Chapter 6

My heart gave a sharp jolt, and before I knew it, I'd clenched the phone tight in my hand.

"What did you just say about a wedding?" Cyril took a step closer, eyes fixed on me.

"A friend's getting married. They invited me."

The relief on his face was obvious, and his gaze softened a little. "Julie, I promise, my wedding to Melanie won't change anything. The place of Mrs. Weiss will always be yours."

I dropped my eyes so he wouldn't see what was churning underneath, and asked quietly, "Why are you back?"

Cyril held out a tube of burn ointment.

"I know this is hard on you. I'll make it up to you." His voice went soft. "You can't carry a child anymore, but the Weiss family needs an heir. Once Melanie has the baby, everything will go back to normal."

I almost laughed out loud.

He'd destroyed our future with his own hands, our marriage itself was a lie, and still he fed me this line about things going "back to normal."

But all I did was move my lips and let out a single word. "Fine. Understood."

He seemed satisfied with that, and looked like he wanted to say more when his phone rang.

It was the special ringtone he'd set for his "little fool."

"Cyril, we're celebrating four months of my pregnancy today. I've already booked the restaurant, so come quick, okay?"

He left without so much as a backward glance.

I walked into the garage, hit the gas, and shot out.

Today was the seventh anniversary of the day we met. Every year before this, he'd have a gift ready early to surprise me.

This year, he didn't remember.

I parked outside a mountaineering supply store, went in, and bought every top-tier piece of gear they had.

When I was young, I'd watched the sunrise over a snow mountain on TV and made a wish.

Every year after that I told him I wanted us to climb a snow mountain together and watch the sunrise. Every time he said he was busy, told me to wait a little longer.

I wasn't going to wait anymore.

I'd go to the snow mountain myself, and see the most beautiful sunrise.

I'd barely tossed the pile of gear into the trunk when my wrist was seized in a brutal grip.

"Where's Melanie? What did you do to her?!" Cyril snarled at me, his voice shaking with rage.

I'd never seen him lose control like this. His eyes were even bloodshot.

When I said nothing, his knuckles dug in until he was nearly crushing the bone. "Talk! Did you take her?"

The pain shot through my wrist and I sucked in a breath. "I haven't seen her, I swear!"

Cyril stared dead into my eyes, as if weighing whether I was lying.

After a moment his fingers loosened, and he finally let go.

But the instant he turned, the corner of his eye caught the open trunk.

Ice axe, rope, tape. His face twisted, the red in his eyes thickening, and he clamped down hard on my chin.

"Still lying to me. Do you have any idea how much she means to me? Give her back!"

"I didn't... kidnap her," I forced out through gritted teeth.

The fury swallowed him whole. He swung his hand and the slap landed hard across my face.

A ringing went off in my ears, my vision went black, and I crumpled to the ground.

My cheek burned, and the taste of blood spread warm and salty in my mouth.

"I'll ask you one last time." He stood over me, his voice cold as ice. "Where is Melanie?"

I gathered every ounce of strength I had and screamed back at him.

"I told you I didn't do it, are you deaf?! If you don't believe me, check the security cameras, check the dashcam!"

Meeting the stubbornness in my eyes, something in Cyril's gaze wavered. But the next second he grabbed a fistful of my hair and dragged me toward his car like a piece of rag.

"Who else would touch her, if not you? Won't admit it? I have plenty of ways to make you talk."

The burn on my leg split open, blood seeping out sticky and warm, the pain so sharp it sent the tears running down my face.

Just as I was nearly fainting from it, his phone rang.

"You found her? I'm coming."

Cyril let go in an instant, spun around and threw himself into the car. The engine roared, and the car tore away.

Not a moment's hesitation. Not a flicker of guilt over me.

I lifted a hand and touched the burning, swollen cheek, and then, quietly, I laughed.

It didn't matter. Let the three of them have their happy little reunion. Their reckoning would come soon enough.

I struggled up, straightened my clothes, and limped back to the car, heading straight for the snow mountain outside the city.

The intersection out of the city lay just ahead. Then, out of nowhere, several cars came swerving in from both sides to cut me off.

The black Cayenne at the front shot forward, braked hard, and stopped square across my path.

Cyril pushed the door open and got out, his face darker than before.

"Where do you think you're going?"