Where My Love Froze Over

The blizzard finally subsided at a luxurious resort high in the Colorado mountains. Though the property was severely damaged, a rescue helicopter was finally able to land. I’d yielded my seat on the first helicopter to my husband, Mylo Blackwood.

He immediately shoved me aside, turning to help his Marketing Director, Rimes Monroe, onto the ramp.

Mylo made sure they were the first to be evacuated.

The force of his push sent me sprawling onto the icy helipad.

An excruciating pain shot through my abdomen. Blood instantly soaked through my cream-colored cashmere pants.

But when the rescue team tried to move them aside and place me on a stretcher, Mylo blocked their path.

"Carrie, it's just a scratch. Stop making a scene and get off the stretcher! Rimes needs to go first. She sprained her ankle—that’s a real injury!"

The rescue workers and the attending doctor were stunned. They glanced from my blood-soaked pants to Rimes, who was weeping theatrically over her sprained ankle.

A few of my colleagues tried to reason with him. "But, Mr. Blackwood, Carrie's injuries are clearly more severe!"

Mylo gritted his teeth and growled, "Enough! I'm her husband. Don't I know her condition? If any of you delay Rimes's treatment, don't bother showing up for work tomorrow!"

Clutching my slightly rounded belly, I stared at him and finally nodded. Rimes could have the spot.

I decided in that instant that the debt my unborn child and I owed Mylo Blackwood was paid in full.

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1

The moment I relented, Mylo Blackwood let out a contemptuous snort.

"Carrie, I knew you were acting! Same old tricks, trying to win sympathy, desperate for my attention. It's disgusting!"

He kicked away the first-aid kit a paramedic had opened for me, clearing a path for his Marketing Director, Rimes Monroe, to be lifted onto the stretcher.

As I lay on the frozen ground, my treatment delayed, waves of searing pain ripped through my abdomen, making it impossible to breathe. My body instinctively convulsed, curling into a protective ball.

Seeing that I didn't scream, Mylo turned, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Silent now? Done with the theatrics already?"

I could feel my life’s warmth draining away with the blood, and a cold despair washed over me.

I was losing my unborn child, its life bleeding out into the snow beneath me. And the child's father was carefully, tenderly, helping his mistress onto her stretcher.

"Rimes, be careful. Don't hurt yourself again."

Like a frightened fawn, Rimes pointed at her sprained ankle, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Mylo, I think my foot is broken. I'm so scared! If I'm permanently injured, will you still want me?"

His expression softening with concern, Mylo bent down and gently kissed her ankle. "Let me see. There, all better. Silly girl, how could I not want you? Don't worry, I'll get you the best orthopedic specialist in America. I won't let that beautiful ankle of yours suffer any permanent damage."

The rescue team stared in disbelief. One of them pointed to my bloodless face and protested, "Sir, she was trapped in the wreckage the longest. She's the most seriously injured person here!"

Only then did Mylo shoot an impatient glance in my direction. He addressed the rescuer in a tone that brooked no argument, "Sir, don't let this drama queen fool you! Carrie is my wife; I know her better than anyone. Don't be taken in by her pitiful act. She's just jealous and putting on this pathetic show to get my attention."

The rescuer’s expression was one of pure shock; he couldn't believe we were husband and wife. After all, what kind of husband yanks his wife off a stretcher just to help another woman onto it?

With that, Mylo roughly pulled me up from the ground, forcing me to spin around for everyone to see. "Look, she's fine. There's nothing wrong with her!"

My whole body was almost numb from the pain. As he manipulated me like a marionette, a cold sweat drenched my face and neck.

The doctor standing nearby looked horrified. She stammered, pointing at my blood-soaked pants, "Can't you see the blood? Your wife is hemorrhaging!"

Mylo suddenly laughed. "Doctor, you must be new at this. It’s all from a fake blood pack Carrie brought for her little performance!"

He let go of me, and I, already unsteady, collapsed straight to the ground. I cried out in pain, but my cry failed to stir a shred of pity in him.

After wiping the sticky blood from his fingertips onto my pants, Mylo just smiled. "Carrie, you have to tell us where you bought this blood pack. It looks surprisingly realistic."

Due to the head injury and blood loss, my consciousness was already starting to fade.

Faced with Mylo's humiliation, all I could do was shake my head, unable to utter a single word. I struggled to crawl away from Rimes's stretcher.

If Rimes wanted to go, then let her. I just had to get as far away from those two as possible.