He knocked on the door of Nico’s and my room.
“Want a drink?” he asked quietly. “I was wrong to accuse you. I’m sorry.”
I hesitated, then stepped aside to let him in.
Though he said drink, it was mostly Aiden drinking alone. Empty bottles littered the floor.
Nico and I exchanged a look. Aiden was tearful, staring at me with a hunger in his eyes. Before he could speak, he coughed up blood.
Then another cough–and another–until he collapsed face down on the table.
The sight of the blood made my head pound uncontrollably.
I winced in pain, and Nico tried to comfort me, but it didn’t help.
Suddenly, flashes rushed through my mind–images of a man and me tangled in bed, me taking the blame for some- one else, and more.
an’s face became clear at last–it was him.
bered everything. All the pain, the regrets–all crashing into my mind at once.
was rushed to the hospital. His assistant paid the bills while Nico and I waited in the lobby.
Esme, don’t be afraid.”
I knew everything now. Quietly, I put distance between myself and him.
The doctor came out and said Aiden’s stomach lining was severely damaged and he’d need to stay in the hospital.
Aiden remained unconscious for days. When he finally woke, his first words were my name. He begged to see me.
I walked into his hospital room with calm, steady steps. He looked at me like a man drowning, desperate for breath.
“Esme, you remember, don’t you?” His voice cracked. “I was wrong. I was wrong for everything, for all those years. Please forgive me. Come back with me. I’ll marry you. I swear I’ll make it right. I’ll never hurt you again.”
I dodged his touch and sighed.
“Aiden, I’ve forgotten. Without you, I was happy. So why do you want me to remember?
“What we had wasn’t love. It was manipulation dressed as affection. You broke me, then you called it love.
“There’s no going back. I don’t love you anymore. And your love? I don’t want it.
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“This is the last time you’ll see me. Please don’t come after me. We’re done. I won’t appear in your life again. Oh–and congrats on your marriage to Selene.”
Before he could say more, I opened the door and left. He tried to follow but was stopped by his IV line. There was a flurry of noise behind me, but I didn’t stop or look back.
“Esme, I’m sorry. I lied to you.”
Nico waited outside. I already knew what he’d say–but I didn’t blame him. After all those days, I was honestly happy.
“It’s okay. Thank you. I’m leaving now.”
Not long after I accepted a job overseas, the news broke. Aiden had finally discovered Selene’s betrayal.
He caught her at the airport as she tried to run, tormenting her day and night.
Selene was hit by cars multiple times, suffering shattering injuries, but Aiden wouldn’t let her die.
He locked her in the basement with several aggressive guard dogs.
Her lower body was so severely injured that it rotted and became infested with maggots.
“Aiden, you’ll pay for this. Even if you kill me, you’ll never have her.”
Selene died–choked to death by Aiden in a fit of rage.
Pamela got caught in the crossfire. Aiden forced her to apologize on video, her head bowed, tears streaming down her face as she said sorry to me.
He sent me the video. I glanced at it once and deleted it.
I set off alone for my new life abroad, telling no one.
This time, I was choosing myself.
When I landed, the story was all over social media–Aiden’s confession went viral for three days straight.
It was his personal statement–he confessed everything himself. People called him a monster. A fool. A man who re- alized too late what he’d lost.
To stir the pot even more, he even invited reporters for an exclusive interview.
“Mr. Caruso, why did you do this?”
“To make amends to the person I love.”
In my first year abroad, Aiden died of stomach cancer. He died alone, holding a photo of me, young, smiling, un- touched by sorrow.
In my second year, I ran into someone familiar on the street.
“It’s been a while, Esme.”
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“Long time no see, Nico.”
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