Started 15

For three days, Aaron locked himself in the study like a man possessed. 

He didn’t eat. Didn’t sleep. Didn’t speak to anyone. He just sat there, watching that same video again and again, his hands gripping the divorce certificate so tightly that the paper had long crumpled in his grasp. 

He’d mobilized every contact the Mackey Family had. Pulled every string. Called in every 

favor. 

But no one could find me. 

Not even a trace. 

He scoured the entire house, hoping–desperately–for something. A note. A sweater. A picture. But I’d taken everything with her. 

The lilies I used to love had been replaced with roses. The giant wedding portrait that once hung in the living room had been taken down long ago–ever since the first time he brought Nancy home. 

He found the old photos in the storage room. Or what was left of them. 

I had cut them up. Torn them to shreds. I didn’t just leave. I’d erased myself. 

On the third day, his assistant entered the study, shaking. 

“We…we still haven’t found any leads on your wife’s location, sir.” 

Aaron looked up slowly. His eyes were a frightening shade of red. 

“Three days. I gave you access to every resource we have. And you’re telling me you still have nothing?!” 

He hurled everything on the desk at the assistant, glass and paper flying. 

The immigration file listed a country, but somehow his people couldn’t even narrow it down to a city. Not even a street. 

Worthless. 

He shot to his feet and flipped the desk, chest heaving. The sudden movement, the exhaustion, the rage–it all hit at once. His knees buckled and everything went dark. 

When he opened his eyes again, he was in a hospital bed. 

A handful of close friends had gathered around, trying to comfort him. 

He said nothing. 

Just stared blankly at the ceiling. 

No reaction. No flicker of emotion. 

Finally, one of the guys slipped away and texted Nancy. 

None of them liked her, but right now… Aaron wasn’t just heartbroken. He looked like he was dying. And none of them wanted to be around when he finally cracked. 

Nancy arrived not long after, practically running into the hospital with a container of soup 

2/2 72.0% 

IVIC 

No reaction. No flicker of emotion. 

Finally, one of the guys slipped away and texted Nancy. 

None of them liked her, but right now… Aaron wasn’t just heartbroken. He looked like he was dying. And none of them wanted to be around when he finally cracked. 

Nancy arrived not long after, practically running into the hospital with a container of soup 

the housekeeper had thrown together last minute. She’d been waiting for this. For me to finally disappear. For Aaron to finally turn back to her. And now, this–this was her shot. For a split second, she almost smiled. But the others were watching, so she quickly pasted on a worried expression and walked over to his bedside. 

“Aaron,” she said gently, “you haven’t eaten in days. I brought chicken soup… Will you at least try a little?” 

When he didn’t respond, she grew nervous. She could feel the pressure of the others watching her, judging her. So she leaned closer, raising the spoon to his lips. 

“Please,” she whispered. “You’re destroying yourself over a woman who doesn’t even want you anymore. She’s not worth this.” 

And that’s when Aaron finally moved. 

He turned his head–and looked straight at her. 

Nancy froze. That blank stare… For a split second, she thought she’d finally broken through. Her heart fluttered with hope. 

She smiled, ready to feed him the soup. But in the next second… 

11:40 Mon, 23 Jun 

Chapter 16