My Heart Turned To Stone For Him

Donalds

licking between my retreating husband and Brianne, and my frozen form

e air around me felt thick, suffocating, each breath a struggle. Every word he'd spoken to me, every touch he'd forced, replayed in my head, now tainted with the bitter taste of his true devotion

the betrayal – it all crashed down on me. My knees buckled. I

ight?" he asked, his voice

ed, my voice sounding foreign. "Just... take me to my studio. And don't let anyone d

er, agonizing pain of being so utterly insignificant in his life – it was too much. I paced, a caged animal, until the anger

ng, cutting through the silence. A fire alarm. Or somethin

m. From below. Above. Everywher

he glass. Below, in the garden courtyard, a figure

ght flashed through my mind: Karma. But it was immediately

large, ornate stone gargoyle from the penthouse terrace above us, d

o stretch, distorting. The last thing I saw before a blinding pain erupt

ices. Pain was a constant companion, a throbbing symphony in my head and a dull ache radiatin

distorted, filtere

a...internal bleeding

How is she?" It was Camde

sustained a broken leg and severe shock. Lu

flat, devoid of the franti

n her head trauma. But... there's a complication." The doctor's voice was grim. "Her blood pressure is dro

hitched, even in my semi-conscious st

ed, his voice softer, "we need yo

part of me hoping against hope. Would he choose his wife? The woman he had vowe

ring, cutting through the silence like a knife. "Save Bri

dy shattered, splintered into a million microscopic pieces. He chose her. Again. Eve

I thought, a ghost of a smile touching my lips. She's a master manipulator. And I'm the disposable one. T

ey, his hand clutching hers. His face was etched with concern, but all of it for

ve you exactly what you want. The choice had been made. And in that moment of profound betrayal, I mad

ce more, this time wit

at radiated outwards, but the fog had lifted. My body felt heavy, weak, bandaged in m

s bloodshot. He still wore the same expensive suit, albeit more wrinkled now. He must have just returned from Brianne's room. He was holding a small, whi

s me. A flicker of something, surprise? Relief? crossed his

How are you feeling?" He reached out, as if to to

Don't," I snapped, my voice hoarse, weak, but filled w

ton,

rianne. You let me bleed out, Camden. You watched me die, and you chos

Ashton. I chose to save the one who had the least chance of survival. Brianne's condit

t convenient? Convenient for you to assume I'd survive so you could rush to her side

ace, searching for something. But he wouldn't find it.

ading. "I made sure you had the best surgeons. I' ve been here, Ash

t nothings to your 'fragile' sweetheart. While I was fighting for my life, alone." I closed my e

gerously calm. "Is this why you married me? For her? For the drug?

ilence was deafening. It w

ribs. "My father. He was in on it, wasn't he? Another one of his 'strategic alliances.'

oice barely a whisper.

ather. The man who was supposed to protect me. He had orchestrated

e know you married me for her sake? Did she enjoy watching me

guilt. "She... she was ill, Ashton

th unshed tears. "You swore to me, Camden. You swore on our wedding day that there was no one else. No 'unforgettable love.

shton, I know I made mistakes. I know I hurt you. Bu

father always did?" I felt a terrifying wave of clarity. Every confusing emotion, every contradictory action from him, suddenly made sense. His distant politen

ced me to say "yes"-it was all a calculated act. A means to an end. It wasn't

ke me, Camden Winters. You and my father. You broke every single piece of t

he said, his voice strai

h absolute certainty, what I had to do. I would leave. And this time, no one would stop me. He had ensur