Chapter 3

Eliana spent the next few days in the hospital, quietly taking care of her own bandages and meals while listening to the nurses chat in the hallway about how Gabriel and the kids had been doting on Linda. "Commander Ford sure is attentive. He brings dinner for Dr. Shaw every day." "The kids are adorable. The way they treated her was so loving." On the day she was discharged, Eliana passed by Linda's hospital room and overheard voices inside. "Gabriel, Eliana's in the hospital too. Aren't you going to visit her?" Linda asked softly. "She is still your wife and the kids' mother." "She's tough. Nothing ever happens to her," Jamie answered carelessly. "Yeah, Linda, don't worry about her," Hannah added. Gabriel said coldly, "She's fine." A bitter smile tugged at Eliana's lips as she walked out of the hospital without looking back. That evening, at the Ford residence, Eliana had just finished packing her things when the front door opened. Linda walked in with her arms full of shopping bags, offering a sheepish smile as she said, "I only got a little hurt, but you guys spoiled me with all this jewelry. Eliana's hurt too, but no one got her anything, so maybe I should share some with her." "She doesn't need it," Gabriel said, taking off his military jacket without even glancing Eliana's way. Jamie scowled. "She spends all day in the kitchen. It would be a waste to give her something like that." Hannah wrapped her arm around Linda's and cooed, "Linda, you're so beautiful. You're the one who should wear these. Don't bother giving anything to her. She doesn't deserve it." Linda smiled and, as if she'd just noticed Eliana standing there, gave a little gasp of surprise. "Eliana, you're home?" She carried the jewelry boxes over and stopped in front of her, wearing just the right amount of sympathy and kindness on her face. "Gabriel and the kids bought me way too much jewelry. There's no way I'll wear all of it. Why don't you pick something for yourself?" Eliana's gaze was icy as she looked at the sparkling jewelry in Linda's hands. "No, thanks." "Don't be shy." Linda reached out and grabbed Eliana's hand, insisting as she pressed a gold necklace into her palm. "This one would look great on you." "I said I don't want it!" Eliana yanked her hand away. In that instant, Linda gave a startled gasp and suddenly fell back, her jewelry box tumbling to the floor as necklaces and rings scattered everywhere. "Linda!" Gabriel rushed over, shoving Eliana out of the way so hard she stumbled into the wall. Gabriel gently helped Linda up, then glared back at Eliana. "What the hell were you doing?" "I didn't push her," Eliana answered, her voice calm but tired. "Let it go, Gabriel." Linda clutched his wrist, her eyes bedewed with tears. "I just lost my balance. It's not Eliana's fault at all." Gabriel took a deep breath, fighting to control his anger. "I'll take you home to clean up and put some medicine on your hand." He shot Eliana a cold look. "You'd better figure out how you're going to apologize." With that, he wrapped his arm around Linda and left. The kids followed close behind, both glaring at Eliana before the door slammed shut behind them. Standing in the middle of the room, Eliana stared at the jewelry scattered across the floor and suddenly found it all pathetically ridiculous. Later that night, she lay alone in bed, listening to the wind howl outside her window. Gabriel hadn't come home, but she was used to it by now. For most of her last life, he'd avoided being alone with her. He was either sleeping at the base or not coming home at all. Back then, it would break her heart. She'd cry herself to sleep night after night. But now, she just felt numb. She closed her eyes and was just about to drift off when a sharp, acrid smell hit her nose. Smoke was pouring under the door, making her throat burn. She tried to get up, but her limbs were weak, so heavy she couldn't even lift a hand. Just then, she heard footsteps outside, followed by Hannah's hushed voice. "Jamie, are we really going to burn her alive?" "Of course!" Jamie's voice was cold and full of anger. "She hurt Linda, so we have to make her pay!" "But..." Hannah sounded hesitant. "What if she wakes up?" "Don't worry," Jamie said with a nasty little laugh. "I put something in her water. She's not going anywhere." Eliana felt like she'd been struck by lightning. Her blood seemed to freeze in her veins.