She Stopped Loving And Started Shining

Rain hammered Andogend that night as a black van tore down the highway at full throttle.

Roselyn Todd lay curled in the rear of the vehicle, her wrists and ankles tightly bound.

Her skirt was filthy and torn, the ragged hem shoved so far up that it barely concealed the swell of her hips. Her long, slender legs were left completely exposed, drawing the hungry stares of several men whose eyes roamed over her without shame.

A masked kidnapper beside her suddenly grabbed her and hauled her upright.

The chill of a knife bit into the side of her throat.

"Want to stay alive? Call Brendan Clayton. Tell him to bring twenty million dollars to the outskirts. Otherwise, you're dead."

He threw a disposable phone onto the floor in front of her.

Roselyn's fingers shook as she picked it up and called her husband, Brendan.

He was her one chance of getting out of this alive.

The second the call went through, panic cracked her voice. "Brendan, I've been kidnapped. They took me to the outskirts."

A woman answered instead, "Who's calling? Brendan can't talk right now."

Roselyn went rigid. She knew exactly who was on the other end-Mila Williams.

They had gone to high school together.

But Mila wasn't merely an old classmate. She was Brendan's first love-the woman he had never truly managed to forget.

Before Roselyn could process what she was hearing, a burst of derisive laughter spilled through the phone from somewhere behind Mila-Brendan's friends.

"Come on, Brendan married her because he owed a debt and wanted to make his grandmother happy. Does she seriously think that makes her his real wife?"

"That's right. This is Mila's welcome-home party. Why even mention her and kill the mood?"

"Mila, who's calling?" Brendan's low, familiar voice drifted through the phone, carrying a warmth Roselyn had never heard him use with her.

Without the slightest urgency, Mila answered, "I think it's Ms. Todd. Apparently, she's been kidnapped."

"Kidnapped?" A hollow chuckle escaped Brendan. "That's seriously the story she went with? If she's after money, tell her to contact my accountant. I'm not entertaining another pathetic stunt for attention. End the call."

With the call suddenly gone, Roselyn went completely still.

"Shit." The kidnapper grabbed the burner phone and immediately redialed.

This time, no one picked up. An endless busy tone was all he got.

"Fuck. He doesn't give a shit about her."

An argument broke out among the kidnappers just as the van started losing speed. The fear in Roselyn's eyes hardened into determination.

If Brendan had no intention of coming for her, then she had only herself to rely on.

Gathering every ounce of strength she had left, she hurled herself against the battered door. It gave way, and she launched herself straight into the pouring rain.

Everything became a blur. The ground slammed into her, pain ripping through her body as she rolled helplessly down the slick, muddy embankment. For one fleeting second, hope surged through her. She'd made it out.

Then filthy rainwater rushed into her airway. Her damaged lungs spasmed, plunging her into a severe, life-threatening asthma attack.

Each desperate attempt to breathe left Roselyn weaker, until her body finally gave out and crumpled into the mud.

The damage had begun three years earlier, when she'd dragged Brendan out of a fire and permanently ruined her lungs in the process.

Tonight, that sacrifice might kill her.

Helpless in the mud, Roselyn fought for one thin breath after another.

Her bag had disappeared during the kidnapping, taking her inhaler with it. There was nothing left for her to do but remain where she'd fallen and wait for the end.

Darkness crept across her vision. Yet before it swallowed her completely, one thought lingered. If she made it out of this alive, she would never waste her love on Brendan again.

...

The next time Roselyn opened her eyes, she was lying in a hospital bed.

For several long seconds, she simply stared at the ceiling, dazed by the realization that she hadn't died.

A stranger who happened to pass by had found her and saved her life.

Even with her body still battered from everything she'd endured, Roselyn discharged herself from the hospital and made her way back to the Clayton Estate.

She had only just entered when Brendan appeared on the staircase, heading down. One glance at him made her stop cold.

His clothes were wrinkled and disheveled, and a fresh hickey stood out clearly against the skin of his neck.

Brendan's face darkened the moment he saw her. Disgust crept into his expression as his gaze swept over her appearance. "You disappeared for an entire night, then stroll back in here looking like this? What, am I supposed to feel sorry for you? Or are you planning to go crying to Grandma again?"

Roselyn simply looked at him. Her eyes stung, but there were no tears left to fall. "Brendan, where were you last night?" she demanded.

A humorless smirk crossed his face. "Since when do I owe you an explanation for where I go? Enough with the poor-me routine, Roselyn. Mila's back now. I'm done wasting my time playing along with this little marriage charade."

Whatever fragile hope Roselyn had still been clinging to finally crumbled.

For three years, she had poured everything she had into him, foolishly convinced that enough devotion could eventually thaw even the coldest heart.

She had been wrong. No sacrifice could make Brendan return her love. All those years of loving him had earned her nothing but wounds, inside and out.

Her voice held no emotion as she shot back, "All right. I've had enough."

Without another word, she turned away and headed for the study. From where she had kept them hidden for the past three years, she pulled out the divorce papers.

From day one, there had been nothing romantic about their marriage. It had begun with a contract.

Brendan himself had drawn up the terms before they ever exchanged vows. Back then, Roselyn had never dreamed she'd be the one pulling those papers out this early.

She tucked the divorce agreement beneath a notice for the property management fees, then held the documents out to him. "The property manager sent this over. I need your signature."

Brendan couldn't even be bothered to glance at the pages. With a few irritated strokes, he scribbled an unreadable signature across the bottom.

"I'm going up to get some sleep. Unless something actually matters, leave me alone."

Roselyn stood where she was, watching until Brendan vanished from sight. Slowly, the corner of her mouth curved into a smile laced with bitter irony.

Three years earlier, gratitude had been enough for him to make her his wife.

Now, three years later, he was throwing her away without so much as looking back.

The downpour had already passed by the time Roselyn walked out of the Clayton Estate.

Carrying the documents bearing Brendan's signature, she headed to the courthouse alone and formally filed for divorce.

When the finalized decree was finally placed in her hands, a long, unsteady breath escaped her chest.

As of that moment, Roselyn was no longer Brendan's wife.

Roselyn left the Clayton Estate and returned to the old house she'd inherited from her parents.

She'd barely had time to settle in when the hospital's billing department called.

"Ms. Todd, there isn't enough money left in Liam's account. If the unpaid balance isn't cleared by five this afternoon, we'll have to stop his chemotherapy and specialized medication."

Liam Todd was her brother and the last family she still had in this world.

A rare chronic blood disorder had left him seriously ill. During the past six months, his doctors had warned Roselyn at least three times that he might not make it.

"All right. I'm coming now."

Despite her injuries, Roselyn rushed to the hospital on legs that could barely support her.

When she reached the billing counter, she discovered that the bank had frozen her card, making it useless.

Her fingers shook as she looked down at it.

Brendan had given her that card, and its account had covered Liam's treatment for the past two years.

This was his way of making her crawl back to him.

Cutting off her brother's medical care was the fastest and cruelest way he could force her to return.

Roselyn took a steadying breath and held back her tears. Then she pulled out her personal card, which contained the small amount she'd saved before getting married.

"Try this card instead."

Those savings were all she had left, and they would only cover one more round of treatment.

Once the payment went through, Roselyn felt completely drained.

Bruises marked her face and body, and she didn't want Liam to worry. Instead of entering his room, she watched him read through the narrow window in the door.

As long as her brother remained alive, she could endure anything.

Roselyn had just turned to leave when someone seized her wrist. The grip was so strong that she thought her bones might break.

She looked up and found Brendan glaring at her.

"Brendan? What are you..."

He didn't let her finish. Without saying anything, he dragged her toward the deserted stairwell.

"You're hurting me. Let go," Roselyn insisted as she fought against him, but Brendan shoved her into the cold wall.

He stepped closer and trapped her between his body and the wall. Anger darkened his face as he spoke in a mocking voice.

"Give it up, Roselyn. Did you leave me because you thought I'd chase after you?" Brendan grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "No one bought that stupid kidnapping story, so now you're trying something new?"

"I wasn't lying," Roselyn replied hoarsely.

"Shut up." Brendan gave a cold laugh and looked at her with disgust. "Is all this because Mila came back and I had dinner with her? Are you really so desperate for my attention that you'd go this far? I'm sick of your little performances."

He stood close enough for Roselyn to smell his cool cologne. A bright red hickey showed above his collar.

Mila had put it there.

Brendan had refused to save Roselyn. Then he'd cheated on her and broken her trust.

Yet here he was.

He acted as though he'd done nothing wrong and she had made mistakes.

"I'm nothing like you, Brendan," Roselyn said as bitter disappointment filled her voice. "I'd never betray someone by cheating on them. And I wouldn't turn my back on anyone who needed my help."

"What the hell did you just say?" Brendan's face hardened, and his stare turned colder.

Roselyn shoved his hand aside and headed for the door.

Exhaustion had taken everything out of her. She couldn't keep arguing when nothing would ever change. All she wanted was to escape the man who made her feel trapped.

She'd barely turned away when Brendan grabbed the back of her neck.

He yanked her against him, and her back struck his solid chest.

Before Roselyn could react, Brendan forced his lips onto hers and kissed her harshly.

Shock widened her eyes.

During their three years of marriage, Brendan had never once kissed her because he wanted to.

They hadn't even slept in the same bed, and he'd repeatedly told Roselyn how much he despised her.

Why was he doing this now?

Perhaps he wanted to ease his guilt. Or maybe this was simply another way to humiliate her.

There had been a time when Roselyn would've given anything for him to kiss her.

Now his touch only made her sick.

She sank her teeth into his lip until blood filled both their mouths.

Pain made Brendan jerk back.

Roselyn slapped him across the face.

The sound rang through the deserted stairwell.

Brendan pressed a hand to his burning cheek and glared at her furiously. "Did you seriously hit me?"

Roselyn had once been gentle enough to accept anything he did.

Three years of his cold treatment hadn't even driven her to raise her voice at him.

"Yes, I hit you on purpose." Roselyn curled her hands into fists until her nails cut into her palms. "Don't kiss me after putting your mouth on another woman, Brendan. You disgust me."

"Don't test me!" Brendan shouted. "I've paid for Liam's treatment all this time. Keep acting like this, and I'll make sure no hospital in Andogend takes him in."

His threat cut straight through Roselyn.

This was the man she'd once loved with all her heart.

He was willing to hold her brother's life over her head just to control her.

"Then stop paying. There's no need to threaten me." Roselyn met his surprised stare, and her hoarse voice remained firm. "I'll repay every cent you spent on Liam within three months. After that, neither I nor the Todd family will have anything to do with you."

Brendan's phone rang before he could respond.

Mila's name appeared on the screen.

His gaze shifted as he answered the call in front of Roselyn.

Mila's tearful voice came clearly through the phone. "Brendan, I fell... My foot hurts so badly, and there's no one here with me. Could you please come and get me?"

Roselyn watched the coldness leave Brendan's face the moment he heard Mila.

"Where are you? Stay there. I'm coming right now!"

After ending the call, Brendan turned around and walked away without looking back.

Brendan hurried off without looking back. Roselyn had never seen him show that much concern for her.

She pressed her back against the cold tiles and slowly sank into a dark corner of the stairwell.

No sobs escaped her. She wrapped her arms around her knees while quiet tears fell onto her hands.

The difference couldn't have been clearer. One woman had his love, while the other barely mattered.

Roselyn remained there until the cold seeped through her clothes and left her thoughts numb. Then something warm covered her shoulders.

Someone had gently placed a suit jacket around her. It carried a light trace of cologne and still held the warmth of the man who had worn it.

The jacket was far too large for her, but it covered her shaking body completely.

Her heart gave a sudden jolt, and she quickly raised her head.

Tears blurred her sight, but she caught a glimpse of a tall, well-dressed man disappearing around the corner at the far end of the hall.

"Wait!"

Roselyn grabbed the jacket and rushed to her feet, but a charge nurse passing through the stairwell stopped her.

The nurse gestured toward the corridor. "Ms. Todd, that's the man who gave you the jacket, Mr. Willis."

Roselyn was stunned for a moment before running after the man.

However, he had already disappeared.

She held the jacket tightly against her chest as questions crowded her mind.

If they ever met again, she would thank Mr. Willis properly.

Grief would have to wait. Liam's medical treatment mattered the most.

After wiping her face, Roselyn called Ashton Smith, a friend from college.

......

At a coffee shop.

"Ashton, these are some of my old designs. Can you help me find a buyer? I need the money as soon as possible, so I'll take whatever I can get." Roselyn slid the portfolio across the table without looking at Ashton.

Ashton turned through several pages. "You drew these three years ago, didn't you?"

"Are they too old to sell?" Roselyn asked as her hand tightened beneath the table.

Trends in the architecture industry changed quickly. Three years away had left her far behind.

She wasn't expecting the drawings to bring in much.

Ashton studied the designs that had once earned so much praise. Pain briefly crossed his face.

Roselyn, known as Rose by the world, had once led a world-class design team. Now, she had been forced to sell work she'd completed years ago.

"You walked away from your whole career for Brendan, Roselyn. And after everything you gave up, he still..."

"Please don't ask," Roselyn said hoarsely without lifting her head.

Ashton noticed the pain on her face and let the matter drop.

He offered her an encouraging smile.

"Leave the drawings with me. I'll find someone to buy them. But you can't keep selling your old work whenever you need money. One of my friends works for a leading firm, and they're looking for a chief architect. Getting the position won't be easy, but you have the talent and experience for it. This could be your chance to start again."

Hope stirred inside Roselyn, and she accepted without hesitation.

She went straight to a pawnshop after leaving the coffee shop.

Her hand shook as she removed the three-carat engagement ring from her finger.

It was the only piece of jewelry she'd taken from the Clayton family.

Roselyn had once believed the ring represented their love, even though Brendan had barely looked at it.

"Ma'am, do you really want to pawn this?" the clerk asked.

"Yes, I'm sure." Roselyn closed her eyes and kept her voice steady.

Once the transaction was finished, nothing seemed to tie her to Brendan anymore.

......

Meanwhile, a white Bentley pulled up beside the curb.

Mila waited beside a streetlight. A bandage covered her ankle, and her slim body looked especially fragile.

A warm smile spread across her face as soon as Brendan stepped out of the car. "Brendan, thanks for coming all this way to pick me up."

She walked toward him and let her shoulder brush his arm as though it had happened by accident.

Brendan didn't pull away. Instead, he supported her and asked with concern, "How did you manage to hurt yourself? What did the doctor say?"

"It's not serious. I missed a step and twisted my ankle." Mila leaned against his chest while he helped her into the passenger seat.

A light, cool fragrance filled the car.

Mila watched Brendan's profile and sighed with practiced concern. "Brendan, I think I heard Ms. Todd's voice on the phone earlier. She isn't going to be upset that you came to get me, is she?"

"I don't care if she is." Brendan tightened his hands around the steering wheel. No emotion entered his voice. "She doesn't get a say."

Triumph flickered in Mila's eyes before she softened her voice. "Good. I also have some news for you. I got in touch with the chief architect from that top international team. They're willing to take on the Clayton Group's Southend project. I'm handing that connection over to you, Brendan. So, what do I get in return?"

Mila leaned closer and ran her fingertips over the faint red mark she'd left on the side of his neck.

Brendan went still. Roselyn's tearful face in the hospital suddenly returned to his mind.

"Mila, my divorce from Roselyn is going to happen. But for now..."

"I can wait for you," Mila said as she cut him off with a calm smile. Her expression remained gentle and understanding.

Cruel satisfaction briefly surfaced beneath it.