Consider Me Gone

"I'm telling you now: no matter what you do, I'll never like you!" Rowena snapped. "You clinging to me like this only makes me feel sick!"

She continued coldly, "And if anything happens to Preston, I'll never forgive you!"

With that, she supported Preston–whose forehead was injured from the collision–and hurried toward the hospital, dragging me along as well.

On the way there, Preston lost consciousness.

In my previous life, Preston had been utterly alone and, in despair, jumped from a building.

Even this time, with Rowena giving him her full support, he still refused to leave me alone.

My chest ached watching Rowena panic and rush about for Preston's sake; it felt like my heart was pierced by one too many needles. My gaze dimmed.

Thankfully, the doctor said there was nothing serious, and Preston had only fainted from emotional shock.

Rowena finally relaxed, then shot me a vicious glare. "This is all your fault. Tonight, you stay here and watch over Preston. Consider it your atonement. If anything happens to him, I'll be holding you accountable."

With that, she turned and left without looking back.

I stayed by Preston's bedside all night, keeping watch until dawn.

Not long after, Rowena personally came in carrying a bowl of oatmeal. Seeing how exhausted I looked, she hesitated, a trace of softness crossing her face.

"Why didn't you go get some rest?"

"I'm not tired."

"You've worked hard. Go rest now."

Never in my life did I expect that I would still hear words of comfort from her.

I stood up quickly, ready to leave.

My obedience clearly pleased Rowena. She spoke again, a little awkwardly.

"Tomorrow, I'll have the designer come by again. The suit you tried last time was too plain. Let's try a few different styles.

"And about what I said yesterday, don't overthink it. I was anxious and spoke without thinking. I apologize.

"But Preston is innocent. Don't make things difficult for him because of me, okay?"

I looked into her eyes.

I had so much to say…but chose to say nothing in the end.

She probably had no interest in knowing that I was about to return to my hometown anyway.

I smiled faintly and said sincerely, "There's no need. If I get to marry you, anything I wear is fine.

"Rowena... May you have a happy marriage."

Suspicion flickered across Rowena's face. She was just about to speak when Preston stirred.

He frowned and slowly opened his eyes. "What happened to me?"

In an instant, Rowena pushed me out of her mind. She hurried over, carefully helping him sit up and gently feeding him the oatmeal.

By the time she thought of me again, the hospital room was already empty.

I had long since returned to my own room and begun packing my luggage.

When the maid saw me, she sighed and shook her head, clearly hoping I would stay.

As I packed, I said softly, "It's fine. Please tell Ms. Atkinson she doesn't owe me anything. I owe her far too much."

In my previous life, no matter how much Rowena hated me, Ms. Atkinson still protected me, never allowing anyone to slight me during our marriage.

She even died trying to save me. Her debt of kindness was too heavy.

No matter what she wanted to do, I would never object.

On the day of the wedding, I solemnly bid farewell to Ophelia and Edwin and boarded a flight bound for the south.

...

Inside the banquet hall, the groom was nowhere to be seen.

An inexplicable sense of panic rose in Rowena's heart.

She murmured, "Nathan is still not ready? It's almost time. He's always said he wanted to marry me... Why does he suddenly not seem anxious at all?"

Edwin was just about to answer when the secretary rushed in, pale and breathless.

"Ms. Atkinson… Mr. Nathan Wilde won't be coming. The flight he was on...had an accident."