Chapter4 Another Coincidence

Meanwhile, in the VIP room of the same hospital, a few childhood friends of Riley Griffin and Faye Aiken are gathered. Riley tosses his phone onto the table in frustration. He cannot get a hold of Amanda.

Faye’s spooked by the sound, and her body trembles slightly as her eyes filled with tears.

“Riley, I’m so sorry. I know I’m always troubling you because of my terrible physical condition, but yesterday was unbearable… It felt like I was reliving the day of the air crash.”

A few years ago, his mother, Faye, and her mother took his private jet for an overseas vacation. Tragically, there was a crash, and their mother had gone to heaven. Faye made a full recovery, but she was left with severe PTSD.

Even though it was unpredictable, it happened on his plane. Faye was the only one who survived, and he swelled with guilt and sympathetic. He even promised Faye’s father he’d treat her like his little sister. So for all these years, no matter when she calls, he’s always there for her.

But Riley believes that they’re not a good match. Faye’s not his type. Every time she falls ill, it just reminds him of his own mother.

But Amanda, his stubborn wife, never understands him. She has fought with him multiple times over someone he doesn’t even love. And now she even doesn’t pick up the phone.

He must’ve doted on her. Riley thinks. 

This is the first time Riley's ever called Amanda. And he decides never to call her again.

“Riley…”

Seeing him sit there in a bad mood, Faye, teary-eyed, tries to lean on his arm. But the next second, Riley subtly shifts to the another side and speaks calmly.

“If you’re not feeling well, just lie down and rest.”

Faye nods obediently, though her hand under the blanket clenches tightly into a fist.

An eerie silence suddenly envelops them.

Rex Nash, a friend of Riley, clears his throat and pats Riley on the arm.

“Why so angry, huh? We haven’t see each other in a while.”

Then he turns to the corner of the room, where another friend sits.

“You two really have it out for your phones today, don’t you? Here we’ve got one person smashing his phone, and over there, the other scrolls through his phone since he enters the room.” Rex gossips, “Shawn, what’s going on? Don’t tell me you’ve just gotten back from abroad and already found yourself a girlfriend?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Shawn Edwards rolls his eyes. Rex’s words are nothing but a distraction. He just twiddles his thumbs.

Apparently, Rex doesn't look like he's going to give up that easily. “Come on, you’re dashing and rich. It wouldn’t be hard for you to find a girlfriend, would it? Be honest with us—you landed at ten last night. Why’d you take so long to get in touch?”

It occurs to Shawn in retrospect that he saw a pale and pathetic woman dressed in a blood-soaked sweater. He can’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy as he replies with a soft voice, “I just… ran into someone in need. And I Decided to help out.”  

Lying in the hospital bed, Amanda has a dream.

In it, she finds herself standing in front of a photo of her and Riley. She’d insisted they take it together, even though they were only married on paper—no wedding, no ceremony, no bridal photos. At the time, Amanda had been thrilled just because Riley agreed to take a formal picture with her. They were both dressed in evening wear, looking like a real couple. But now, Amanda notices something she’d missed before: she was the only one smiling. Riley’s face might had been carved of stone, so little did it show. He was always masterful at appearing cold and aloof, discouraging anybody approaching.

How strange, she thinks. How had she never noticed the unwilling look on his face?

She glances down and realizes her fingers empty—no wedding ring. All that remained is a faint mark on her skin, like a light spot. And then, the ground gives way beneath her, and she feels herself plummeting as though falling from a great height.

Amanda wakes with a start, tears streaming down her face.