Chapter 2

TERA.

I felt my world tilting on its axis. Everything was happening so fast, like a whirlwind spinning out of control. Voices swirled around me, but they all felt distant, like a murmur underwater. My vision blurred with tears.

I was in cuffs. I couldn't even defend myself.

I caught a glimpse of my colleagues' faces, the same ones who had pleaded with me to save Logan's life. They looked so guilty now. They knew they had put me in this position, and I could feel their regret.

My ex-husband's family pointed accusing fingers at me. His mother, his sister, and her—Latasha, his college sweetheart, all directed their venom at me.

"Why the fuck did you sign those papers on our behalf, you cheap whore? Who gave you the right?" his sister, Kayli, screamed, her face red with anger.

"What if he had died? You endangered his life, you gold digger!" his mother, Violet, spat.

"You desperately want me to have my baby without a father, don't you, you barren witch!" Latasha's voice was laced with spite, her hand protectively cradling her belly.

All these accusations? Simply because I decided to save the life of the man who had ruined mine?

***

THREE YEARS LATER.

The smell of fresh air and freedom whipped across my nostrils as I stepped out of the premises that had caged me for three whole years. There was no one to give me a warm hug or tell me that everything would be fine from here on out.

I had lost everything—my license, my savings, friends, everything—because of the single act of kindness I showed.

They charged me to court, and I even had to pay a huge fine for the 'crime' I committed, wiping out every penny I had. What did the Harringtons need my money for? I knew the fine they demanded wasn't even a drop in the ocean compared to the wealth they had. They just wanted to make sure I was stripped of every penny tied to my name.

It worked. Because, standing outside the state prison, I couldn't even afford a taxi to take me wherever I didn't even have to call home. If the kind warden hadn’t slipped me the ten-dollar note I have been holding tightly in my palm like my life depended on it, I'd be stranded.

Maybe I should start by getting my few belongings from Logan's house. No matter how angry I felt, I needed my things if I was ever going to start fresh.

I wasn’t surprised by the actions of Logan’s family. They never liked me for their son. They had opposed the wedding, especially Violet and Kayli. Logan’s father remained neutral about it until he died two years ago.

I was a nobody. An orphan who was adopted by a poor couple, Mr. and Mrs. Williams, who died in a car accident when I was thirteen. They gave me all the love and care I deserved as a growing child.

It was safe to assume that I was cursed with ill luck from birth.

"I'm here to see… um… Logan," I gulped when the security guard at the gate asked.

My heart thumped in my chest. What would it feel like to see Logan again? Even though I no longer had an ounce of love for him, it would still feel awkward.

The man didn't even have the decency to visit me in prison. Not a single ‘thank you’ for saving his life. Maybe he, too, believed I tried to kill him.

"And you are…?" the man asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I hesitated, the question cutting deep and striking a nerve. "I'm Tera. Tera Williams."

"Give me a moment, ma'am. I'll have to inform the boss's wife that you're here," he said politely.

My eyes stung with tears. Logan had actually gone ahead and married his mistress while I was rotting in prison.

"Well, well, who do we have here?" I heard the familiar voice of the woman who ruined my life, "If it isn't the prodigal wife," Latasha added.

Prodigal wife? I thought bitterly. Well, I'd been called worse.

"I'm just here to get my things. I don't want any trouble," I said as calmly as I could.

"Of course, you can't cause any trouble," Latasha sneered, crossing her arms. "Look at you, so pathetic. I guess prison wasn't so friendly after all." She laughed, the sound dripping with scorn.

I ignored her. My stomach growled, reminding me how hungry I was. I wasn't in the mood for a fight. All I wanted was a place to eat and rest.

"Can I just get my things?" I asked again, trying to be polite, though it only seemed to fuel Latasha's anger.

"Mummy, who is she?" A small voice called from behind Latasha, catching my attention.

I turned, my eyes meeting the large, onyx orbs of an innocent little girl. Tears welled in my eyes. The realization hit me like a punch—I wasn't just out of Logan's life. He had moved on completely.

"You have nothing of yours in this house anymore!" Latasha snapped, her voice filled with rage. "Leave and never come back, or I'll call the dogs on you!" She slammed the gate shut in my face.

*

I strolled aimlessly through the streets of Illinois, unsure of where to go next. Freya's place crossed my mind, but I quickly pushed the thought away. She hadn't come to see me in prison either. Everyone had deserted me. Maybe it was time to truly start over.

Ahead, I noticed a small crowd of children gathered, their little faces tense with panic. Curiosity got the best of me, and I hurried toward them. It was right outside a Ballerina academy, one of those places that catered to the high and mighty.

As I got closer, I saw the source of the panic—a girl, probably just a little older than Latasha's daughter, lying on the ground, gasping for air. She was obviously choking on something she was eating, and there wasn't a single adult in sight.

What are they doing out here all alone? I wondered, hesitating as I slowly stepped back.

I had learned my lesson. I wasn't going to interfere in anyone's life ever again. The last time I did, it ruined mine. I wasn't appreciated then, and I won’t be appreciated now.

"Please, ma'am, save our friend! She’s gonna die!" one of the kids cried desperately, running to me.

My heart raced as I watched her struggle, her tiny hands clawing at her throat.

She gasped for air, her body jerking as her airway closed off, and the panic in the children's eyes tore at something deep inside me.

"I… I’m sorry. I can’t,” I muttered, stepping back, my voice trembling. “You need to call someone. The academy… they’ll help.” My voice was barely audible, drowned out by the pounding of my own heart.

Every fiber in my body screamed at me to help the poor child, but despite myself, I was rooted to the spot, my past pinning me in place. Couldn't move. Couldn't say another word as the crying child hurried into the academy. I guess she was going in to call for help.

The girl was already growing weak, and her breathing had slowed down a great deal. She had choked on the peanuts she was eating.

She needed alternate back blows and abdominal thrusts in order to get the nut out of her windpipe, but I was too traumatized. Too scared to help.

I watched in horror as the little girl’s movements slowed, her lips turning a pale shade of blue. I could hear her shallow breaths, the sharp rasp of air struggling to push past the blockage in her throat. Tears stung my eyes, blurring the scene before me.

What the hell am I doing? It was all happening so fast.

Do something, Tera! Move! A tiny voice in my head screamed at me.

I took a shaky step forward, but before I could act, the sound of screeching tires filled the air.

A sleek, obsidian-black Pagani Huayra BC, a car worth more than I could ever dream of, pulled up to the curb in front of the academy. It screamed wealth and power, reminding me of the life I had once touched but could never have anymore.

The door flew open, and a man stepped out, dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal-colored suit. He held a beautiful life-sized doll In his hand, delicate and pink, with unique details that looked like it had been custom-made.

His eyes scanned the crowd of children before locking onto the little girl on the ground. Panic flashed across his face, and without hesitation, he dropped the gift on the floor and ran toward her.

"Aria!" He screamed, crouching beside the girl. He seemed to know a lot about how to resuscitate the child.

He leaned her forward and delivered sharp, controlled blows to her back. He knew what to do, just like I should have.

The girl's body jerked, and a faint wheeze escaped her lips, the peanut finally dislodging from her throat. The man swiftly tilted her forward, clearing her airway. Relief washed over his face as her breath became less strained, but her little body still trembled, weak and exhausted.

By now, a group of staff from the academy had rushed out. I saw the fear on their faces the moment their gazes rested on the man. One of the women picked up courage and tried to reach for the girl, but the man’s furious voice halted her midway.

“What the hell is wrong with you people?” he thundered, rising to his full height, “You let her out here while no one was supervising? Do you know what could’ve happened? I’ll have this entire place closed down! I’ll fucking sue every last one of you!”

He picked up the girl in his hands and turned on his heels, his eyes catching sight of me. For a moment, our gazes locked, and the sheer contempt in his ocean-blue eyes burned through me like acid. He slowly stalked toward me, his jaw clenched tightly, and when he finally spoke, his voice carried venom.

“You stood there,” he hissed, his eyes narrowing with disgust, “And did nothing while my daughter was helpless and dying. You’re a monster. Heartless. Wicked. You should rot in hell for this!”

I flinched, his words hitting me harder than I had braced myself for. My mouth opened, but no sound came out.

What could I say? That I was too scared to save a child and left her to die?

I deserved every syllable that came out of his mouth.