Chapter 8
Back then, I cried uncontrollably, overwhelmed with guilt and self–blame.
But Zachary wiped my tears away with a gentle hand and gave me a carefree smile.
“It’s nothing,” he said, shrugging. “It’s just a scar. Doesn’t make me any less handsome.”
My tears only fell harder. “Does it hurt?”
Seeing me cry made him panic. He waved his hands, flustered. “No, it doesn’t hurt. Not even a little. Please stop crying, okay? I’m begging you -when you cry, it feels like everything in me hurts…”
That was the Zachary I once knew–the boy who would dive into a burning building without hesitation to save me.
But now, he would do the same for someone else. And that someone wasn’t me anymore.
Years later, Zachary–the golden boy with the perfect life–lost everything overnight. His family fell apart, their fortune wiped out, leaving him drowning in debt. The world he had known came crashing down, and he was left standing in the ruins.
I stood on my tiptoes and kissed away his tears. “You still have me,” I whispered. “I’ll stay with you, no matter what.”
Without hesitation, I chose a college in his city, determined to be by his side.
We got married the moment we graduated.
Back then, he loved me deeply. He treated me like I was his whole world.
We were poor, but we were happy.
We lived in a tiny, windowless apartment that we shared with strangers. Every penny was carefully budgeted as we worked to pay off his family’s debts.
Our only form of relaxation was walking hand in hand down the streets at night. It didn’t cost a dime, but it made me feel like the richest person in the world.
Even if we just sat together in silence, doing nothing at all, I felt like I had everything I could ever want.
One night, after he’d had a few drinks, he held my hand tightly, his eyes sparkling with laughter.
From his pocket, he pulled out a delicate necklace. He slipped it carefully around my neck and said, “Wear this for now. Someday, when I can afford it, I’ll buy you something better.”
C
3:16 PM
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But none of them could replace that first necklace. It was still my favorite.
Everyone admired Zachary for the way he treated me.
People would say, “He’s one of the rare ones. So many men forget the people who stood by them when they had nothing. But Zachary? He’s different.”
And for a long time, I believed that too.
If it weren’t for Aria, I might still believe it.
But the truth is, I was so wrapped up in the memories of who he used to be that I refused to see the man he had become.
I clung to the past, blinding myself to the reality of his betrayal.
And in doing so, I gave him chance after chance to hurt me.
But not anymore.
Now, I was finally awake.
And finally free.
The wedding began.
I walked down the aisle, my arm linked with my father’s. Step by step, we approached the stage, where Austin was waiting for me.
When we reached him, my father turned to me, his expression solemn but full of pride. In front of all the guests, he placed my hand in Austin’s, entrusting me to him.
Austin smiled, then reached into his pocket for the ring.
But just as he was about to slip it onto my finger, a commotion erupted outside the hall.
The heavy doors, which had been securely shut, were suddenly thrown open with a loud crash.
Gasps rippled through the room as everyone turned to see what was happening.
There, standing in the doorway, was Zachary.
He was covered in blood, his suit torn and dirtied. One of his legs dragged behind him as he limped forward, leaving a trail of red across the pristine floor.
He ignored the security guards trying to stop him and kept his eyes locked on me.
“Natalie,” he said, his voice breaking.
The entire room fell silent.
He staggered forward, step by agonizing step, until he was standing at the edge of the stage.
“Natalie,” he pleaded, his voice trembling. “Don’t do this. Don’t marry him. I’m begging you–come back to me.”
His words hung in the air, the weight of them pressing down on the room.
All eyes were on me.
