After I Left, He Fell Apart

Gabriella's POV I lost track of how long I cried. When I was done, I was exhausted physically and mentally. With shaking hands, I reached out for my phone on the table beside me, and scrolled through my contacts until I found the one name I never thought I would call in a long time. Dad. For years, he had tried to get me to come home, to leave this life behind, and get married to the guy he had arranged for me. And for years, I had refused. I pressed the call button. It rang once, and he immediately picked. His familiar voice greeted me through the phone. “Hello, my dear. It’s been so long since we last spoke.” I almost cried at the sound of his warm voice. He didn’t sound angry that I had ignored his calls for months, and pushed him away. “I’m coming home,” I said softly. There was a shocked silence on the other end. “What? Why? What happened?” My father asked. I shrugged, even though he couldn't see me. “I've seen the error of my ways, and I want to make corrections.” There was another short silence before my father sighed. “Alright. I’ll arrange everything for your return.” Relief coursed through me. “There’s something else,” I murmured. “What is it?” I took a slow breath. “I accept the proposal.” Another silence. “Accept what?” he asked, but I knew he already understood. “The arranged marriage,” I said firmly. “The proposal you kept telling me about. I’ll do it.” “Gabriella…” My father said quietly, his voice was filled with concern. “You’ve refused this for years, we had a big fight about it last year, and we haven't spoken since then. You told me you were in love. You said—” “It didn’t work out,” I cut in, my voice cold. “I’m ready now.” “This isn’t a small decision.” My father insisted. “Marriage isn’t something you accept just because you’re hurt.” “I’m not hurt,” I lied. “I’ve thought about it, and I’ve decided. It’s time.” My father sighed, but I could tell he wasn’t convinced. “Alright,” he finally said. “We’ll talk more when you arrive.” I didn’t want to talk more. There was nothing left to say. “You’ll need a ride from the airport,” he continued after a moment. “Zander will pick you up.”. Zander, the chubby, kind-hearted boy who never let me feel alone when we were children. He had always been there, with his round face and ridiculous grin. My childhood friend who was always ready to defend me against anything. For the first time since I woke up, something inside me softened. A small smile crossed my lips. “When are you coming?” He asked. “In two weeks, on the 19th” I replied. “I’ll see you soon, Dad,” I murmured before I ended the call. I set the phone down, inhaling deeply. I wanted to cry, but I had exhausted all my tears. Besides, it was time to work, and stop crying. A nurse entered the room, and when she realized that I was awake, she quickly contacted Thomas. A few minutes later, Thomas was back, and Claire followed behind him. Thomas rushed towards me first, his face was full of relief and concern, like a loving fiancé. Claire followed behind with a worried expression on her face. The perfect best friend. It was hard not to sneer at them. So I kept my face blank, empty. Cold. Like how I felt inside. “Ella,” Thomas murmured softly with that intimate voice. He sat at the edge of my bed, and took my hand in his like he had done several times before. The same hands that had been on Claire not long ago. I had to fight the urge to rip my hand away from him. “I was so worried,” he murmured, squeezing my fingers gently. “You lost so much blood. We almost lost you.” Claire stepped forward, placing a hand on my shoulder. “God, Gabby, you scared us.” Her voice cracked “Thomas called me, and I saw the blood, and you weren’t waking up. We—” She paused, breathing heavily as if she was about to sob. “We thought…” Lies. I couldn't hold it in. I blurted out. “And, it would have been so bad because it would have ruined the plans you had.” Alarm crossed their faces, and they exchanged panicked glances. “Plans? What plans?” Thomas said, and the two of them stared at me nervously. They were almost sweating. I lifted an eyebrow at both of them. “The wedding plans of course, which other plans? Have you forgotten?” They almost collapsed with relief at my words. “Of course, the wedding plans,” Thomas echoed, “But you know that if you're not feeling up to it. We can postpone the wedding. What matters is that you're perfectly fine.” He said softly, his eyes shone with care. I almost believed him. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wasn't going to cry anymore. Thomas kissed my hand, his lips warm against my skin. I felt nothing but disgust. “But you’re okay now,” he whispered. “That’s all that matters.” I didn’t respond. Something unreadable crossed his face, but it was gone very fast. “I know this is hard,” he continued softly. “But we’ll get through it. Together.” He brushed a strand of hair from my face like he hadn’t just been planning to have me killed. “We can try again, Ella. When you’re ready.” I stared at him. Then, without blinking, I said, “No.” His smile faded. “No?” “There’s no need.” My voice was flat, without emotion. Thomas blinked. I saw as he exchanged a glance with Claire before he turned to me. “I… I know it hurts right now, baby,” he said gently. “I know you’re grieving, but you love children. You want a baby.” Claire nodded quickly beside him. “And when you’re ready, yo—” “I said no.” There was silence. Thomas stared at me, I could see the confusion in his eyes. I had always wanted a child. Begged for one. He knew that. So why was I refusing? After a moment, he exhaled and gave me a small, understanding smile. “I get it, Ella. It’s too soon to talk about it.” He said with patience in his voice. “You’ve been through too much. But I know you. You’ll change your mind.” I forced a small smile as I replied. “Maybe.” He smiled back, looking very relieved, thinking that things were back to normal. He didn't know that I would never let him touch me again.

Gabriella's POV A week later, I was discharged from the hospital, and Thomas took me home. I had bought that house, a luxurious five bedroom house, under Thomas's name as a birthday gift to him. He had looked at me that day like I was his sun, and he announced that he would protect and cherish me all the days of my life. I scoffed internally. I had been so stupid to believe his lies. ~ Thomas had been hovering around me all day. From the moment we stepped into the house, he had been acting like the perfect fiancé. He cooked for me, he helped me take my bath, he adjusted the pillows, making sure I was comfortable. His eyes watched me carefully to make sure I was okay. “Are you okay, baby?” he asked, sitting beside me. “Do you need anything?” I shook my head, forcing a smile. “I’m fine.” He reached for my hand and squeezed it gently. “You should rest. I don’t want you straining yourself.” I almost laughed. Right. Because you care so much. I watched him act concerned and worried. But inside, I was just waiting for him to leave. Finally, in the evening, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Claire, but he quickly picked up the phone, covering the screen so that I wouldn't see it. He read the message, then he sighed. “I need to handle something at the office. I'll be back very soon” He promised. Good. He leaned forward to kiss me, but I turned my head, causing his lips to brush my cheeks instead. He hesitated for a moment. “I’ll be back soon, Ella. Try to rest, okay?” I nodded, keeping my expression blank. “Okay.” The moment the door closed behind him, I got into action. I quickly grabbed my phone, and dialed the number of the private investigator that I had been in contact with for a week now. “Ms. Sullivan,” a deep voice greeted me with my maiden name. "I was expecting your call.” “Tell me what you’ve found,” I said, wasting no time. “I’ve traced the missing funds. Most of it was transferred into offshore accounts that your fiancé set up under different names.” I closed my eyes, as I gripped the phone tighter. “How much?” “A huge amount, and that's just for the ones I could find. There are still more. Some assets are still under your name, but he's been transferring them to himself by forging your signatures.” I ran a hand through my hair. “I can't believe I didn't notice all this money leaving my accounts.” I took a deep breath. “I want a full report. I need to know everything he has that belongs to me, and how to take back everything.” “I’ll have the details ready for you tomorrow,” he confirmed. “Good.” The next step. I grabbed a suitcase from the closet and started packing. I tossed out old belongings, and gathered things I no longer needed or wanted, like the matching pajamas I had gotten with Thomas. When Thomas came home an hour later, he found me folding clothes, and throwing things away. He frowned. “Ella? What are you doing?” I turned to him with a flat stare. “Packing.” He looked at the open suitcase, and the scattered clothes. He looked confused and nervous. “Packing for what?” I shrugged, keeping my back to him “For us,” I murmured. “We’re getting married, Thomas, things are about to change. We need a fresh start.” His worry vanished instantly, and he smiled in satisfaction. “You’re right,” he said, “It is a fresh start for us. Anything I can do to help?” I shook my head. He had no idea that my fresh start wouldn’t include him. ~ That night, as he slept, I stole his phone. I tried opening it, but it wouldn't open. I frowned. His password had been Claire's birthday, he said that she dared him to do it. Looking back now, I realized it had been a big lie. I had believed him that time because I was naive and stupid, thinking that they were just friends, playing harmless games. I racked my brain, trying to think of other options, but I quickly ran out of ideas. At the end, I returned the phone feeling frustrated and upset. The next morning, before I woke up, Thomas had already woken up, and he served me breakfast in bed. Thomas had never done that before. The soft look in his eyes as he served me looked almost genuine, almost like he cared. I scoffed internally as I picked the food. That was a stupid thought. He was obviously pretending, like always. At that point, I didn't have the appetite to eat. “Are you going to invite your father to the wedding?” Thomas asked, as he sat beside me, watching as I ate. I paused, glancing at him before I replied coldly. “No,” Thomas sighed, “Ella, I know that things between the two of you have not been going well, but he's your father. He should be here for your wedding. I don't know what he did, but come on, can't you both work it out?” He said softly, placing his hand on my leg. I almost flinched at his touch, but I forced myself to relax. “I'll think about it.” I replied in a dismissive tone. I furrowed my eyebrows when I noticed that his hand was creeping upwards. “What are you doing?” I queried coldly. He gave me a coy smile. “Come on, Ella. It's been a while since—” I cut him off immediately. “Absolutely not. Get your hands off me! I was just discharged yesterday!” I snapped. Thomas flinched at the tone of my voice. “I'm sorry,” he mumbled, then he walked out of the room with a hurt look on his face.

Gabriella's POV Thomas didn't leave like I thought he would. Instead, he came back up a few minutes later to apologize. “I wasn't thinking, I was insensitive. I'm sorry.” He said softly. I forced a smile, nodding briefly before I continued typing on my phone. His face brightened. A knock sounded on the door, and before we could respond, the door opened. Claire walked in like she owned the place. That was how she always did. “Hello lovebirds.” She sang, but I could see a dark look in her eyes. “I hope I didn't spoil the moment. Today is your dress and suit fitting day for the wedding. We can't be late.” I frowned at her. “Go wait downstairs for us, and next time knock on the front door and wait for someone to open the door for you. Don't just barge in” I said firmly. There was shocked silence for a moment as they both stared at me. Claire furrowed her eyebrows at me for a moment, looking confused, then she forced a smile. “Don't be absurd, Ella. I can't remember the last time I knocked. This is like my second home.” I resisted the urge to scoff at her. “Well, you need to start knocking now. We need privacy.” I replied firmly. Claire turned to Thomas for help, but he shrugged. “Ella is right, Claire. You need to start knocking.” Claire gaped at him in disbelief. He gave her a look, and she clenched her jaw in anger, before she swallowed her rage down, forcing another smile. “Okay, got it. Now, hurry up. We have a lot of things to do.” She sang. I didn’t argue when Claire insisted on sitting in the front seat when we entered the car. She smirked in victory, teasing me about wanting to sit close to her in-law. I didn't reply her as I simply got into the back seat I kept quiet throughout, but Claire kept talking. She kept reaching for Thomas’s hand as she spoke, but I noticed that he kept drawing his hand away. I stared out the window, uninterested. By the time we arrived at the luxurious store, Claire looked so excited. “Ella, I can't wait to see you in your dress!” she squealed. Immediately I wore my dress for a few seconds, I quickly took it off. There was no use when I wasn't getting married. Behind me, Claire and Thomas were getting fitted for their own outfits. Thomas looked handsome and charming in his tailored suit. Claire clung to him, helping him to adjust his tie and clothes like a wife. I sat on a chair in the store, rubbing my temples as I waited for Claire to change back so we could go. Claire’s voice called out from behind me. “Oh, Ella, do you mind?” I turned and annoyance flicked through me as I stared at her. Claire stood in the middle of the room, wearing my dress. My wedding dress. She twirled slightly, watching herself in the mirror. “I just wanted to see how it looked on me,” she said with a soft giggle. “I hope you don’t mind.” To my surprise, Thomas was glaring at her fiercely. “Claire, take that off. That's Ella's dress.” He scolded her sharply. Claire frowned at him with surprise on her face. “I'm just messing around, Thomas. Chill.” “Well, it's not funny.” Thomas snapped. The store owner walked in at that moment, oblivious to the tension in the room. She smiled. “You two make such a perfect couple,” she commented, gesturing to Claire and Thomas. Thomas opened his mouth to protest, but before he could, I spoke first. “Yes,” I said smoothly. “They do.” A strange, unreadable look crossed Thomas’s face, as he stared at me. Claire, on the other hand, looked very smug. I just smiled coolly with a blank expression on my face. On the way back, when Claire insisted on sitting in the front, Thomas refused vehemently, and threatened to leave Claire behind if she refused to stay at the back seat. Claire wasn't pleased. She kept grumbling in the back seat. ~ The next day, I fell ill. In the morning, I could barely move. I felt so weak. My head was pounding, and breathing was difficult. I didn’t know what was wrong, but I could barely keep my eyes open. Thomas was by my side throughout. He held a cloth to my forehead, whispering softly to me. “Shh, Ella. I’m here, baby. Just rest.” He stroked my hair, spoon-fed me, and made sure I was comfortable. He stayed by my side all day and night, never leaving, with concern in his eyes. I could feel my heart soften towards him. What if he did care? I knew what I heard that day, but what if I had been wrong? Maybe… maybe I had misunderstood. I could ask him to explain. The next morning, I was better, but I was still tired. Thomas sat beside me, watching me eat the toast he had made. “Feeling better?” he asked softly. I swallowed my bite, nodding. “Yeah.” He gave me a warm smile. “Good.” There was silence for a moment, and several questions ran through my mind. “What are you thinking about?” He asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. I hesitated, then I replied. “I think you should change your password. I don't want Claire's birthday to be your phone password. Change it to something else.” I said, purposely trying to get his answer on his next password. He raised a brow at my words, then he smiled. “I’ve actually changed it. It's 1402, the date of our first kiss.” My fingers froze around my fork. Our first kiss. I remembered that night. The way my heart had pounded when he whispered my name right before he kissed me. A lump formed in my throat. He remembered. Thomas kissed my forehead. “I’ll go take a shower, okay? Call me if you need anything.” I nodded absentmindedly, lost in thought. Thomas's phone buzzed with a message. I turned to his phone that was on the nightstand, and I reached for it slowly, hesitating. Why did I feel guilty? I shook off the feeling and typed in the password. The screen unlocked instantly. My breath caught in my throat. It was Claire. Claire: I'm sorry for doubting your loyalties. Now that you poisoned her, causing her to fall ill, I'm convinced that you're still mine. I love you. My blood ran cold.

Gabriella's POV I felt like I couldn't breathe. Those words kept circling in my mind. Thomas had drugged me. He was the reason I had been sick, and he had been here taking care of me after poisoning me. I scoffed bitterly. I had almost fallen for it, I had almost let him fool me again. When Thomas came out of the shower, I was pretending to be asleep. I wouldn't be able to hide my reaction to this news, and he would know that something was wrong. Thomas pressed a soft kiss on my forehead. “Have a good night's sleep, Ella.” He murmured. I resisted the urge to flinch at his touch, no matter how repulsive it felt. Over the next few days, Thomas still didn't leave my side. He kept caring and tending to me. The few times he left my side was for the marriage preparations, but nothing he did moved me. I knew what he was capable of, and how evil he really was. However, I barely spoke to Thomas after that night. Every time he touched me, every time he looked at me with those soft, loving eyes, I wanted to ask him how he could pretend so well. How he could poison me, plan my death, and then sit beside me, stroking my hair as if I were the love of his life. But I said nothing. I kept my distance from him, and I only answered when necessary, using short sentences, nothing more. At first, he didn’t notice. He thought I was still weak, still recovering, especially as he had been very busy with the wedding plans. But after a few days, the silence started to get to him. “Ella,” he murmured one evening as we sat together in the living room. I had a book in my lap, but I wasn’t really reading it. I could feel Thomas watching me for a while with an unreadable look in his eyes. I glanced at him for a brief second, before I turned my attention back to my book, silently telling him that I was listening. He shifted closer to me. “You’ve been quiet lately.” I kept my face blank. “I don’t feel like talking.” Concern flashed across his face. “I know you’re still grieving, baby. I get it. I know how much you wanted this child.” His voice was soft. “But I promise you, next time will be different.” My hands tightened on the book. Next time? Thomas cupped my cheek, lifting my face toward him. “We’ll try again, Ella. And this time, I swear to you, the pregnancy will stay.” He said so sincerely, like he really meant it. I forced a smile, “Thank you.” I murmured. He released a deep breath of relief. “That’s my girl. I love you.” I allowed him to pull me into his arms, resting my head on his chest as he murmured soft words that meant nothing to me. A sharp sound interrupted us, his phone was ringing. I glanced at the name on the screen quickly before he flipped the phone over with a frustrated groan. It was Claire. This wasn't the first call from Claire today. Claire had been calling and texting Thomas non-stop for days, but he had been ignoring them. I watched him, lifting an eyebrow at him, but he said nothing, avoiding my eyes. “You’re not going to answer?” I asked, tilting my head. Thomas sighed in frustration, running a hand through his hair. “You know Claire,” he muttered. “She’s always such a perfectionist. She probably just wants to go over the wedding arrangements again.” I nodded slowly, pretending that I believed him. “She’s been calling a lot,” I commented. “It must be important.” Thomas hesitated, then he shook his head. “It’s not. I don’t want to deal with it right now.” He squeezed my hand gently. “Your well-being is my number one priority, Ella. Everything else can wait.” I scoffed internally. Liar. Before I could say anything else, a sharp knock came from the front door. Thomas hesitated for a moment before he got up to answer the door. The moment he opened it, Claire stormed in. Her heels clicked against the floor sharply. Her eyes immediately found me, and she sneered slightly before she hid it with a fake smile. “Ella,” she said sweetly, though I could still hear the sharpness in her tone. “How are you feeling? You look… better.” I shrugged, forcing a smile. “Yes, thanks to Thomas.” She scowled for a split second before she released a forced laugh. “Oh yes, Thomas. Thanks to him. He's such a wonderful person. Is that the reason he hasn't been picking his calls?” Thomas placed a hand on her arm, squeezing it in warning. “Claire, not here,” he muttered under his breath. She rolled her eyes, “Fine. But we need to talk.” She glanced at me, before she turned back to Thomas. “Alone.”

Gabriella's POV I didn’t react. I simply turned back to my book, turning the page with a bored look on my face. Thomas glanced at me, then he sighed. “Let’s go to the study.” As they walked away, I waited for a minute, before I closed the book in my lap and quietly got up to follow them. Thomas shut the study door behind them, but I pressed my ear against the door. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Claire hissed. “Why have you been ignoring me?” He groaned. “Claire, calm down—” “Don’t tell me to calm down! Do you have any idea how humiliating it was to have to come here because you refused to answer my calls? What is going on?” She snapped. There was silence, then Thomas released a sigh. “Ella is still recovering. She has been acting strange, and I don’t want her getting suspicious.” Claire scoffed. “Suspicious? Suspicious of what? You were supposed to poison her, Thomas, not nurse her back to health like some caring husband!” I clenched my jaw. “I did what I had to do,” he snapped back. “If I hadn’t taken care of her, she would’ve known something was wrong. I can’t rush this, Claire. We need her to trust me.” She groaned. “Trust you? Ugh, it’s pathetic watching you play the perfect fiancé. You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? All the attention she’s giving you, all the love. Tell me Thomas, have you fallen in love with her?” “What kind of question is that?” He retorted. “I am trying to make this work. She has to think I’m her everything, that I would never hurt her. That way, when the time comes, she won’t even see it coming.” My stomach clenched, and I ignored the pain that shot to my heart. I knew all these already. She huffed. “But—” Thomas cut her off in annoyance. “No buts, Claire,” He snapped, “You’re ruining everything with your clingy attitude.” She gasped, clearly shocked. “Excuse me?” “You heard me,” He growled. “I’ve been handling this perfectly, but you keep pushing. You couldn’t even wait for me to call you back? You had to show up here like some jealous girlfriend?” She snorted. “Jealous? Of her? Don’t be ridiculous.” Thomas scoffed. “Then stop acting like it. You’re making things complicated. I need her to trust me completely. If you keep behaving like this, she’ll start asking questions.” Claire groaned. “You act like she’s smart enough to suspect anything.” They thought I was so stupid, and I guess I had been. Not anymore. He sighed, his voice was quieter, “You don’t understand, Claire. If I push too hard, if I make the wrong move, she’ll back out. And if she backs out, we get nothing.” She groaned in frustration. “Then hurry up, Thomas! The wedding was already postponed once because of her last miscarriage. We can’t afford to wait again.” So, that was why Thomas had been trying to coddle me after this miscarriage. He didn't want the wedding to be postponed like it had been before. She continued, “It’s very annoying. Just like the last time we were close to ending everything, then she got pregnant, and we had to get rid of it. It’s like bad luck follows her womb or something.” She snorted cruelly. My fists clenched at the reminder of the pregnancies that I had lost because of them. Thomas didn’t respond, after a moment, he muttered, “It’s not bad luck.” She huffed. “Obviously. It’s just her stupidity. She actually thought you wanted to have kids with her.” Thomas's voice was quiet as he replied. “She wanted a family.” She snorted. “And? That’s not our problem, Thomas. And it’s starting to look like you don’t actually want this to end.” He scoffed. “Shut up, Claire. I just don’t want to rush this. What nonsense are you saying?” “Bullshit,” She spat. “You’re starting to feel guilty, aren’t you? Tell me, are you starting to like her?.” “I never said that,” He snapped, his voice was sounding really angry. “What is your problem?! If you want to keep acting like an insecure girlfriend and ruin everything, then go ahead!” Claire stammered, “I'm sorry, I—” Thomas cut her off. “You're acting so impatient because of jealousy. Do you know how far we've come? And now because of your stupid insecurity and impatience, you want to destroy everything!” “We've been planning this for years, Claire! You're the one who even brought up this plan, do you remember?!” Claire’s voice was quiet as she repIied. “Of course, I remember.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “I saw her first. I was the one who realized how rich she was. And then I came to you with the plan.” Tears welled up in my eyes. They had been together… before I even met them? I swallowed hard, holding the wall for support. It had all been planned. From the moment I met Thomas, everything had been a lie. Some minutes later, Thomas returned, with a blank expression. Claire followed behind him with irritation on her face. I picked up my book again, flipping the page casually. “Everything alright?” I asked, keeping my voice steady, as if I wasn't breaking inside. He forced a smile. “Yeah, just some last-minute wedding details.” She released a fake giggle. “You know how I am, Ella. I just want everything to be perfect for you.” I smiled back at her, making sure it looked very genuine. “I appreciate it, Claire. Thank you.” She blinked at me in surprise, then she quickly hid it with another fake smile. “You're welcome,” She replied.

Gabriella's POV I couldn't pretend like everything was fine. I couldn't smile when I knew my life was a lie. I had refused to take part in any of the wedding preparations, because I knew they were all useless. “Which flowers would you prefer?” Thomas asked, holding three samples of flowers. I shrugged, without looking at him, flipping through the magazine in my hands. “You can pick anyone you want. It doesn't matter.” He nodded, picking a flower. Some time later, he came back. “What song would you like us to dance to for our first dance?” He asked. I shrugged again, not looking at him. “Choose anyone you like.” I replied blankly. There was a short silence. “Are you okay?” Thomas asked. His voice was soft, and filled with concern. I turned to look at him with a forced smile. “I’m fine.” He hesitated before he stepped inside. “Ella… you don’t have to pretend with me.” His voice was gentle. “You can tell me if anything is bothering you, okay?” I released a sigh. “It’s just… the wedding. I'm just nervous, that's all.” I replied. Thomas nodded slowly as sat beside me on the edge of the bed. “I’ve been thinking about that too,” he admitted. “And honestly, I feel guilty.” I glanced at him, surprised because he sounded sincere. “Guilty? About what?” I asked. “Yes.” He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “You just had a miscarriage two weeks ago. Yet, we're still going ahead with the wedding. Maybe we should postpone it. Just for now, until you feel better.” I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. What about his plans with Claire? I thought to myself. Was he backing out of them? It wasn't easy, but I took a deep breath and shook my head. “No, let’s go on with the wedding.” Thomas watched me carefully with an unreadable expression on his face. “Are you sure?” I hesitated, before I nodded. “Yes.” To my surprise, he looked… sad. He didn't look relieved. He looked like he had secretly wanted me to say yes to postponing it. However, before I could think too much about it, his phone vibrated. He pulled it out and quickly typed out a message when he thought I wasn't looking. (Still on. Nothing to worry about.) My heart hardened even more. He had just been trying to look like a concerned fiance, to make sure I wasn't thinking about backing out. I cleared my throat. “I need to make a call,” I said, standing up. He looked up at me with a small smile. “Is everything okay?” I nodded, forcing a small smile. “I’m just finalizing some things for our special day.” Tears blurred my eyes as I left the room, gripping my phone tightly. As soon as I was far enough, I dialed the private detective’s number. The moment he answered, I spoke firmly. “I’m ready. Contact my lawyer and finalize everything.” ~ The night before my wedding, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at myself. Tomorrow, I was supposed to wear a white dress and vow my life to a man who had never loved me. A man who had poisoned me. A man who had killed my children. I smiled bitterly. Maybe love wasn't for me. My suitcase was already packed hours ago, when Thomas had gone out to finalize the wedding arrangements for the next day. Downstairs, I could hear Thomas’s voice as he spoke to the wedding planner on the phone, acting like the perfect fiancé. I forced a smile when he came to bed. I allowed him to kiss my forehead, and pull me into his arms. Tomorrow, he would wake up expecting to marry me, but I would be long gone. By 2:30 AM, I opened my eyes. Thomas was still asleep, his arm was wrapped around my waist. Carefully, I climbed out of bed, and I quietly grabbed my suitcase. A car was already waiting outside to drive me to the airport where a private jet was waiting for me. Immediately I got in, I released a deep breath. “Drive,” I said softly. As the car drove away, I pulled out my phone, removed the SIM card, and tossed it out the window. The last link to my past was gone. It was time for a new beginning.

When Thomas woke up the next morning and didn't see Ella next to him, he thought she had gone to Claire's place to prepare. As he approached the church, a weird feeling settled in his stomach, but he brushed it off. Today was a special day, and he was probably just nervous. Thomas began cross-checking all the arrangements, to make sure everything was in order. Everything had to be perfect for Gabriella. He scowled when he realized that the flowers weren't what he had ordered. “Hey!” He barked, calling the attention of the wedding planner. The woman flinched at the sharpness of his voice and hurried over. “Yes sir?” “What is this?!” He demanded. The wedding planner looked confused. “I…I don't understand, sir. What do you mean?” “These aren’t the peonies I ordered!” he snapped, gritting his teeth in annoyance. The woman’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh, um, but sir, the flowers—” Thomas didn’t let her finish. “What the hell is your problem? How hard is it to follow one simple instruction?” He ran a hand through his hair. “I specifically told you that Gabriella’s favorite flowers are peonies. So why are there lilies here?” The wedding planner swallowed nervously. “Sir, please peonies are very rare to get this season, and when we couldn't find them, I assumed—” “You assumed wrong!” Thomas cut her off. Before the planner could stammer out another excuse, Chris, his best man, walked over with a small frown. “Dude, chill,” he muttered lowly. “It’s just flowers. It's not like you really care about this wedding.” Thomas shot him a glare, but before he could snap at him, Claire rushed to him. “Where the hell is Gabriella?” She demanded, grabbing him by the arm. Thomas removed his arm from her tight grip. “What are you talking about? Isn't she with you?” He asked with a frown. She scowled at him. “How can she be with me? I haven't seen her today.” She replied. That weird feeling increased, but he brushed it off. She might have gone somewhere else, and she is probably running late now. There was no use to worry. Thomas pulled out his phone to call her, but before he could, he was interrupted by Chris. “Hey man, I just took a look at the ring you gave me. Isn't this your grandmother's ring?” Thomas clenched his jaw. He was still annoyed by the flower mix-up. “What?” he muttered, turning to face his best man. Chris held up the ring, raising a brow. “Your grandmother’s ring, dude. The one you said was meant for ‘the real thing’. So why the hell are you using this for a wedding that’s not even real?” Claire’s eyes snapped to the ring, then back to Thomas, with suspicion and a hint of jealousy on her face. “Wait, you’re using that ring?” she asked slowly. Thomas scoffed, crossing his arms. “Yeah, so what?” Claire’s gaze sharpened. “Why would you use something so significant and personal for a fake wedding?” Chris nodded in agreement. “Seriously, man. This isn’t like you. You’re going through all the trouble of making sure everything’s perfect, freaking out over the flowers, snapping at the planner, and now you’re giving her your grandmother’s ring?” He shook his head. “That doesn’t add up.” Thomas scowled. “It’s just a ring. I didn’t want to waste money on something new.” Claire’s eyes narrowed. “Bullshit.” Thomas shot her a glare. “Watch it. It’s a wedding, Claire. It has to look real.” Claire scowled. “Oh really? So it’s just because you want the wedding to look real? Then why not pick any random ring? Why use something that actually means something to you?” Thomas glared at her. “It doesn’t matter,” he said through gritted teeth. Claire stepped closer, “Is this really just about the money, Thomas?” He scoffed at her, but he didn't reply. “Enough. I don't have time for this shit.” Claire shook her head. “No, answer me, Thomas. Is it just about the money?” Thomas gritted his teeth, about to snap back, when the wedding planner rushed forward frantically. “Please, where's the bride? She hasn't even worn her gown, and the wedding is about to start.” His stomach twisted. This entire time, they had been arguing about the flowers, and the ring, when Gabriella wasn't here yet. Without saying a word, he quickly dialed her number. “The number you are trying to reach is currently switched off.” His heart skipped a beat. He immediately tried again. “The number you are trying to reach is currently switched off.” A strange, cold sensation washed over him. “Her phone is switched off.” He mumbled slowly. Their eyes widened in shock. Thomas released a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. “She’s probably on her way.” Before anyone could say anything, the church doors opened. They all turned toward the entrance expectantly. But instead of Gabriella, a delivery man stepped inside with a small envelope in his hand. “Uh… I have a delivery for Mr. Thomas Carter from Ms. Gabriella Lewis?” Thomas's heart raced in his chest as he slowly walked forward and took the envelope from the delivery man. He ripped it open with shaky hands. Inside there was a note with familiar handwriting. Thomas, I don't love you anymore. Let's break up. Goodbye forever. ~ Gabriella His blood ran cold.