The Blood I Gave Him, The Love He Stole

After that, he never once mentioned switching it back.

I looked out the car window at the two of them saying goodbye to relatives.

Waiting for them to give me an explanation.

Eugenia climbed in first, pulling two red booklets from her purse and holding them out in front of me.

"Ta-da! Charles and I are married!"

I saw the two of them beaming in the photo.

A chill spread through me, and even breathing felt hard.

Charles got in after her and laughingly knocked down the hand holding up the marriage certificate.

"Stop teasing Summer. She's going to take you seriously."

He reached over and pinched my cheek.

"These two certificates are fake. They're just to fool people."

"Sorry I didn't tell you about the fake marriage ahead of time. The plan was, if Eugenia's parents didn't push for a wedding, we'd just let it slide."

"I just didn't expect them to make such a huge production of it this time."

"So we figured we'd throw a fake wedding. That way we can satisfy Eugenia's parents and mine both."

I frowned, not following.

"Your parents?"

Charles looked at me, his tone matter-of-fact.

"Summer, you know how it is. My parents really mind your illness."

"But they're willing to accept Eugenia."

Only then did I realize that he'd already taken Eugenia home to meet his parents behind my back.

As his real girlfriend.

But Charles had known about my illness from the moment we got together.

Back then he'd held me, his voice so earnest.

"Summer, don't worry. I'll make my parents accept you, no matter what."

"However hard it gets, I won't give up."

I believed him then.

But later my illness grew worse and worse.

I needed a monthly transfusion of the same rare blood type as mine.

Eugenia came back from overseas just to help me.

"Summer, don't be scared. From now on I'm staying in Harriston."

"However much blood you need, I'll give it to you."

I was moved by her words, and I took her for my closest friend.

With the man I loved and my best friend beside me.

No matter how much the treatment hurt, I was willing to keep going.

But now it seemed everything had changed.

The car started, and no one noticed how lost and heartsick I was.

Charles and Eugenia were busy discussing the details of their wedding.

"I want the whole venue covered in white roses."

"I've already picked out the dress, a mermaid cut. It suits my figure. It'll be gorgeous."

"And a champagne tower. I want a pink theme."

Eugenia waved her hands, giddy with excitement.

Charles watched her through the rearview mirror, an unconscious tenderness curling at the corner of his mouth.

I saw it. I said nothing.

Eugenia seemed to sense that I was unhappy.

She leaned forward to look at me in the passenger seat.

"Summer, I've picked out your bridesmaid dress too. It's the princess style you love."

"And the bouquet is your favorite, lily of the valley. When the time comes, I'll have Charles hand it to you himself."

Charles patted my hand.

"Summer, don't be sad. I'll give you a real wedding someday."

They both looked at me.

Like they were soothing a sulking child.

Once.

I would have been moved.

But now, looking at the matching couple's rings on Eugenia's and Charles's fingers.

It felt like something had clenched hard around my heart.

A sour ache crept along my veins, choking me until my chest felt tight with panic.

The ring on Eugenia's hand was mine.

She'd borrowed it and never given it back. And neither had she given him back.

Just as I sat there, dazed.

A runaway truck came barreling straight at us.

Charles threw one arm back to shove Eugenia behind the driver's seat, and with the other he wrenched the wheel hard to the left.