He Realized He Loved Me Too Late

Isolde's POV

But this time, for Alicia’s sake, Nicholas raised his hand against me.

His leather shoe came down hard, grinding the shattered pieces of the necklace onto the floor.

“I already gave you the necklace,” he snapped. “Why did you have to hit her?”

“Nicholas…”

“Enough!” His voice cut through the air like a whip. “I thought you were just a little spoiled, but I was wrong. You’re worse than I imagined! It’s a blessing your mother isn’t alive to see how despicable you’ve become.”

“You—” A sharp pain tore through my chest. I coughed, and blood spilled from my lips. My body was already weak, and anger sent my heart racing until the world went dark.

“Isolde?” His voice sounded distant and frantic. “Isolde, wake up!”

I could feel that I was in his arms, and somewhere in the fog, I heard Alicia’s voice crying out, “Nicholas! Where are you going? Don’t leave me!”

The next time I opened my eyes, a warm hand was brushing gently against my cheek. The moment I stirred, that hand pulled back.

“Once you’re better,” Nicholas said, his tone cold again, “go apologize to her.”

I frowned.

“She’s still hurting from that slap,” he added. “Apologize… and then we’ll—”

He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “We’ll get married.”

His eyes were red, proof he’d stayed by my bedside for a long time. But all that concern wasn’t for me. It was just so I’d bow my head to his precious Alicia.

“Nicholas,” I said quietly, “what makes you think I can’t live without you?”

He froze.

I laughed bitterly. “That slap? I regret not hitting her harder.”

His brows drew together when he saw my clenched fists, veins bulging beneath my pale skin. Even the IV line darkened with blood.

He bent down, gave me a mocking smile, and said coldly, “Fine. Let’s see how long you can keep pretending.”

Then he turned and stormed out.

By the time the nurses rushed in, the IV had already backflowed with blood.

Worried that Spencer would start looking for me, I discharged myself that same night.

Third Person's POV

Meanwhile, at the airport, Nicholas and Alicia were about to embark on their round-the-world trip.

But Alicia couldn’t help noticing how distracted Nicholas seemed. Ever since they’d returned from the hospital, he’d been distracted.

'Could it be because of that woman?' she wondered, but immediately brushed it off. 'No, impossible. Nicholas despised her more than anyone.'

But right before boarding, Nicholas pulled out his phone.

Alicia’s eyes flicked toward the screen and saw that the top contact in his favorites wasn’t her.

He tapped that contact and called, only to hear that it was turned off.

Nicholas frowned.

“Nicholas,” Alicia said softly, “who were you calling? You don’t look happy.”

“It’s nothing.” He forced a small smile. “Just someone unimportant.”

'Unimportant. Then why is she pinned at the top?' she fumed inwardly.

Alicia frowned slightly. But when Nicholas took her hand and smiled, saying, “You’re the one who matters most,” she chose to let it go.

They walked toward the gate together.

At that exact moment, a woman in a mask brushed past them, dragging her suitcase toward a flight headed in the opposite direction.

But neither of them noticed the other.

Unbeknownst to them, that was the moment their story truly ended.