Chapter 2

I curled up on a bench in the hospital hallway. Just a wall away, Samantha and her beloved Julian were being treated.

I was in a daze, unable to separate reality from a nightmare.

Samantha was my first love, the first girl I had ever opened my heart to.

I loved her with everything I had. I did everything to make her happy.

Our first meeting felt like a gentle touch of fate.

It was a sunny afternoon at the college library. She was sitting by the window, a soft beam of light catching the edges of her hair. At that moment, time had stopped.

Samantha was beautiful and smart. Her smile could warm the coldest winter, and I fell hard and fast.

Our love grew deeper with each passing season, solid and comforting.

Then Julian came back, like a sudden storm that wrecked our quiet life.

He was Samantha's childhood friend, a fashion designer.

We had met a few times. At first, I thought he was just a charming, artsy guy.

My job as a firefighter meant I worked long, grueling shifts. Overtime was normal.

I spent my rare free days working on side gigs, wanting to build a better financial future for Samantha.

Samantha used to tease me, calling me an "unromantic block of wood." But her eyes had always been full of love.

But as Julian hung around more and more, things changed.

Julian always knew how to make her laugh. He took her to fancy art galleries and trendy parties—things I couldn't afford or didn't have time for.

With my crazy schedule, I started to feel inadequate.

I kept telling myself that Samantha's feelings for Julian were strictly platonic. But insecurity grew in my heart like weeds.

His presence threw a shadow over our marriage.

Still, I trusted her. Our bond was built on years of shared dreams.

I started blaming myself. I realized I shouldn't neglect her just because I was working hard.

In fact, I had planned to take her on a romantic getaway to Hawaii right after this shift.

I never, not even in my worst nightmares, thought Samantha would cheat on me. That was why the pain was so agonizing.

The trust I had held onto so fiercely had turned into a knife in my chest.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway. I buried my face in my knees, too broken to let anyone see me.

"Logan?" A soft, gentle voice called out.

I blinked and looked up.

A nurse holding a medical tray stood before me, looking incredibly worried.

"I’m on duty tonight," she said softly. "Mason told me what happened. He asked me to check on you."

It was Lily, Mason’s younger sister.

Seeing a familiar, kind face, the dam broke. All my agony rushed to the surface.

I choked back a sob, desperate to let it out:

"Why? Why would she do this to me?"

"What did I do wrong?"

Samantha, why?