Chapter 3

After Emily cleared the table, Bella suggested taking a walk in the garden. Noah took a call and had to deal with work in his study, so Emily had no choice but to go with Bella. The sunset cast a golden glow over the garden. When Bella spotted the swing, her eyes lit up. She ran her fingers along the ropes and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, this swing! Back in college, I told Noah that when we have our home one day, we must have a swing that's blue and big enough for two. I can't believe he actually did it!" Emily's nails dug into her palm. She'd always assumed it was just a whim when Noah had someone custom-make the swing. Then, Bella pointed at the glasshouse and continued, "And the glasshouse! I've always loved flowers, and Noah promised he'd build me one and fill it with all sorts of colorful flowers. "I can't believe he remembered." She turned to Emily with a sweet smile. A dull ache pressed against Emily's chest. She watered the flowers in the glasshouse every morning but never knew that they were Bella's favorites. Bella suddenly turned and cocked her head, looking at Emily. "Emily, you've been married to Noah for years, but why does it feel like this whole house is full of things I love?" She paused for a beat, and her grin widened. "Is there nothing here that's yours?" Emily's fingers dug further into her palm as Bella's words felt like a knife slicing across her chest. Indeed, there was nothing in this house she liked because the man who ruled it felt nothing for her. Her face paled, and just as she was about to answer, a deafening crash sounded over her head. Before Emily could react, a heavy flower pot crashed down from the second-floor balcony and slammed into her and Bella. Pain exploded through her skull, and her vision went black. Just before passing out, the last thing she heard was the housekeepers' frantic screams. When she came to, she was being rushed down a hallway on a stretcher. Doctors' anxious voices sounded over her head. "Mr. Lockridge, both patients have severe blood loss, and we only have one operating room available. Who do we save first? The other might not make it." "Bella! Save Bella first!" Noah's voice sounded icy and carried not the slightest trace of hesitation. It felt like a bucket of ice water poured over Emily's chest. She wanted to scream and ask if he could even see her bleeding out and hurting. She was his wife for four years. Did he ever care or feel for her just once? But her lips parted soundlessly before darkness swallowed her whole and plunged her entirely into unconsciousness. … When she woke up again, the ward was empty and eerily silent. The pale white glow of the fluorescent lights fell across the empty bedside table, and not even a glass of water was in sight. She slowly pushed herself up and winced as the wound on her forehead throbbed. Outside the door, the nurses' clear voices drifted in. "That VIP lady in 302 is so lucky. Her boyfriend hasn't left her side for a second." "I heard they booked the whole floor so no one would disturb her." "Wasn't there someone else brought in with her on this floor? There hasn't been a single visitor, and the contrast's just ironic…" Leaning against the head of the bed, Emily curled her fingers into the blanket. The pain in her chest was sharp at first before dulling into something deeper and going numb altogether. Just like her love for Noah, it'd once been bright and desperate until she now felt nothing. When she was discharged, Noah came to pick her up. But instead of taking her home, he drove straight to a lavish ballroom. That was when she learned it was Bella's birthday. The ballroom was decorated as a real-life fairytale. The crystal chandelier sparkled with dazzling light, the champagne towers glittered on the floors, and a live band played something soft and sweet. Standing at Bella's side, Noah shielded her from toasts and leaned in close to murmur in her ear. His eyes carried a soft, warm gaze. His buddies all gathered around Bella as they talked and laughed. No one even thought of Emily standing alone in the corner. She stood there and watched it all unfold, feeling suffocated like an invisible hand had seized her heart. In all four years of their marriage, he'd never thrown her a birthday party. Not to mention a fancy party, he'd always been indifferent to her, even when it was just a private dinner for the two.