years of guilt.
All of it nothing more than an elaborate lie he'd carefully orchestrated.
——
Before I could step inside, the girl caught sight of my face. She instinctively buried her head against Nathan's neck.
A smile curled at her lips, taunting. "Nathan, if your wife showed up right now, would your heart still skip a beat?"
Nathan pinched her waist and pulled her onto his lap. "You and your jealousy over nothing. Even if Sarah Gilbert got down on her knees and begged, I wouldn't feel a thing."
My fingers tightened around the door handle.
I stepped back. The door creaked.
Nathan's head snapped toward the sound, and his eyes locked directly onto mine.
My vision blurred red. Tears fell, one by one, hitting the ground.
When he realized it was me, he went rigid. Rose to his feet like a man in a trance.
The girl tumbled off his lap onto the floor.
I pressed my hand over my mouth and ran.
I didn't know how long I ran. I ended up by the river, clutching my stomach, crouching down.
The pain. A twisting, wringing agony deep inside.
The color drained from my face. I doubled over and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Nathan came running up behind me and gently wrapped his arms around my body.
"Sarah, after ten years apart, your condition's gotten so much worse."