“Emily, let’s go!”
Jack Sullivan, the only son of the Sullivan family.
Even though we had moved out after getting married, we still had to return for dinner at the family estate on the 1st and 15th of every month.
Today was the 15th.
I headed downstairs, took one look at the passenger seat, and went straight for the back door.
Jack slammed his hand against the steering wheel. “Emily, seriously? Even today, you’re still sulking?”
I paused with my hand on the door handle and looked at him.
“Didn’t you say I wasn’t worthy of sitting in the front?”
His mouth opened, then shut. For a moment, he looked genuinely confused, until it hit him.
A few days ago, he had a company event and insisted I take time off to go with him. But when he came to pick me up, he made a detour, to get Zoe first.
Zoe, all dressed up in a white princess dress, had looked at me with an apologetic smile.
“I’m so sorry, Emily. I get carsick, so I have to sit in the front. You don’t mind, right?”
Before I could even answer, Jack scoffed.
“What’s there to mind? It’s not like she’s qualified to sit in the front.”
Then, under Zoe’s amused gaze, he turned to me with a look of pure irritation.
“Emily, do you have to sulk all the time? Just sit in the back from now on. I get annoyed just looking at your face.”
Now, in the car, Jack licked his lips, looking uncomfortable for the first time in his life.
“Look, I, I didn’t mean it like that. I was just pissed off that day,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
“But come on, I told you it was a work event. You could’ve at least tried to look nice. When I see Zoe looking great and then look at you… of course I’d be frustrated.”
“Just sit in the front, okay? It looks weird for a married couple to sit apart. Makes me look like your damn chauffeur.”
I didn’t even look up from my phone.
Every time we went out, I dressed up. Every. Single. Time.
And when Zoe took my seat, was I supposed to just smile about it?
The old me probably would’ve. But now? I just couldn’t be bothered.
“Let’s go,” I said. “I don’t get carsick, so it doesn’t matter where I sit. We’re already running late.”
Jack looked like he wanted to argue, but just then, a loud clap of thunder shook the sky. Lightning flashed across the horizon, illuminating his scowling face.
With a huff, he turned back and started the car.
Halfway to the Sullivan estate, Zoe called.
Jack ignored it. Then she called again. And again.
He glanced at me in the rearview mirror. Seeing that I wasn’t paying attention, he let out an irritated sigh and picked up.
“Hello,” he answered flatly, then immediately stiffened.
His entire demeanor changed.
Hanging up, he turned to me with forced calm.
“Emily, get out. I’ve got something urgent to deal with.”
I glanced outside at the pouring rain, then at my high heels.
“Either drop me off properly or take me home.”
“I can’t,” he snapped. “It’s urgent. Can’t you be a little more understanding?”
“No.”
It was pouring, it was late, and I wasn’t about to stand in the middle of the road just to prove I was a “good wife” to this idiot.
Was he even worth it?
Apparently, Jack thought otherwise, because the next thing I knew, he was dragging me out of the car.
“Take a taxi to my parents’ house,” he said, tossing me an umbrella. Then, without a second glance, he slammed the door shut and sped off, splashing water all over me.
I gritted my teeth, picked up the umbrella, only to find it was broken.
Perfect.
With no shelter nearby, I had no choice but to stand under a tree and call for a ride.
Thirty minutes passed. No driver accepted my request.
Lightning flashed again, closer this time.
I let out a slow breath, shoved my phone into my purse, and started walking.
The rain was relentless. My hair clung to my face, my dress was soaked through, and my high heels were useless against the slick pavement.
Then, just as I stepped forward, my foot landed in a deep puddle.
I slipped. Hard.
Pain shot up my knee, and my stomach twisted in protest.
I gasped, pressing a hand to my abdomen.
The road was empty. No cars. No people. Just me and the storm.
Forcing myself up, I kicked off my heels and started trudging forward, step by miserable step.
By the time I finally reached the Sullivan estate, I was shaking from the cold.
The brightly lit mansion came into view, a stark contrast to the dark, rain-soaked night.
I staggered inside, drenched from head to toe,
And immediately, the room erupted in screams.
Then, just as Mrs. Sullivan turned to look at me,
Everything went black.
