Dead Before You Loved Me He Realized the Truth Only When My Grave Was Cold Chapter 05

Dead Before You Loved Me He Realized the Truth Only When My Grave Was Cold Chapter 05

Kael posted our divorce on his social media.

Someone commented under it.

Friend: [Elara’s name fits her. Adrift all her life, alone. She never worked out with you or your brother.]

I liked the comment quietly.

Moments later, Kael deleted it.

I put my phone down.

The apartment at Willow Creek Estates hadn’t been cleaned in a long time.

I had no energy to tidy up. I barely cleaned the bedroom before collapsing onto the bed.

It was strange.

Before the diagnosis, I’d felt fine.

Once the results came in, my spirit broke.

I felt nauseous and gagged.

In the bathroom mirror, my face was streaked with tears.

This baby had come at the worst possible time.

I dug through a drawer and found the unity candle we’d kept for our wedding.

I folded my hands, but I didn’t make a wish.

It was my last birthday on earth.

All I had was this little life inside my belly, one I had to give up.

…

Three days later, I’d just lain down on the hospital operating table when Kael called.

His voice was sharp and impatient. “When are you moving your stuff out?”

I fought through the pain. “Kael, can you wait? I’m—”

“Today. Elara, don’t act like you still have a chance. We’re divorced.”

“She doesn’t want your things in the house. She’s upset.”

“Okay. I’ll be there soon.”

Kael lowered his voice. “If you’re not here today, I’m throwing them away.”

He hung up. The nurse looked at me with sympathy.

I’d been to this hospital countless times with Kael.

Nurses used to tease him for being so protective, so gentle with me.

Even when I got blood work done, he’d turn pale with worry.

The cold man on the phone was unrecognizable. People really could change that fast.

Blood ran down my legs.

This little life was never meant to be mine.

I whispered softly.

It’s okay, baby. Mommy will be with you soon.

As I was leaving the hospital, my doctor stopped me.

“Miss Voss, there’s no cure, but these new targeted therapy drugs can help. If you can afford them…”

“They might give you another month. Less pain, at least, until the end.”

I was afraid of pain. Afraid of dying. And I wasn’t saint.

Kael had never left me short on money.

I ordered a supply.

I rested at the hospital for the afternoon, then headed to my old home. By then, it was night.

I didn’t even need to unlock the door.

My things were thrown all over the hallway, messy and abandoned.

Clothes, shoes, the decorative floral arrangements Kael had given me, the handmade wooden trinket box he’d crafted himself.

I’d kept them like treasures. Now they lay discarded in the hall.

He really couldn’t wait a single second longer.

I leaned against the wall. My stomach ached sharply from the abortion, cold sweat dripping down my face, my hair sticking to my skin.

I stared at my things and suddenly remembered my jewelry box.

Inside was my mother’s only keepsake.

A pair of vintage silver filigree earrings.

They’d been passed from my grandmother to my mother, then to me.

I tore through the jewelry box.

I’d put them inside the necklace box Kael gave me for our wedding. But they were gone.

Kael hadn’t even let me inside to pack. He clearly didn’t want to see me.

I didn’t want to see him either.

But the earrings were gone.

I banged on the door hard. I waited forever.

Finally, Kael opened it.

He looked uncomfortable. “She’s inside. You can’t come in.”

I forced myself to stand straight and held out my hand.

“Give me the earrings.”

Kael nodded at the jewelry box in the hall.

“What earrings? All your jewelry’s right there.”

“No one wants your old junk. She doesn’t care about it.”

I took a deep breath, tears stinging my eyes. “Kael, the night we got married, I showed you. They were my mom’s. Give them back.”

Kael’s face changed. He started to speak, but a woman’s voice cut him off.

“Kael? Is that Elara?”

A woman stepped out, drying her hair, wearing an expensive beige silk nightgown.

My eyes widened. My throat closed up. I could barely breathe.

“The woman that night… it was you.”