Chapter 7
Wes POV
The morning of the engagement party, I waited at the airport for three hours. Willow never showed.
The panic that seized me then was deeper than anything I’d felt when she said we couldn’t go back to how things were. This was primal fear.[]
Suddenly, all the small details clicked together like a horrific puzzle.[]
Her gaunt face. The coughing fits that came regardless of where she was. Those strange periods where she’d sleep for hours on end, no matter what was happening around her.]]
The Willow I knew had never been like this, even at her most exhausted.[]
I immediately called her father.
“Mr. Blake, the medical reports–did you personally oversee the forgery?“]
There was a pause on the other end.[]
“What… what do you mean? I thought you were handling all that?”
His voice shot up several octaves: “We assumed this was your idea, so naturally you’d be the one managing it! We never got involved. What are you saying? Our Willow’s illness… are you telling me it’s not fake? But the medical report said she has lung… lung…”
By the end, I could clearly hear the tremor in his voice, the panicked edge that wouldn’t let him finish the sentence.
My brain felt like it was exploding.[]
Her mother quickly took over the call, demanding answers: “Where is she? Where’s our Willow? We need to find her now!”
I boarded the first available flight to the hospital where she’d last been admitted.[]
The journey from airport to hospital was torture–my heart racing violently, strangled by fear and panic until I could barely breathe.]]
When the doctor showed me her test results, I lost it–grabbed him by his coat collar and slammed him against the wall.]
“Who the fuck are you saying has stage four lung cancer? You think you can just curse her like that?“]
I tore out of the hospital, running frantically in the direction she’d left.
I kept expecting to see her around the next corner–her face cold as she called me heartless, or perhaps like that day, sarcastically asking if I wanted to go to Aspen with her.
I would go! I want to go with you anywhere, Willow.[]
Please, just come out and see me.]
The wind cut into my face like tiny blades.
I found nothing. I crouched on the sidewalk, pulling at my hair, sobbing like a child.[]
A desperate thought struck me–maybe this was Willow’s elaborate scheme to prevent my marriage to Rosalie.[]
She’d always been so healthy, so vibrant. There’s no way she could have this disease.
This had to be her plan.]
So if I went through with the wedding, would she reappear?
I latched onto this absurd logic like a drowning man to driftwood, rushing home to announce the wedding would proceed immediately.[]
I made sure the news spread nationwide.
Rosatie wore Willow’s wedding dress, her face a picture of demure joy as she approached me.]
In that moment, I caught the flash of triumph in her eyes, the barely contained gloating.
Since her return, my feelings toward Rosalie had been dominated by guilt.]
I wanted to make amends for my childhood mistake, so I bent over backward to fulfill her every wish.]
Whatever she wanted, I provided]
They Chase Blood Oyey Love Now They Cry at My GRAVE
33
part of any it then she wanted attiersend and support move J
So 1 carelendy hurt hey, confining vs was 1 kawy dla was unhappy!
al support she couldnt go far.j
She’d been on trivering since chithood, wing her tedy manage all her ascens.]]
Now, Mr. Blake was walking mall town
they kidds serving to makers
One second. Two seconds. There was!]
My heart sank deeper with mark passing memora
Suddenly, the doors swing open!]
My eyes widened, and 1 inchctory brusted Rossler’s hand ande, shoving her out of my way as I sprinted toward the entrance.
They fo
