Drowning in Regret

Victoria walked into my hospital room dressed head-to-toe in luxury, her face glowing with health. After glancing at my pale, exhausted appearance, she laughed softly and sat at the edge of my bed.

She sneered and said, "Wow, you're really still alive. You must have nine lives."

The overwhelming scent of her perfume made me nauseous, and I instinctively shifted farther away. "What are you doing here? Where's Patrick?"

Victoria gently placed her purse on my bedside table, flicked her hair back, and smiled mockingly. "Oh, he's busy decorating a nursery for me and learning to cook healthy meals. You know how overly cautious new fathers can be."

My eyes drifted down to her slightly rounded belly, and suddenly, everything became clear. Of course, it was Patrick's baby.

I did not even look at her again and replied coldly, "Then you better take good care of yourself. Wouldn't want the kid to drown as soon as it's born."

"Esme!" Victoria snapped.

Frustrated by my lack of jealousy or grief, she scoffed angrily. "Cut the sarcastic crap. I'm his first love. Everyone knew Patrick and I belonged together since we were in college. He's about to become the rescue squad captain, so you better not try to mess things up!

"Sure, he shouldn't have told people you were already dead, but how else could I openly be by his side? If he gets exposed, we'll both be finished!"

Victoria's voice rose with agitation until she was practically breathless.

I calmly turned my head toward her and laughed dryly. "So you're saying that I, Patrick's lawful wife, who willingly gave up the only lifebuoy during the flood to save you, should just die quietly now?

"Why should I sacrifice myself again for your love story and pretend none of this ever happened?"

After all, I thought I had done enough already. Ever since Victoria reappeared, Patrick constantly found excuses not to come home. We would argue bitterly, and whenever he got irritated, he used his rescue squad job as an excuse.

"I told you I'm having dinner with my supervisor! Do you realize your constant calls make me look terrible in front of him?"

I had loved Patrick far too much back then, even caring more about his career and reputation than he did. When he blamed me for jeopardizing something important, I would immediately fall silent and apologize repeatedly.

In those frantic moments, I had not even noticed that the one answering and reassuring me was not Patrick—it was Victoria. Thinking back, I could picture them laughing about my foolishness.

My anger surged, and on impulse, I took out my phone and dialed Patrick's supervisor, Thomas Webb.

The call connected almost instantly. "Hello?"

Victoria panicked and tried to snatch my phone away.

"Who are you calling? What are you doing? You're calling Mr. Webb, aren't you?"

I regularly worked out, and even when I was sick, I could easily grab hold of Victoria's wrist. "Is it any of your business?"

On the other end, Thomas was clearly confused and repeatedly asked what was happening. Holding Victoria back firmly, I spoke clearly into the phone.

"This is Patrick Holmes' wife, Esmeralda Spencer. I'm calling to report Patrick for deliberately hiding the truth about the rescue operation!"