Avalanche of Betrayal

Before the voice on the other end could finish, Reese cut him off.

"Don't be ridiculous! Carmen loves me, and she's eight months pregnant with my child! How could she just die like that?"

His voice sharpened. "Did she bribe you? Are you putting on some kind of act? I'll pay you double. Bring Carmen to the hospital—right now. I don't care how you do it. Just get her here."

With that, he hung up.

I watched him quietly. I wasn't sure what I should feel—grief, relief, or some hollow version of both.

"Reese…" Sandra called out softly. "Does Carmen not want to donate blood to me? Should I go apologize to her? Or maybe… I can do whatever she wants, as long as she's not upset with you. I'll do anything."

At some point, Sandra had come to stand behind him. She clasped her hands to her chest, looking up at him, eyes full of fragile hope.

Reese, clearly moved, stepped forward and gently stroked her hair. "You already endured so much to help me and those other kids escape back then. I can protect you now. I won't let you suffer again."

A flicker of guilt passed through Sandra's eyes. She quickly looked away and changed the subject.

"I just hope Carmen made it out of the snow mountain… What if something happened?"

"There's no 'what if,'" Reese replied firmly. "She's a rescue worker. She's climbed that mountain hundreds of times. She knows it like the back of her hand. There's no way she didn't make it out. Sandra, you're too kind. After everything she's done to you, you're still worried about her? You nearly died on that mountain because of her."

His expression darkened. The moment he mentioned me, it was like a dam broke—his disgust and resentment poured out unchecked.

"If my parents hadn't forced me, I'd never have married someone so toxic."

His words struck like knives. We had been married three years. Three years. And this was how he saw me?

Inside the VIP hospital suite, he gently laid Sandra onto the bed, his voice full of concern. "Don't run around barefoot next time. You know your body's weak."

She stuck out her tongue playfully. "I was just scared. I opened my eyes and you weren't there… I couldn't sleep. Reese, you haven't stayed with me at night in so long. Don't go, okay?"

She tugged on his hand, eyes wide and dewy.

I stood frozen, memories rising like smoke from the depths of my mind.

The first time I met Reese, I recognized him instantly as the boy I had once helped escape.

Over time, I fell in love with him. And I truly believed he felt the same way.

Until one day, I saw Sandra walking around his house, barefoot, wearing his shirt and nothing else. I'd pointed at her, shaking, demanding to know what they were to each other.

His expression hadn't changed. His voice was calm as he replied, "She's just my foster sister. Our parents are away right now, and she's afraid to be alone. Don't be so sensitive."

But they'd already slept together.

That much was clear now.

No wonder… no wonder his eyes had flickered when I asked about the marks on her neck. It had all been right there, if I'd only dared to see it.

Just then, his phone rang. It was his assistant.

"Mr. Bradley… there's been a second avalanche on the snow mountain. Your wife… she really didn't survive it…"