Chapter 1
My husband, Wayne Clinton, promised me a honeymoon-five years late.
I was filled with anticipation and made sure every detail was perfect.
But just before we boarded, I realized we weren’t traveling alone-his childhood sweetheart, Nikita Keith, was tag- ging along.
He brushed it off with a casual. “Nikita’s never been abroad. Thought I’d bring her.”
I voiced my discomfort, but he dismissed it as me being dramatic and even mocked me.
“Is it because you have no parents that you’re so bitter toward people with real families?
“Nikita’s like a sister to me. But you’re an orphan-you wouldn’t understand.”
Still, I bit my tongue. I didn’t want to ruin our long-overdue honeymoon.
But during the trip, we got caught in an avalanche. My leg was buried deep in the snow-I couldn’t move.
And Wayne? He grabbed her first, then turned and ran.
He never looked back.
***
After three hours, I was finally pulled out of the snow.
“Ma’am, your husband and sister are waiting for you up ahead!”
The young rescuer pointed excitedly, like she was sharing great news.
I was frozen stiff. Slowly, I looked up.
There they were-Wayne and Nikita.
They wore matching black-and-white jackets-spotless and standing close together.
“You’re so lucky! Two people are still missing from the avalanche!”
The girl exaggerated every word, thrilled I’d made it out.
But she didn’t know.
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She didn’t know my husband had grabbed Nikita’s hand and run. Without looking back. Without remembering me, buried alive behind him.
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I lowered my head and dragged myself forward.
Wayne came up quickly and pulled me into his arms, full of concern.
“Honey, are you okay? Feeling sick? We’ll find a doctor.”
Behind him, Nikita’s pale face was streaked with tears-like she was the one buried for three hours.
“I’m so sorry, Diana. It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t suggested skiing, you wouldn’t have been in danger…”
I didn’t even have time to speak.
Wayne let go of me and shielded Nikita behind him. His tone turned cold.
“Diana, don’t blame Nikita. You agreed to this trip, too.”
Right. I agreed. I was forced to agree.
After we landed in Switzerland, I got sick.
He didn’t notice-never cared to, because Nikita wanted to ski.
He handed me the camera and told me to take their pictures.
I said I wasn’t feeling well. He said I was ruining the mood.
He doted on her. He called her his sister.
But this was supposed to be our honeymoon-five years late!
He said I needed to stretch after long flights, so stop one was a fifteen-kilometer hike in Germany.
He said November was perfect for snow, so stop two was a glacier train ride in Switzerland.
He said we should be adventurous once in life, so stop camping in Whirinaki Forest Park.
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But in the end, I was just an outsider-tolerating everything, backing down over and over, not even allowed to com- plain.
My anger burned out and turned to cold ashes.
I knew there was no point in asking anymore.
I said flatly, “Thank God I’m okay.”
Then I kept walking toward the hotel. I’d come so close to dying. Now I just wanted to sleep.
As I passed Wayne, he suddenly grabbed my hand and shoved me forward.
I couldn’t keep my balance, as I’d been frozen too long. I fell hard and couldn’t get up.
He paused, then scoffed. “Diana Thornton, what are you pretending for? I barely touched you! Who are you putting
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Chapter 1
on this act for?”
I looked straight at him.
“Wayne, I was buried in snow for three hours. I’m exhausted.”
He blinked, then let go-but still scolded me.
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“Even so, don’t act like this. Nikita was scared out of her mind for those three hours you were missing. Who are you
mad at?
“She ran all over asking for help. You didn’t even say thank you. Is this how you treat people?”
His voice kept rising like I’d committed some crime.
Nikita tugged on his sleeve and spoke gently. “It’s not like that. When Wayne pulled me away, he thought I was you…”
Then she covered her mouth like she was about to cry, stepped in front of him, and said righteously, “Diana, please don’t misunderstand. It was chaos-Wayne thought I was you. If someone’s to blame, blame me, not him.”
Wayne pulled her close and gave me a disappointed look.
“Diana, don’t push things too far.”
I hadn’t even said a word. Yet here they were, back-to-back with excuses-treating me like the villain.
Just a few days into this so-called honeymoon, I saw things clearly.
He always said Nikita was his half-sister.
But what kind of half-brother washes his sister’s feet?
Peels her shrimp?
Washes her underwear?
All those special gestures-even as his wife for five years, I never got them.
I forced myself to stand and brushed off the snow.
“Why should I thank her?
“For crashing my honeymoon? For clinging to my husband every second? For dragging me skiing and turning me into her personal photographer?
“Thank you, Nikita. You’ve really outdone yourself.”
Then I turned to Wayne and asked calmly, “Can I go back to the hotel now?”
He stared at me, gritting his teeth.
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“Why do you have to be so passive-aggressive? Fine! Have it your way.”
He took Nikita’s hand and walked away.
I stood in the cold wind. My mind grew clearer, and my eyes stung sharper.