He Chose Her, I Chose Myself

Caitlin's POV

Just a few weeks left until my wedding, but a wave of icy dread gripped me tightly. It all started the day Bella Peterson moved into our apartment building.

Of course, I knew her name. My fiancé, Hudson Rice, had always harbored a deep sense of guilt toward her—her firefighter father had sacrificed his life to save Hudson years ago.

That afternoon, I was walking my golden retriever in the apartment building's private garden. Suddenly, it excitedly broke free from the leash, ran over to the rose bushes, and nudged out a shivering white stray cat with its nose.

As I gently stroked its fur, I noticed a small silver tag on its collar. Engraved on the silver tag was the word, "Snowflake."

I flipped the tag over, and sure enough, there was a number engraved on the back, along with a brief message: "This is my kitty. If found, please contact me, thank you so much. —Bella."

My breath hitched. Bella? The name echoed in my mind, and I had a very bad premonition.

"Snowflake!" A soft voice broke the tranquility of the garden.

I looked up. A few yards away stood a woman with long, jet-black hair. She was younger than I had imagined, possessing an almost fragile quality.

"Oh, Snowflake, my little baby!" She gathered the cat into her arms, hugging it tightly. The cat let out a loud purr, clearly enjoying the feeling of being back in its owner's embrace.

"Thank you, thank you! I was so worried. I just moved in here, and she ran out. I didn't even know what to do."

"It's nothing. She is a beautiful cat."

"I'm Bella Peterson."

"Caitlin Norris." I wore an increasingly stiff smile, my mind in utter chaos.

Bella Peterson. This couldn't be a coincidence. This was Hudson's ex-girlfriend, whose father had died saving him.

"It's nice to meet you, Caitlin," Bella said, her eyes still fixed on the cat in her arms. "You are so kind." She looked up, her gaze meeting mine. "Norris... that last name sounds a bit familiar. Do you live nearby?"

"Yes, I live here."

We walked toward the apartment building entrance together, but the unease in my heart grew heavier.

"I just moved back from abroad and rented a unit in this building."

"Rented an apartment in this building?" I asked, unable to stop myself from taking a sharp breath. This building was one of the most luxurious apartments in the whole city, and the rent was terrifyingly high.

Bella smiled, a fragile smile that seemed to hide an unspeakable sorrow. "Yes. This building is beautiful. And... it's close to my past." She paused, her eyes dimming.

"You wouldn't happen to know Hudson, would you?" I tried to make my voice sound casual, but my curiosity was intense.

Bella just offered a small, meaningful smile. "Yes, and Hudson has actually mentioned you to me, saying you are very understanding."

"Oh, really?" I forced a very strained smile.

The elevator doors opened, and we both simultaneously pressed "15."

"Well, I'm here." She walked toward the door of 1503, but just as she reached it, the door of 1502 opened.

Hudson stood there, dressed in casual clothes, his hair slightly messy. He held a bag of groceries in his hand, a small smile on his face.

He looked at me, and then his gaze landed on Bella.

His smile vanished, and he was so surprised that the grocery bag almost slipped from his hand.

Seeing Hudson, Bella froze in place. Snowflake, still in her arms, let out a soft meow.

Bella's eyes filled with tears, and her lower lip began to tremble.

Time seemed to stretch out. I stood between them, feeling like a redundant outsider. The silence was suffocating.

"Hudson," I said, my voice flat. "You know Bella, right?"

Hudson blinked, as if waking from a dream. He looked at me, then at Bella, a complex and conflicted expression surfacing on his face. "Bella, what are you doing here?"

Bella nodded, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Yes, Hudson."

"I need to lie down for a bit," I said, my hands trembling as I unlocked my apartment door. Shaking, I closed the door behind me, shutting out that oppressive scene.

Through the thick door, I heard Bella go from soft sobbing to heart-wrenching, agonizing wailing.

"Bella, shh, it's okay now." I heard Hudson's voice, deep and gentle.

The crying gradually subsided, turning into soft whispers. The hallway finally fell silent.

I don't know how much time passed before I gently cracked the door open. The hallway was empty, and the door to 1503 was shut tight. Hudson and Bella were inside, a lone man and a lone woman.

The future I had so carefully planned completely collapsed in this very moment.