Stretcher 48

The moment Bryce saw me standing there, unharmed, rage exploded out of him and he kicked me.

I went down, and he wasn’t done – he grabbed my hair and slapped me hard.

“Skyler, my leg’s hurt and you just left me there. You’d really run off and leave your husband?”

“You were the one who ran first. You expect me – a woman to be the one to save a grown man?”

Bryce was irrational with fury; after that he tried to hit me again.

Only then did the crowd snap out of it and pull him away.

“Everyone, judge this – I didn’t save him and now I’m the one being treated like garbage? He ran before me.”

“How was I supposed to know he got trapped? He even hits me – help me, please.”

I played scared, lying on the ground with blood at the corner of my mouth, and looked up at Bryce.

“A man who hits his wife’s not a good man – you’re strong enough to kick people, so what did that get you?”

A big guy nearby couldn’t stand it and stepped up for me.

“That… that’s on her? What? I got burned like that and she’s fine?” Bryce sputtered, trying to pin it on me.

The big guy’s words hit a nerve; Bryce looked guilty, then turned away and raised his voice to defend himself.

People shook their heads and gave me pitying looks.

Even as the ambulance hauled him off, Bryce was still swearing and complaining.

My dear stepmother, though – she kept lingering and staring at the direction he’d been taken, like she couldn’t bear to let him go.

I clicked my tongue – yeah, these two sure are devoted to each other.

Back home I scrolled my phone like it was nothing, calm as you please.

Vanessa, by contrast, paced the living room nonstop from the moment Bryce went to the hospital; worry smeared across her face.

“Skyler, your boyfriend’s rushed to the ER. Aren’t you worried? Auntie will go with you to see him.”

I lifted an eyebrow – Vanessa sure seemed to care about Bryce.

Look at her practically falling apart.

“Didn’t you just see how he treated me? He hit me and I haven’t settled that with him yet, and you act like you’re worried for him.”

“Somebody would think Bryce was your husband.”

“What are you talking about? I’m worried for you – Bryce’s injuries are severe, and you’re just messing with your phone.”

“I’m not a doctor. How does being nervous put food on the table? You think staring around helps more than checking my messages?”

“You… you… you never talked back like this before.”

Vanessa trembled and pointed at me.

Yeah, I hadn’t used to speak like this. I used to treat her with the best intentions never appreciated it.

–

never said it out loud, but I thought of her as a second mother. She

Now that fate had given me a second chance, I wasn’t about to forgive her.

Just as I was about to go back to my phone, a familiar figure came running up – my father, Robert.

“Skyler, are you okay? Are you hurt? I nearly had a heart attack when I heard.”

“Dad, I’m fine. I’m not hurt.”

I hugged him and tears slipped out the second I saw him.

Last life, Vanessa sowed discord between us until Dad and I were estranged – every meeting dissolved into fights, even threats to cut ties.

After I died, my father’s estate was transferred to Vanessa.

She and Bryce locked him in the basement and treated him worse than a dog until shame killed him.

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.