Chapter 3

Everything comes rushing back, and my chest starts to ache.

This champagne is cheap, but damn, it hits hard.My head is spinning. Ethan's face blurs into two.I just want out of here. I turn to leave — and trip.Next thing I know, my feet are off the ground. He picks me up, holding me sideways.

"You can barely stand and you're acting like you're fine?"

He's actually walking out the door with me in his arms. In front of every single person here.The whole place explodes. Charlotte's parents jump up from their seats, their faces dark.

Her dad yells, "Ethan! Put her down! What the hell is wrong with you? You know what day this is?"

Her mom starts crying. "My daughter just had your baby and you pull this? Are you serious?"

Charlotte's just standing there holding the baby, tears streaming down her face. She's biting her lip, not saying a word. Just looking at Ethan with this broken look.

Anyone watching would call us trash.

Ethan stops. He looks down at Charlotte. Something flickers in his eyes.

I struggle. "Put me down!"

He holds me tighter. Then looks up at Charlotte's parents.

"Mom, Dad. Jenna's drunk. I'm taking her home. I'll be right back."

Charlotte finally breaks. "Ethan... are you picking her? Fine. I'm leaving. I'm taking the baby and going."

She heads for the door with the baby.

Total chaos.

Ethan's face goes white. He shouts, "Charlotte! Don't. I'm just dropping her off. You're my wife. Forever."

That sounds familiar.

He used to say, "Charlotte's like a sister. You're the one I love the most."

I close my eyes. I'm so tired. Home? I don't even have a home.

He shoves me into the car. My stomach turns upside down. I start dry heaving.

It's not from the champagne. It's a reflex. Five years of nightmares built into my body.

The fire that killed Ethan , it happened on our third anniversary.

I made a reservation. Waited for him to get off work. Nine o'clock. Nothing. His phone went straight to voicemail.

Ten o'clock. A call from a number I didn't know. A guy's voice, breathing hard.

"Hey... Ethan's trapped in that old warehouse on the west side. Fire's bad. He told me to tell you... he loves you."

In the background, I heard fire crackling. And Ethan's voice, far away, screaming. "Jenna, don't come in."

I lost my mind. I ran.

Fire trucks outside. Police tape everywhere. Someone yelled, "Ethan's still in there!"

I didn't think. I ran inside.

Through all the smoke, I saw him lying by some shelves. I lunged to pull him up. Then a beam broke and fell.

He shoved me as hard as he could. The blast knocked me flying. When I turned around, there was nothing but fire.

Later, the report said I ran in without permission and messed up the rescue. That Ethan died because of me.

His parents tore up our marriage license and threw me out. My mom called me, crying.

"Sweetheart, I know you're hurting. But your brother's got a girlfriend now. Her family heard about you... they think it's bad luck. Just... stay away for a while, okay?"

Even my own people didn't want me.