The Wife He Left Behind While He Built a World for Another Woman Chapter 06

The Wife He Left Behind While He Built a World for Another Woman Chapter 06

Another evidence bag held the charred remains of a lipstick, only half of it left. It was Evelyn’s favorite shade, one Vincent had personally given her for her birthday the year before.

Vincent took the bag, but his fingers trembled so violently that he could barely hold it.

He crouched before the ruins, staring at the rubble and charred wood as countless memories flashed through his mind.

He remembered their wedding day. Evelyn had stood before him in a white gown, smiling as she said, “Vincent, you’re stuck with me for life. If you ever betray me, I’ll disappear so completely that you’ll never find me again.”

He had laughed and pinched her cheek, calling her silly and saying she was the only woman he would ever love.

He remembered how, after she became pregnant, she would gently stroke her belly every day and tell him whenever the baby moved.

She talked about teaching their child to paint and play the piano, and about the three of them traveling the world together.

But Vincent had been consumed by thoughts of Celeste. He found Evelyn tiresome and always brushed her off with halfhearted replies.

He had not even made time to go with her to a single prenatal appointment.

Then he remembered the mountain road and the figure inside the van approaching in the opposite lane, pounding frantically on the window.

He remembered Celeste taking his hand and insisting that Evelyn had staged everything.

He remembered not looking back as they passed right by her.

He remembered the unknown number he had blocked, the video Celeste had deleted, and the reply he had sent: [Enough. Keep this act up, and it won’t be funny anymore.]

A searing pain shot outward from his heart, as if an invisible hand had seized it and squeezed until he could no longer breathe.

Vincent shot to his feet and headed deeper into the unstable ruins.

Graham grabbed him at once.

“Don, it’s dangerous. The structure is still collapsing.”

“Let go of me!” Vincent roared.

He tore free from Graham’s grip and began pulling apart the scorching debris with his bare hands.

“Evelyn! Evelyn Hart, come out here! I know you’re lying to me! Come out!”

Jagged stone sliced open his fingers, and blood poured down his hands. He seemed unable to feel any of it.

He kept digging and shouting Evelyn’s name over and over.

Celeste stood nearby, watching him fall apart. Malice flashed through her eyes before she quickly replaced it with concern.

She stepped forward and caught his arm.

“Vincent, stop. Ms. Hart is gone. Doing this won’t bring her back.”

“Gone?” Vincent spun toward her, his eyes bloodshot and feral. “How could she be gone? She loved me. How could she leave me alone?”

“This is your fault. If it weren’t for you, none of this would have happened to her.”

Celeste recoiled in fright. Her eyes reddened instantly, and tears slid down her cheeks.

“Vincent, how can you say that to me? I never wanted any of this.”

“I know you’re grieving, but you can’t blame everything on me.”

She pressed a hand to her chest and coughed several times, her face turning as pale as a sheet.

“I only wanted to stay by your side and quietly pray for you. I never wanted to hurt Ms. Hart.”

Seeing her look so frail and helpless, Vincent felt most of his anger drain away, replaced by overwhelming guilt.

How could he blame Celeste?

He was the one who had betrayed Evelyn. He was the one who had refused to believe her.

He was the one who had pushed her toward death with his own hands.

Vincent sank to the ground and stared at the charred ruins.

For the first time, he understood what it meant to have his heart torn apart.

This was what it felt like to lose someone. His entire world had collapsed, leaving nothing behind but endless darkness and despair.