Chapter 18
The white walls of the hospital room were suffocating.
Candice stared blankly at the IV drip, her wrist wrapped in gauze, her lips parched. The quiet beep of the monitor beside her was the only sign that time was passing. It should’ve been tranquil here-sterile and silent-but her mind was anything but.
She couldn’t believe what River had done.
Even now, she replayed it in her head. The way his hand had gripped her wrist. The cold, furious glint in his eyes as if she were a stranger to him. She had seen hate in men’s eyes before-bu never River’s. Not the man who once swore he would give up the world for her.
Candice closed her eyes, trying to block out the sting.
Seven years.
That’s how long she had stayed away. How long she had believed that River would always com back. She had left for her career, thinking it was a temporary pause in their story. She didn’t eve say goodbye properly. Why would she? She knew River would wait. He always did.
And when he didn’t… when she saw that he had moved on with someone else-with Allison-she wasn’t worried at first. Allison was beautiful, sure, but quiet. Safe. A girl with dreams painted i colors instead of ambition. She wouldn’t last, Candice had thought. River would get bored.
But she was wrong.
She was so damn wrong.
She underestimated Allison-and she overestimated herself.
And now here she was. Alone. In pain. And worse, replaced.
At first, Candice wanted to walk away again. Let River and Allison destroy each other. Bu something in her snapped the moment River raised his hand to her. Not just physically-bu emotionally. It wasn’t just rage. It was betrayal. She was supposed to be the only one who ha he power to break River-not the other way around.
No, she wasn’t going to walk away this time.
She picked up her phone, her fingers trembling but determined.
She had kept tabs on Allison-out of curiosity, maybe, or out of some twisted jealousy she didn’ want to name. And when she gave the order to one of River’s old men, it was almost too easy.
“Send me Allison’s address,” she whispered hoarsely.
But before the man could give her a full response, his tone changed. “Ma’am… River’s already on his way there. We just found out.”
Candice’s stomach twisted.
What?
No.
She had been too late.
She grabbed her phone and opened a new message. The number was one she had obtained months ago, when she was still pretending to be indifferent. It belonged to Allison.
You think you’ve won? He’ll never truly love you. Never the way he loved me.
Her hands paused over the screen. She could send it. She should send it. But would it matter now? River was already chasing her.
Still, she pressed send.
Candice didn’t believe in fate. But if she did, she’d say it had betrayed her long ago.
River had never felt more restless on a flight.
He stared out the window, watching the clouds shift beneath them like ghosts. His phone ›uzzed non-stop with reports-updates on the people who had hidden Allison’s location, on the ›etrayal inside his circle. Every single man who helped cover it up was dealt with. He didn’t care
bout loyalty anymore. Not if it meant losing her.
Allison.
lis wife.
Jo-his ex-wife, technically. But the title didn’t matter.
ll that mattered was getting her back.
le had been a fool. Blinded by familiarity, by history, by whatever spell Candice had cast ove im years ago. But Allison-she had always been real. Honest. Warm. She gave up everything fo im, and what did he give in return?
ies. Infidelity.
shattered heart.
le clenched his fists as the plane finally landed. The moment the wheels touched Swiss soil, he olted. No checked baggage, no hesitation.
lis first stop: a flower shop. Roses, white and red.
lext: the university. He had done his research. She was enrolled in a Master’s program for Fine rts. Of course she was. It made his chest ache with both pride and guilt. She had finally chosen erself. The Allison he had stolen from the world years ago was finally painting again-living
gain.
nd he wasn’t part of that world.
lot yet.
le stood outside the art building, the cold nipping at his skin, the bouquet trembling in his ands. His heart raced with every student that passed by. And then-
She appeared.
She looked different. Stronger. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, specks of paint still clinging o her fingers, her scarf wrapped loosely around her neck. She was talking to someone beside
er-laughing.
River took a step forward, mouth opening to call out her name- But someone else got to her
irst.
A man.
Younger. Dressed in a thick coat, holding a bouquet of lilies.
River froze.
The man walked up confidently, said something that made Allison smile. Then-without hesitation-he leaned in.
And kissed her.
Not on the cheek.
On the lips.
River felt the world shift beneath him.
The flowers slipped from his hands and hit the snow.
He watched as Allison’s hands gently touched the man’s arms, not pushing him away, no reacting in surprise-but like it was familiar. Like she had done it before.
His chest caved in.
Was this it? Had she moved on?
He couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
He was supposed to arrive, apologize, beg-and win her back. That’s how their story was mean o continue. But now… now she was with someone else?
River couldn’t tear his eyes away.
