Chapter 5

I opened my eyes to the fluorescent glare of a field hospital. The smell of antiseptic stung my nose.

"You're a tough one, honey," a nurse said, her voice kind. "Most people wouldn't have survived that collapse. You must have a guardian angel." She patted my arm gently.

She held out a clipboard. "Can you fill out your information for us? Just basic details."

"My husband?" My voice was raspy. It felt alien. "Cedric Hopkins?"

The nurse frowned. "Oh, he was here. But he left a few hours ago. Said he had an urgent mission with his teammate, Cassidy. They seemed very dedicated."

A cold laugh bubbled up in my throat. Dedicated. Yes. Dedicated to leaving me for dead.

I would finalize it now. The divorce. No more delays. No more second chances.

My phone, miraculously, had survived. A message from Cassidy. A picture. Her and Cedric. Smiling. His arm around her. The caption: "Some people just know how to appreciate what they have."

My entire body screamed in protest. Every bruised muscle, every torn ligament, every raw nerve ending. It felt like my skin was being flayed.

I raised my trembling hand. I wiped the drying blood from my forehead.

I picked up the pen. "Marital Status," the form read. I checked "Single."

The nurse, who had been busy with another patient, glanced over. "Oh, dear. Are you sure? You just mentioned your husband." Her eyebrows were raised.

I met her gaze. My lips curled into a cold smile. "I'm sure. I'm getting a divorce."

The door burst open. Cedric stood there. His face was pale. His eyes, wide with disbelief, stared at me.

The nurse, startled, quickly excused herself. She left us alone in the small, curtained off space.

His eyes fell on my face. The deep crimson bruise on my temple. The angry red scratches across my cheek. His breath hitched.

"Eleanor... your face. What happened?" His voice was a strained whisper.

I didn't answer. I just watched him.

He took a step closer. "When I left... you were okay. They said you were fine." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

"It was an emergency, Eleanor. Cassidy was... she was right there. I had to protect her. It was instinct." He reached for my hand.

I flinched. He pulled his hand back as if burned.

"Please, Eleanor. Try to understand. It was chaos. We didn't know what was happening." His voice was pleading. Desperate.

My body screamed. The raw, searing pain lanced through me. I raised my hand. I slapped him. Hard.