Chapter 1
The night before my engagement, I found the truth.
On Douglas Northam’s phone, there was a trail of monthly payments-half his paycheck-sent straight to his fallen comrade’s widow.
I didn’t play the understanding fiancée. I shoved the phone at him and demanded answers.
He spent the entire night on the balcony, silent under the dark sky.
By dawn, he finally muttered, “I admit it. I feel guilty toward her. But that’s all.”
Eight years of love-reduced to guilt.
Still, I wasn’t ready to walk away. I put on my gown, forced a smile, and stepped into the engagement party as if noth- ing had happened.
But halfway through, the doors burst open
Jonathan Kenrick, Douglas’s childhood friend, shouted across the hall:
“Doug, Sarah heard about the engagement-she slit her wrists!”
The ring slipped from my fingers and hit the floor with a sharp crack.
Douglas didn’t hesitate. He ran.
Eyes burning, I screamed after him, “If you walk out that door today, it’s over! Go be her fiancé instead!”
He paused for a single second-then left without looking back.
I stood there, still holding the glass of champagne I’d meant to offer to our guests.
The noise around me faded into silence.
The emcee froze, microphone in hand, utterly lost for words.
Douglas’s parents walked over, faces dark with anger, and grabbed my hand.
“Maddie, I’ll go get that brat back right now!” Douglas’s father, Howard Northam, said.
I shook my head and set the glass on the table.
“Howard, Catherine, let him go.”
My parents’ faces were even more grim. My mother even started crying.
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She snapped, “He just abandoned his own engagement party! This is an unforgivable humiliation for our family!”
I stepped off the stage and said to my parents, “Come on, I’ll take you home.”
The place was in chaos.
Jonathan rubbed his hands together, guilt written all over his face.
“Madeline, I’m sorry. Things with Sarah are just too urgent.”
I looked at him without a word.
Jonathan and Douglas grew up together. They both knew Gilbert Jensen, the friend lost to war.
They treated Gilbert’s widow, Sarah, like family. But a real family wouldn’t have chosen to slash her wrist on our en- gagement day.
I grabbed my purse and walked out of the chaotic banquet hall.
My phone buzzed in my bag, again and again.
I didn’t answer.
I knew it was Douglas.
He’d explain, apologize, and tell me how dire Sarah’s situation was-how he had no choice but to go.
After eight years together, I knew him too well. He was loyal, especially to his brothers in arms.
Gilbert had died covering for him. That guilt had weighed on Douglas for three whole years.
I used to think it was right for him to look after Sarah. But today, I finally understood-they had crossed a line.
Back home, I slipped out of the gown and into my regular clothes.
I was a nurse at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. If Sarah had slit her wrists, she’d be sent to our hospi-
tal.
I grabbed my keys and drove there.
In the emergency room, Douglas was sitting by the bedside.
Sarah lay there, wrists wrapped in thick gauze, face pale, eyes shut, tears still clinging to her lashes.
Douglas held her uninjured hand, his brow furrowed tightly.
I walked over.
Douglas saw me and stood up, eyes full of remorse.
“Maddie, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have-”
“How is she?” I cut him off, looking at Sarah on the bed.
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Chapter 1
“The doctor said the wound isn’t deep. She’s not in any danger, but she’s very emotional.”
I nodded. “That’s good.”
Then I turned to leave, but Douglas caught my arm.
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“Maddie, don’t be mad. Gilbert died because of me. I can’t just leave Sarah to fend for herself; she’s all alone, and it’s too much for her.”
I shook off his hand.
“Douglas, I’m not mad. I just think it’s strange that our engagement party matters less to you than a woman you’ve only known for three years.”
That’s not true! Maddie, you mean the most to me! But she almost died!”
The doctor said she’ll live.” My voice was steady as I looked at him.
Douglas opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Just then, Sarah woke up. When she saw me, tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
“Madeline, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I didn’t mean to… I just… I just missed Gilbert so much.”
She sobbed, her body shaking.
“When I knew you two were getting engaged, I thought of me and Gilbert… I couldn’t control myself. I’m sorry I ru- ined your engagement party.”
Douglas immediately sat back down beside her, comforting her gently. “It’s okay. It’s over now. Don’t dwell on it. Just
ocus on getting better.”
looked at me, a hint of reproach in his eyes. “Can’t you see how miserable she is? Can’t you try to understand?”
said nothing and walked away.
Outside the hospital, the cold wind stung my face.
Only then did I notice my hands had been trembling the whole time.
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