Burning My Love to Ashes

I woke up and found myself in a ward.

The nurse saw I was awake and deliberately threw the medicine bottle into the trash with a loud clink.

Her voice was dripping with sarcasm as she said, "You really are a tough one. After all the harm you caused, the only thing you lost was your baby. Guess you're lucky."

My throat felt like it was burning, and I couldn't get a word out. All I could do was swallow her insults in silence.

Suddenly, the nurse slammed the door open with a loud bang and shouted to the people outside, "The suspect's awake! Get her out of here. We don't want her messing up our hospital. She actually went after a fallen hero's daughter! What a joke! She should've just been left to burn!"

Two people at the door grabbed me without saying a word, and before I knew it, I was being taken to see Caleb.

There was a table between us. His face was stormy like he was about to snap.

He wasted no time laying the blame on me as soon as he spoke. He said, "You're cold-blooded for trying to kill someone, Jeanette Sloan. Since you were pregnant, I might be able to push for probation, but you're still going to prison!"

Then, like even speaking to me would ruin his reputation, he turned his head away with a stiff jerk.

My throat felt raw, and when I tried to speak up for myself, all that came out was a harsh cough.

Brianna rushed in, crying her eyes out. She practically threw herself into Caleb's arms. "I just had another nightmare, Cay. I dreamed I was burning alive in the fire. I'm so scared…"

Caleb's face, which had just started to soften, tightened again as soon as he heard her.

"I don't get how Bri, of all people, could've done anything to offend you, Jeanette! Why do you hate her so much that you keep trying to hurt her? Her dad gave his life on a rescue mission, and this is how you treat the daughter of a fallen hero, huh?

"You… You're…"

He couldn't finish his sentence. He clenched his fists and pounded the table in frustration.

Someone handed me a cup of water. I took a few big gulps before I could get the words out. "I didn't start that fire. Brianna did. She's the one who should be blamed and locked up. And you should be in jail too, Caleb. You failed in your duty."

Caleb slammed his hand on the table again and jumped to his feet. He leaned in, his eyes burning into mine.

"Bri is always innocent and sweet! How can you slander her like that? She already told me what happened! It was you—yeah, you, you spiteful woman—who started the fire over some small argument!"

Brianna immediately broke down in tears. "She's trying to set me up again, Cay. I'm so scared. All I ever wanted was to be your friend. Is that really such a crime? Why won't you just stop trying to kill me, Jean?"

She lunged at me, grabbing my arm and shaking it.

I pulled away in disgust, and as soon as I did, she collapsed backward and screamed, "Cay, help! She pushed me!"

Caleb jumped to his feet instantly, pulling Brianna into his arms, then used his free hand to grab me and shove me to the ground.

"You actually hurt her right before me, Jeanette? Are you seriously that shameless? If you weren't pregnant, I'd have you thrown in jail right now to teach you a lesson!" he barked.

I looked up at Caleb, who was seething. He still looked so familiar—the person who once promised me the world. But now, any hopes I had about us were long gone.

In my past life, when Brianna took her own life, he thought I was the one who killed her. Now, with Brianna still alive, he still blamed me for starting that deadly fire.

I just couldn't see the point of this marriage anymore.

"Let's just get a divorce, Caleb. Take me to court if you want. Now that the baby's gone, I'm curious to see if you can still get me thrown in jail," I said flatly.

Caleb's brows knitted together as he snapped, "What the hell are you talking about? What do you mean the baby's gone?"