Chapter 3

As soon as Georgia's words landed, a chill shot up Cheyenne's spine. Before she could even react, Georgia yanked her wrist, pulling her into the middle of the street. The sound of tires screeching sliced through the air. Startled, Cheyenne looked up just in time to see a sports car heading straight for them. In that split second, time seemed to freeze. Across the street, she saw Nolan sprinting toward them. His eyes widened, panic etched all over his face. "Georgia!" In a flash, he sprang forward, sweeping her out of harm's way. A dull thud followed. Cheyenne's body was hurled through the air like a broken kite. She slammed onto the pavement ten meters away, blood pooling beneath her. Every fiber of her being ached. Cheyenne felt as though her organs had been ripped apart. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and her vision blurred. Still, she gathered what little strength she had and managed to lift her head. Not far away, Nolan held a trembling Georgia tightly. "It's okay… It's okay, I'm here now," he whispered, his hand patting her back. In the fleeting moments before darkness claimed her, Cheyenne's mind drifted to a memory from when she was 18. She remembered the night she had been burning with an extremely high fever. Nolan had stayed by her side the entire time, holding her and keeping watch through the night. When had everything shifted? When Cheyenne woke up, she found herself in a hospital room. Her eyes slowly opened, and she saw Nolan sitting quietly beside her. As soon as he noticed she was awake, the tension in his brow softened, but just as quickly, it hardened once more. "What did you want from Georgia?" he asked coldly. "I've stayed away from her like you wanted. Why do you still have to meddle in her life?" Cheyenne's pupils constricted in shock. Even after her near-death experience, Nolan's first words were laced with accusation. It was clear that he couldn't care less about her. She managed to force the words out. "Looks like your definition of 'staying away' is a bit different. Did you forget you crashed her wedding?" Nolan stiffened, his gaze sharpening. "Have you been investigating me? "Georgia's parents were forcing her to marry a man ten years older than her. I already failed her once. I couldn't just sit back and watch her ruin her life!" His voice escalated. "Are you really going to make a fuss over this? Do you have any empathy at all?" Cheyenne's fingers curled into the bedsheet. To Nolan, her questions seemed trivial, and her heartbreak revealed nothing but her own inability to empathize. "If you care about her that much… Then why won't you just admit it?" Cheyenne rasped. Her words hit him like a blow, igniting the fury he had kept buried for so long. "And what good would that do?" he snarled, leaning over her. His hands gripped the bedrail, trapping her in place. "Wasn't it you who forced me to make a choice back then? "Yenne, we've been together for so many years. I gave you everything you could ever want, and I never once shortchanged you." His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice trembled as he spoke. "I just needed some space, that's all. I lost my way for a bit, but I came back to you. Meanwhile, you wouldn't let Georgia go. Do you really want to drive me insane?" Cheyenne's tears finally broke free. She wanted to ask Nolan if he had forgotten their past. When they were four, he had given her a lollipop and told her she'd be his wife someday. At 14, he'd stood before the whole school and declared that she was his. He'd gone so far as to warn every boy to stay away. At 18, he had confessed his feelings beneath a sky of fireworks. "Yenne, I like you." But for some inexplicable reason, it had somehow become her fault that he'd been driven to the edge. Cheyenne bit her lip. Her chest heaved as she fought to stifle each sob. Seeing her tears, Nolan's anger slowly began to fade. He loosened his fists and rubbed his temples. "I know you feel insecure, but I have boundaries. I'll keep my distance. Now that I'm back with you, I'll treat Georgia only as a friend. Please trust me this once," he said, averting his gaze. Cheyenne recognized that tone. His patience had clearly reached its limit. Arguing further would be pointless. It would only escalate the conflict and make her feel worse. She didn't want to torment herself any longer. Weary, she closed her eyes. The tension in the hospital room gradually eased. Convinced Cheyenne had absorbed his words, Nolan decided it was time to reveal the surprise he had prepared. "Haven't you always wanted to see the Northern Lights? I've already planned our trip. For our third wedding anniversary, I'll take you to Antarcticus. Whatever gift you want, just say the word. I'll make it happen." Though a smile curved her lips, Cheyenne's heart ached. Their marriage had been fake all along. What anniversary was there even to celebrate? Just as she was about to speak, Nolan's phone rang. After seeing the screen, he got up at once. "Get some rest. I have a meeting at the office. If you need anything, call me. I'll come right away." Cheyenne caught sight of the caller ID. It was Georgia. He was lying again. But at that moment, it no longer mattered to her. In just a few days, she would be gone for good. From then on, whatever Nolan did or whoever he loved would have nothing to do with her.