Chapter 2

Memories flooded in like a broken dam, a dull pain spreading through my chest.

This champagne was cheap but packed a punch.

My vision started to blur. Daniel's face split into double images.

I didn't want to stay any longer. I turned to leave but stumbled.

The next second, I was airborne as he scooped me up in his arms.

"Drunk like this and still acting tough!"

He was actually carrying me out in front of everyone.

The guests erupted in shocked murmurs. Summer's parents shot to their feet, their faces dark.

Summer's father barked:

"Daniel! Put her down! Do you realize what day this is? Have you lost your mind?"

Summer's mother started crying:

"Summer just gave birth to your child, and this is how you treat her? Are you even human?"

Summer held the baby, tears streaming down her face, but she bit her lip and said nothing. She just looked at Daniel with heartbroken eyes.

Anyone watching would curse us as cheating scum.

Daniel's steps faltered. He looked down at Summer, something flickering in his eyes.

I seized the chance to struggle:

"Put me down!"

He only held tighter and said to Summer's parents:

"Mom, Dad, Clara's had too much to drink. I'll take her home and come right back."

Summer finally broke down crying:

"Daniel... you're choosing her, aren't you? Fine. I'll leave. I'll take the baby and leave..."

She turned as if to rush out with the child.

The scene descended into chaos.

Daniel's face went white. He called out urgently:

"Summer! Don't do this! I'm just taking her home. You'll always be my wife!"

Such familiar words.

He used to say:

"Summer's just like a sister. You'll always be the one I love most."

I closed my eyes, feeling exhausted.

Home? I didn't have a home anymore.

When they shoved me into the car, my stomach churned and I started dry heaving.

It was a physical revulsion, a conditioned reflex accumulated from five years of waking up screaming from nightmares.

The cause of Daniel's supposed death was that warehouse fire.

That day was our third wedding anniversary.

I'd made a reservation early and waited for him to get off work.

But by 9 PM, he still hadn't shown up. His phone went straight to voicemail.

At 10 PM, I got a call from an unknown number. A man's voice, breathing heavily:

"Daniel's trapped in the old warehouse on West Street. The fire's too big. He told me to tell you... he loves you..."

In the background, I could hear the crackling of flames and Daniel's muffled shouts:

"Clara, don't come!"

I rushed there like a madwoman.

Fire trucks surrounded the building. Police tape blocked the perimeter.

I heard someone yelling: "Daniel's still inside!"

I didn't think. I just ran in.

Through the thick smoke, I saw Daniel collapsed by some shelving. I lunged forward to pull him up when a burning beam came crashing down...

He shoved me away with all his strength.

The blast wave threw me backward. When I looked back, all I saw was a sea of flames.

Later, the investigation report said my unauthorized entry interfered with the rescue, causing Daniel to sacrifice himself protecting me.

His parents tore up our marriage certificate and threw me out of their house.

My mom called, crying:

"Clara, honey, I know you're hurting. But your brother's got a girlfriend now, and her family heard about what happened... They think it's disturbing. Could you... maybe not come home for a while?"

Even my own family didn't want me anymore.

So I started trying to kill myself.

The first time, I slit my wrists in the bathtub.

My landlord found me after a leak from upstairs alerted him. They rushed me to the hospital.

The second time, I jumped into the river.

The winter water was freezing. As I sank, an old man on his daily swim pulled me out.

The third time was sleeping pills again.

This time I was smarter. I went to a small motel in the suburbs.

But the owner noticed something was wrong and called the cops.

When they pumped my stomach, the doctor looked at me with complicated eyes:

"Miss, the person who died for you would want you to live well."

But no one wanted me to live.

Except Rachel.