Chapter 2
Avery’s POV For more than ten years, Eleanor and I have made it a tradition to visit Saint Jude’s annually, like clockwork. When the chaplain saw me this time, he gave me that same calm smile he always had. Gentle, warm, but also layered. It was meaningful. Then, the young chaplain repeated what he had told me years ago: Kevin and I were tied together by fate, destined to cross paths again and again. He saved me more than once in the past, and that’s how we ended up married. Hearing this revelation, Eleanor lit up like it was a sign from the heavens. She grabbed my hand, teary-eyed and glowing. “Avery, this is wonderful news! You and Kevin are truly meant for each other. That’s fate!” Fate. Yeah. Except fate isn’t always kind. And it’s never simple. Later, Kevin really did save me. Of all things, it was an avalanche. However, he wasn’t quick enough to save Tiffany. She was also trapped, but by the time they unearthed her, there was little left. She merely had a weak heartbeat and spent many years in a hospital bed, waiting to die. And death truly claimed her. Kevin never forgave me—not even once. Every bit of his grief, pain, guilt, and heartbreak was directed right at me, blaming me for being there. Perhaps if I hadn’t been there, he might have been able to save her instead. And yet, when it came down to it, he still chose me. I used to think the chaplain’s words were beautiful. I remember how they filled my chest with this ridiculous hope. I clung to them like they meant something divine, like maybe the universe was on our side. Now I know better. It wasn’t a blessing. It was a warning. The fate that connected Kevin and me wasn’t some golden ribbon of destiny. It was a chain. Heavy. Tight. Unforgiving. And I’d been too happy, too stupid, to see that look in the chaplain’s eyes when he smiled. I’d mistaken his pity for reassurance. And that blind, naive hope kicked off a whole storm of heartbreak I never saw coming. At the altar, I handed the two fate stones to the chaplain. He squinted at the carvings, his expression going cautious. “Avery, if the names on these are wrong, the blessing transfers to someone else.” I looked him straight in the eye and nodded. “This is how it’s supposed to be.” It wasn’t too late, not yet. I could still make sure Kevin got what he really wanted. As I stepped out of the sanctuary, a couple passed us on their way in. The girl was practically glowing, clinging to her boyfriend’s arm like they were the only two people in the world. “I heard the magnolias in the garden are about to bloom,” she said, bouncing on her toes. “And they’re holding a ceremony for the fate stones when they’re at their peak. Let’s stick around a few more days, okay?” The guy smiled and reached out, playfully rubbing her nose. “Alright, alright. Whatever you want.” I watched them walk away, maybe longer than I should’ve. There was just something about them. The ease. The comfort. The softness. But Kevin and I never had that. Not even once. Of course, he noticed. He laughed, sharp and cold, like he couldn’t believe I’d even dream about something like that. “Don’t waste your time. I’m only here because my mom insisted. If your dad hadn’t done my family that one favor, there wouldn’t have been the slightest chance for us.” Then he looked away as if the sight of me physically hurt him. “I’ve got something important tonight. Don’t try anything. If you screw it up for me, I swear to God, you’ll pay for it ten times over.” I already knew what important meant. He didn’t need to spell it out. It was Tiffany’s birthday. He’d been planning it for weeks, booking out an entire venue, hiring drone choreographers for a whole light show, and syncing it to her favorite music—all to make sure her night was perfect. I smiled. Just a little. It took effort. “I won’t get in the way.” He blinked at me like I’d spoken a foreign language. Then his face twisted, and he scoffed. “Good. At least you’re finally learning your place, Avery.” We reached the bottom of the mountain around seven. Tiffany’s party was in the opposite direction from where we lived—no way he could make it to both. The car slowed to a stop. Kevin glanced at me, suddenly unsure of himself. It was rare to see even a flicker of hesitation in him. I unbuckled my seatbelt and said, “I’ll get out here. I can grab a cab.” He blinked again. “What’s up with you? Did praying knock some sense into you? You usually throw a tantrum whenever I see Tiffany and try to mess things up.” I turned to him and smiled. A real one this time. Soft. Calm. Resigned. “I’m tired, Kevin. I don’t want to always be the villain in your story. I’m not going to fight it anymore. And I won’t stop you from seeing Tiffany. Just go. You’ll be late.” I didn’t wait for a response. My body was already starting to feel heavier, the pain simmering beneath the surface, harder to ignore. I stepped out of the car and closed the door gently behind me, letting out a slow breath. Kevin glanced at his watch and looked up at me once more. This time, he looked different. He was still guarded but serious. “Um, thanks,” he said quietly. Then he drove off. No goodbye, no look back. But honestly, even before this, he never really looked back.