Chapter 4
Julia woke up to the stinging smell of disinfectant in the air.
“Julia!” Nathan was at her bedside in an instant, his eyes red and tired. “You’re finally awake…“–
His hand was warm and dry as he carefully wrapped it around hers. She used to love that feeling more than anything, but now all she wanted was to pull away.
So she did.
Nathan noticed, and his handsome face went stiff. “Julia, I’m sorry. Last night was… it was chaos. Sarah got trapped by some lunatic at her door and got hurt. I had to go to her. I-”
“You owe her your life,” Julia said quietly, cutting him off. “I get it. I’m not mad.”
He stared at her, almost surprised by how reasonable she seemed.
“I’m glad you’re not angry.” He let out a breath and leaned in, trying to hug her. “I promise-”
“I want some water,” Julia interrupted. She didn’t want to hear him make promises he’d never keep.
For the next few days, Nathan barely left her side at the hospital. He fed her, helped her wash up–he did everything himself. Even the nurses whispered about how attentive he was, how they’d never seen a husband so devoted.
But Julia just stared out the window, silent and distant, untouched by any of it.
When she was finally discharged, Nathan went to fetch the car, telling her to wait at the
entrance.
The familiar Maybach pulled up, and Julia opened the front passenger door, only to find Sarah already sitting there, grinning at her.
“Julia!” Sarah greeted her, her voice sticky–sweet. “I still feel so bad about you getting hurt last time. I told Nathan I’d treat you to dinner today to make up for it!”
Julia didn’t say a word, just stared at the passenger seat.
Nathan caught on right away. “Julia, Sarah gets carsick, that’s why she’s up front. Don’t be upset, okay? Will you sit in the back?”
Julia closed her eyes, ignoring the sharp ache in her chest.
Three years ago, Nathan’s cousin had sat in the front seat by accident, and Nathan got so upset he sold the car the very next day. He’d told her, “The passenger seat is yours, Julia. Only yours.” Now, Sarah was sitting there bold as day, and Nathan had even adjusted the seat for her.
Julia said nothing. She just got into the back.
As soon as they were on the road, Sarah started eating snacks in the car, crumbs falling
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Chapter 4
everywhere. Nathan, who usually hated messes, just let her do it, smiling like it was nothing.
When Sarah finished, she started picking on the car’s decorations.
‘Nathan, this ornament is so ugly.” She pouted, poking the charm Julia had put there. “Let’s swap it out for the one I like next time, okay?”
‘Sure,” Nathan replied with a soft smile.
Julia laughed quietly, tears stinging her eyes as she turned to look out the window.
Later, in the parking lot, Nathan went to park while Julia and Sarah took the elevator up ogether.
The second the doors closed, Sarah’s sugary smile vanished.
‘Julia, haven’t you figured it out yet?” she said, voice sharp. “As long as Nathan owes me his ife, he’ll always put me first.”
Julia pressed the button for her floor. “Whatever’s going on between you two, I don’t care.”
‘Drop your act!” Sarah suddenly shoved her. “You really think you can stay Mrs. Haskins for ong? Nathan is mine. I-”
Before she could finish, the elevator jolted violently, then started plummeting.
“Ah!” Sarah shrieked, grabbing the handrail.
Julia quickly hit every floor button, then crouched against the wall. There was still signal, and she called for help immediately.
‘Help! The elevator’s falling!” Sarah screamed into her phone, sobbing. “Please, someone, hurry!”
t felt like forever before the elevator finally jerked to a stop at the first floor. Rescuers rushed in,
ɔrying the doors open.
When there was finally a gap, Julia saw Nathan’s face, white as a sheet.
His eyes darted between her and Sarah as the rescue team urged him, “Mr. Haskins, the cables can’t hold much longer! We can only get one person out at a time! Who should we save first?”
Sarah lunged toward the crack, tears streaming down her face. “Nathan! Save me! I’m so scared!”
For a second, time seemed to freeze.
Sarah’s cries got even more desperate. “Nathan… save me…”
Nathan looked at the sobbing Sarah, then at Julia, who was silent.
Julia watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed hard. His lips trembled as he finally said
the answer she’d already known was coming: “Save Sarah first.”
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