Dumped My Cheating Fiancé, Now He’s Begging

After dating Richard Stonewell for three years,on the day I was going to propose and surprise him with a new contract I overheard him laughing and mocking me with his friends.

“Olivia is just my lapdog,she’d lick my shoes if I told her to,”Richard bragged.

“You’re so lucky she’d stay by your side even though you're getting married to her step-sister,Elena who is pregnant for you,”his friends said.

My heart broke into a million pieces as I recalled how he had refused to have a child with me until marriage.

What a fool I've been to think that Richard truly loved me.

“You dirty scumbag,how dare you?!I'll leave and you'll regret it,”I snapped.

Richard stared at me,laughing with mocking eyes,“You have nowhere to go,Olivia,stop acting.Stay here and be my mistress,let me take care of you.”

Richard thinks I’m just a weak and defenseless woman.

Time to show him who really made him who he is and teach him a lesson he would never forget.

“Mark my words,Richard Stonewell,you will grovel before me like a dog and I’ll kick you to the curb!”

——

Olivia’s Pov

“I’ll return home in two days time, arrange everything,” I whispered into the phone as tears streamed down my cheeks.

“Miss Bellaire, are you alright?” the voice asked me over the phone.

I shook my head and replied, “No, but I will be.”

Hanging up the phone, I stared at the diamond engraved box in my hands and sighed.

I had gotten this box custom made specially for this day but I ended up being betrayed.

Hidden in my boyfriend’s closet, I held the diamond box tightly, my hand on the door handle, poised to surprise him—until his friend’s voice made me freeze.

“You are so cruel, Richard, I can't believe you've been playing Olivia for three years now,” his best-friend, Ethan said.

My hand froze on the door of the closet. Playing me! Surely I’d heard wrongly. But Richard’s voice rang out, silencing my thoughts.

“Olivia is just like my loyal dog. She’ll do anything I want even if I ask her to lick my shoes,” Richard said proudly.

I gasped while his friends burst into laughter. How dare he speak about me like this?

“But you're so lucky, man, how do you think Olivia will react when she finds out you're getting married to Elena?” Ethan asked.

Richard shrugged nonchalantly, “I don't care but I know she's not going to find out and even if she does she has nowhere to go. That shameless woman has been living off me while her step-sister helped me grow my company.”

A small sob escaped my lips as I clamped my mouth shut while I opened the diamond box in my hand.

A beautiful diamond ring lay inside it. I smiled sadly. To think that I was going to propose to him today.

I've been dating Richard for the past three years and I decided to take the first step by proposing and giving him a special surprise.

But hearing him say all these things about me I realized I had been a fool and I never truly knew Richard.

“But why doesn't she want to let you go, huh? Maybe ‘cause you still treat her well,” Ethan said.

“Oh please, she thinks I’m the one who she had the one-night-stand with three years ago on the day of the masquerade party. She doesn't know it’s her step-sister, Elena,” Richard stated callously.

My heartbeat increased as I took deep breaths trying to calm my racing heart.

How could he say this? He knows how much that night meant to me. That was the night I lost my virginity.

So if it wasn't him I slept with then who? I wondered.

The only reason why I had started dating Richard was because I thought he was the man from that night.

“But why not tell her you're not the man she was with? I feel you're being cruel to her, Richard,” another of his friends spoke up.

Richard scoffed, “Oh shut up, you know nothing about women. You don't even have a girlfriend. Besides, Olivia is insanely in love with me and even if she finds out she won’t be able to live without me,” he bragged.

His friends hailed him while I clenched my fist ready to storm out and unleash hell when the next voice stopped me.

“I wonder if she’ll stay when she finds out Elena is pregnant for you,” Ethan mused.

Blood rushed to my ears as I touched my stomach, the pain of one month ago flashed in my mind.

I had gotten pregnant for Richard and he convinced me to get rid of it saying he didn't want to get married to me pregnant.

“You know I love you, Livia, I don't want people gossiping about how I got married to you because you're pregnant,” he had said, kissing me.

And like a fool I believed when in reality he wanted me to get rid of the baby so he'd be with Elena and have kids with her.

I felt blind rage consume me as the pain I had felt on that day became fresh in my mind.

I pushed open the closet door and glared at him.

“You dirty scumbag, how dare you?!” I yelled, charging at him.

Chapter 2

Olivia’s Pov

“I hate you!” I snarled as my hands flew to his cheeks.

Richard gasped as I slapped him twice, the palm of my hands imprinted on his cheeks.

“Ooh, it seems Richard was clearly mistaken about how well Olivia would handle this,” one of his friends said.

“What is this madness, Olivia?” Richard snarled, grabbing me roughly.

“Let go of me!” I snapped.

“How dare you humiliate me before my friends,” he snarled at me.

“You have been humiliating me for the past three years. You lied to me, manipulated me, made me go through pain and now you're going to marry that miserable excuse of a step-sister —” my words were cut short when I felt a sharp sting on my cheeks followed by stars clouding my vision.

The room was dead silent as Richard’s angry voice boomed loudly.

“I won’t have you say another bad word against Elena!” Richard stated.

“Did you… you… just slapped me?” I stuttered, touching my cheeks and blinking my eyes to clear the stars.

Richard sighed, “Why are you always pushing me, Livia? Apologize now and we can forget about all this.”

In the past I would have apologized believing I was at fault but now I know better than to accept a mistake that isn't mine.

“Go to hell! I wish you goodluck with your Elena,” I hissed at him.

A flash of guilt crossed his eyes but it disappeared immediately as he spoke.

“Don’t be like that, Livia. Just say sorry and we’ll go back to how we were,” he insisted.

I glared at him, “Even if the world was burning and my apology to you would stop the fire I’d rather watch the world burn then.”

“Oohhh!” his friends exclaimed, laughing at Richard.

Richard grabbed my arm roughly, hating the fact that he was now an object of mockery.

“Go on your fucking knees right now or you'll regret it!” he threatened in my ears.

I smiled scornfully at him, “You’ll be the one regretting by the time I’m done with you!”

Richard looked taken aback by my response. I've always been sweet and calm in my response to him in the past so this must have come as a shock.

I yanked my arm away from his grip as I left his bedroom, clutching the box tightly.

That was how I entered my bedroom and made the phone call I had made.

I wiped my tears as I recalled how everything had gone down.

Richard and I lived in the same house. We started living together shortly after we started dating.

But everything was going to end soon. I just needed to round up some things here and I’ll leave.

Later that night, I left my room happy that no one was around.

The house was quiet and as I moved around it I felt numb.

This was the house I've shared a lot of good memories with Richard.

He has always been sweet to me but now I was slowly realizing that all the while he had been gifting me and away for work he had been with my step-sister, Elena, lavishing her with the finest gifts.

I’ve been a fool for not realizing this sooner, I mused sadly.

Every part of this house reminded me of the times I spent with Richard.

Times that I was supposed to cherish but now they felt like a bitter pill to swallow as a dagger stabbed me repeatedly in my heart.

“How could you do this to me, Richard?” I sighed softly.

But something else nagged at me. If Richard wasn't the man I had slept with three years ago then who is?

On the night of the masquerade ball I had met a stranger and I lost my virginity that night.

When I woke up, I was alone. I searched for him and I found Richard thinking he's the one.

The door opened, interrupting my train of thoughts. I whirled around to see Richard entering the house.

The frown on my face deepened as I made to leave but the next voice stopped me.

“Oh sweet sister, hello.”

I froze as I saw my step-sister, Elena, strut into the house like she owned the place.

“What is she doing here, Richard?” I queried, glaring at him.

Richard glared at me, “You will address my fiancee properly, Olivia. Don't get me upset again.”

“Or else what?” I challenged him.

Elena giggled, “Oh both of you, stop it. I come in peace, Livia. I came to apologize.”

“You don't need to,” Richard said to her.

The way he smiled and stared at her was different from how he acted with me.

I scoffed, “Save it. Just like always, you love taking my things just like when we were kids.”

Elena sighed, “I’m sorry, Livia, this was totally unplanned. You see, Richard found out I was the one he was with on the day of the masquerade ball.”

I shrugged, “Goodluck to both of you, then.”

“Elena will be staying here from now. She's pregnant and needs a lot of care and attention. She's your sister so you'll take care of her,” Richard said to me.

I snickered, “What?”

“Also give Elena your dreamcatcher necklace, she's been having a lot of bad dreams recently,” Richard added.

My eyes flashed with anger, “This is the only thing I have left of my late mother, I will never give her!”

Elena let out a startled cry as she stumbled backwards knocking over a vase that shattered on the floor but before she could reach the ground, Richard caught her.

Richard glared at me angrily, “It's just an ordinary necklace! Apologize for scaring her!”

I scoffed and turned to leave when Richard yanked my hair forcing me to kneel.

I let out a cry as I fell on the sharp pieces of the broken vase.

“Apologize, else I won’t let you stand up,” he threatened.

Chapter 3

Olivia’s Pov

“Why are you so stubborn, it’s just a simple apology!” Richard yelled at me.

He's been holding me down for at least two minutes and now the floor was filled with blood from the jagged shards of broken vase that pierced my knees.

I stared at him, my eyes shining in defiant, “I’m not your fucking dog that will do whatever you say, Richard, I’m a person and I have a choice.”

Richard’s eyes reddened with anger as he pulled my hair tighter making me wince in pain.

“What choice do you think you have? You are useless! You've lived with me and gotten so many miscarriages over the years that your womb is damaged. No one would accept a barren woman like you!” Richard yelled.

His words broke my heart into a thousand pieces but my eyes widened at his words.

“miscarriages? I just had one, Richard, what are you talking about?” I asked, my voice quivering.

Richard scoffed, “Did you really think I’d ever want to have a child with a woman like you?”

That's when everything clicked.

The procedure I went through at the hospital last month the doctor said excessive child loss had caused me to be barren.

I shook my head, my lips quivering, “No… no… Tell me you didn't.”

Richard smirked, “Oh, but I did.”

The rage I had been feeling earlier disappeared as my shoulders sunk and all I felt was a cold emptiness.

“How could you be so cruel? So all the times I had a miscarriage it was because you secretly fed me pills,” I stated sadly.

Richard shrugged, “I didn't know you were so smart, Olivia, else you would have known your place a long time ago and that's beneath me as my dog!”

He pushed me away as I stumbled to the floor. Elena gasped and ran toward me.

“Oh Richard, how could you be so cruel to my sister?” she cried, holding me.

“But Elena, I was doing it for you. I didn't want to have any illegitimate child with her,” Richard said.

Elena flashed me a wicked smile as she whispered in my ears, “Barren woman, I took your man and your womb.” Then she turned to Richard and glared at him, “Help me get her up, Richard, she's lost a lot of blood.”

Before Richard could come toward me I pushed Elena away from me.

She gasped and stumbled while Richard quickly caught her, his face morphed into anger as he glared at me.

“What did you do that for? Someone who is kind enough to help you,” he snapped.

I bowed my head on the floor, hitting my forehead repeatedly seven times.

When I raised my head up there was blood on the floor.

“I’m sorry, Elena,” I said, then I stared at Richard, “Is the apology enough?”

Richard looked surprised as he stuttered, “Well… I only asked you to say sorry and not hurt yourself.”

I wiped off the blood from my forehead as I stared at them, “You two deserve each other.”

Then I stood up and limped to my bedroom. I slammed the door shut and headed into the bathroom.

The moment I slid into the bathtub and turned on the shower a sob broke free from my throat.

Throughout the three years I dated Richard I got pregnant five times.

Richard was never careful. He would always say, “Livia, I love you, it’s not my fault I can't control myself around you.”

And like a fool I would stupidly blush and giggle unknown to me that he was damaging me.

The last four times I had miscarriage a day after telling Richard the news.

Unknown to me that Richard had been the one poisoning me whenever he brought me my morning tea.

This fifth time he had advised me to go do the procedure in the hospital then after it we'd get married which was also why I decided to propose to him first.

After the procedure the doctor had told me that excessive loss of my previous pregnancy had reduced my chances of ever having a child to twenty percent which is the same as saying I was never going to have a child.

I had told Richard when I returned that night and he consoled me.

He even told me that it’s his fault and he didn't care if I didn't have any kids we could easily adopt.

I didn't know he'd use it to insult me one day when he was the cause of my misfortune.

The tears wouldn't stop flowing as my heart broke again. I didn't think it was possible to feel more pain but guess I was wrong.

“All I've ever done is love you, Richard, what did I ever do to deserve this?” I cried out.

“Now, now, sister, why are you crying when we've always known that you'd never get what you want?” Elena’s smug voice sounded in front of me.

Chapter 4

Olivia’s Pov

“Get out!” I hissed at her.

Elena walked toward me and smirked, “I should be saying that to you, darling, since this house will be mine soon.”

I shrugged, “Don’t worry, I’ll be leaving soon.”

Elena burst into laughter, “Where are you ever going to go, Livia? You're broke.”

I shrugged, “It doesn't matter. I'll figure it out. Don't worry about me, Elena, it’s almost like you're a good person who cares about me.”

Elena scoffed, “Oh shut up, Livia. What’s your plan? You can't even access anything because you don't have a boyfriend talk more of a husband.”

I smiled, “Guess you and your mom won.”

Elena chuckled, “Yes. Just like how we got rid of your barren mother.”

I saw red and before I knew it I was clawing at Elena’s face.

Elena screamed and Richard came running in. He caught Elena in his arms as he glared at me.

“What has gotten into you?” he snarled at me.

“Take that back, Elena! Tell her to take it back,” I snarled, trying to reach for her.

Elena was crying pitifully in Richard’s arms, “I don't know what I did, Richard, I only mentioned her late mother’s name.”

“Get yourself together, Olivia!” Richard yelled, pushing me backwards.

I stumbled and slipped, hitting my head at the edge of the bathtub.

I felt a wave of dizziness slam into me as I blinked, gasping softly.

I touched the back of my head and I felt something wet.

“Help…” I gasped, weakly.

“Let’s check on her, Richie,” Elena said to Richard.

Richard sighed, “Let’s get you to the hospital first. She got you scratched up pretty badly.”

“Please…” I gasped.

But no one came for me. I remained on that floor until I passed out.

When I opened my eyes again it was bright outside. I massaged my temples which were throbbing. There was dried blood at the back of my hair.

I groaned, grabbing my phone that was on the nightstand. I had several missed calls from one number.

As I stood up I swayed slightly and almost fell except warm arms wrapped around me.

“Are you alright, Livia?” It was Richard.

I stared at him and he looked genuinely worried about me. If I didn't know all the atrocities he had committed against me I might have swooned for him again.

“Let go of me!” I snapped as I pushed him away from me.

Richard sighed, “Why are you being so stubborn? You're the one who hurt Elena even though you know she's pregnant.”

“I hope you were able to save your precious Elena then. You should be lucky you didn't come to meet a corpse here,” I snapped.

Richard frowned, “It was just a minor fall, Livia, don't blow things out of proportion.”

“Blow things out of proportion? You pushed me and I hit my head on the bathtub, Richard. How's that blowing things out of proportion?” I snapped.

Richard sighed, “Listen, you can take care of yourself but with Elena I also have to worry about the baby.”

“Whatever!” I snapped.

I made to walk away when I swayed again, my head spinning.

This time when Richard caught me I didn't resist because I was too weak.

“I’m taking you to the hospital,” he whispered.

He carried me in his arms and if I didn't know better I would have said it was so romantic.

Rather I endured being close to him all through the ride to the hospital even though I was repulsed by him.

He was a wolf in sheep's clothing and for three years I was blind to it.

When we arrived at the hospital, the doctors rushed me into the Emergency ward for a brain scan.

I waited in the hospital room for the result. Richard paced around looking uneasy.

I frowned, “There’s no need to be here. You can go meet your beloved Elena.”

Richard sighed, “Elena is asleep. They gave her some meds that put her to sleep. I'm just worried about you.”

I snickered, “Or you're worried about going to jail should anything happen to me after all you pushed me and the hospital report can prove it.”

Richard sighed, “I don't know why you keep resisting me, Olivia. You don't have to keep being stubborn, we've got a lifetime together and you can't keep this up.”

I almost choked with laughter, “A lifetime? What lifetime? Aren't you getting married to Elena?”

He nodded, “Of course. But I’m not going to let you be lonely, especially since I know no one would ever agree to be with you.”

A frown marred my face, “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Come now, Olivia, don't tell me you don't know you're my mistress. I can satisfy all your needs ually and financially. You don't have to worry about anything,” Richard grinned.

I stared at him, appalled that he'd suggest such, “You disgust me.”

“What other choice do you have, Livia? You're broke and you have no one except me!”

“Go to hell!” I hissed at him.

Richard grabbed my wrist harshly, “Why are —”

“The results are out,” the doctor’s voice interrupted him.

Chapter 5

Olivia’s Pov

The doctor stared at both of us with a frown. Richard released my hand and smiled uneasily.

“Should I come back?” the doctor asked.

Richard chuckled and cleared his throat, “Of course, not, Doctor. Please go ahead.”

“Miss Olivia has a serious head trauma and blood clotting in her brain. She needs to undergo a serious surgery so it can be fixed,” the doctor said.

My blood ran cold. Brain surgery? The irony, I smiled bitterly.

My mother went through this same brain surgery and she never survived it.

Years ago when she got into an argument with my father because she found out about Elena and her mother my father had angrily shoved her.

My mother rolled down the stairs until she hit the floor. I was fifteen then and I remembered crying and screaming at my father.

My mother had been rushed to the hospital and she had a hemorrhage in her brain.

My mother hadn't survived the surgery. It was after that incident that my father had tried to adjust and make it up to me.

My father killed my mother and even though he spent the rest of his life making up for it I never forgave him.

I was only able to forgive him when he was about to die six months ago.

And now I was in the same exact situation. Fate had a weird way of playing the same cards.

“Miss Olivia?” the doctor called, snapping me out of my train of thoughts.

I blinked, “Yes?”

“We need to prepare you for the surgery,” he said to me.

Richard stared at me with a smirk, “Do you accept our previous conversation so I can pay for your surgery?”

I scoffed, “You’re the reason I’m in this situation, Richard and yet you are trying to blackmail me?”

Richard sighed, “It’s not blackmailing, I'm only trying to help you see the reason why you should accept. For instance, you're broke and can't pay for the surgery.”

The doctor stared at us, “I’m afraid, Miss Olivia doesn't have time for this.”

Richard shrugged, “When you're ready, Livia, you know where to find me.”

Then I watched as he callously walked out of the hospital room with a smirk.

The doctor stared at me, his eyes widening, “Miss Olivia, I suggest you do everything possible to schedule your surgery right now.”

I nodded, “Perform the surgery, Doctor. Put it on my tab, Miss Bellaire.”

The doctor’s eyes widened slightly as I flashed him something on my phone.

“Of course, Miss, right away.”

***

Hours later I opened my eyes and felt severe pain. Groaning, I squinted as I heard the sound of an EKG machine beeping steadily.

“How do you feel, Miss Olivia?” I heard the doctor’s voice.

His voice sounded so far even though I could see him in front of me.

“Focus, Miss Olivia,” he said.

I blinked and groaned, that action was also very painful.

“What happened?” I asked.

The doctor smiled, “The surgery was successful and you're now on your way to recovery.”

I could now focus on his voice and see him clearly. The fog and migraine was slowly clearing.

“That’s good,” I smiled.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

Hours later I opened my eyes and felt severe pain. Groaning, I squinted as I heard the sound of an EKG machine beeping steadily.

“How do you feel, Miss Olivia?” I heard the doctor’s voice.

His voice sounded so far even though I could see him in front of me.

“Focus, Miss Olivia,” he said.

I blinked and groaned, that action was also very painful.

“What happened?” I asked.

The doctor smiled, “The surgery was successful and you're now on your way to recovery.”

I could now focus on his voice and see him clearly. The fog and migraine was slowly clearing.

“That’s good,” I smiled.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

I shrugged, “Everything hurts.”

The doctor nodded, “That’s to be expected. You've just had a major surgery so you need at least three weeks of bed rest.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” I smiled at him.

I grabbed my phone immediately after he left. Richard was nowhere to be found.

I dialed the number that has been calling me constantly.

“Miss Bellaire, what’s going on?” the worried voice sounded over the phone.

“I need you to come get me. I had a minor accident that's going to affect me so I can't leave alone,” I said softly.

“What’s your address, Miss?” the voice asked.

I had just finished rambling off the name of the hospital when the door opened and I hurriedly hung up the phone.

Standing in front of me was Elena with a scowl.

“Why didn't you die from the same surgery that killed your mother so I can live in peace?” Elena queried.

My blood boiled in anger but I wasn't going to react. I was in a very vulnerable position and I was certain she was trying to look for reasons to hurt me.

“Leave me alone, Elena,” I said tiredly.

Elena frowned, “I don't know why you keep hanging on like a fucking leech. Why won't you just die and leave our lives.”

I stared at her, “I’m going to leave, Elena, don't worry about it.”

Elena chuckled, “You don't understand, Livia, I don't want you to just leave. I want you to die!”

“Too bad we don't always get what we want,” I scoffed.

Elena smirked and I watched with wide-eyed eyes as she emptied a bottle of petrol around my bed.

“What are you doing?” I asked, panic evident in my voice.

“You should die! That will satisfy me!” she smirked as she dropped a single matchstick on the floor.

As she turned to leave, I weakly grabbed her dress pulling her back.

Elena screamed as she fell to the floor dragging me with her.

Thick smokes filled the room as the smoke alarm went off.

I started coughing while Elena glared at me.

“You shameless woman! what have you done?!” she screamed at me.

“Help!” she screamed, crawling toward the door.

I heard voices outside.

“Sir, the fire service are on their way. You can't get inside there,” a voice said.

“No, Livia is still inside there,” Richard’s voice sounded outside.

I felt a sliver of hope as Richard broke down the door. His eyes landed on me as he took quick steps toward me.

“Richard!” Elena called out pitifully.

Richard stopped, his face turning pale as he turned to his left and saw Elena.

As expected even though my heart felt like it was ripped out of my soul I watched as Richard whirled around and carried Elena out of the room.

“Help me…” I gasped, coughing weakly.

But he didn't spare me a glance and as he walked away I saw Elena smiling smugly at me as she mouthed, ‘Die alone,You shameless woman!’

Chapter 6

Richard’s Pov

I carried Elena in my arms, running through the hospital halls, my heart pounding out of my chest.

“Help! Somebody help!” I shouted.

Two nurses rushed out with a stretcher.

“Over here, sir!” one called.

I gently laid Elena down, brushing her hair from her face.

“Stay with me, Elena,” I whispered desperately. “Please.”

The nurses wheeled her into the emergency ward, and I stumbled after them, feeling useless.

Moments later, the entrance doors burst open.

Rosa, Elena’s mother, stormed inside, her eyes wild with fear.

“Where’s my daughter? Where is she?!” she screamed.

I quickly moved toward her.

“She’s inside. The doctors are attending to her,” I said, trying to calm her.

Rosa’s chest heaved as she glared at me.

“This is your fault, Richard!” she spat. “If you had just stayed with that Olivia girl, my daughter wouldn’t be lying in there!”

I shook my head, confused and hurt.

“Rosa, Olivia didn’t cause the fire. Something must have gone wrong in the hospital.”

“Don’t defend her!” Rosa shouted. “Olivia has hated Elena since she was born! You think she wouldn’t do something like this?!”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Rosa wasn’t done.

“Where is she now, huh?” Rosa demanded. “Where’s that wicked girl? She’s not even here worrying about Elena! That’s the kind of person she is!”

Her words hit me hard.

My mind raced back to the fire — to the moment I had gone to save Olivia… but then I heard Elena’s cry for help.

In the panic, I had rushed to Elena… and forgotten about Olivia.

My eyes widened in horror.

Without saying another word, I turned and ran back toward the burned wing of the hospital.

The smell of smoke still hung heavily in the air. Firefighters were moving equipment away.

I rushed to them, panicking.

“Did anyone see a girl? Olivia? She was in the room when the fire broke out!” I said quickly. “Dark hair, brown eyes! Please!”

One of the firefighters shook his head.

“There was no one there when we broke in,” he said. “The room was empty.”

I grabbed a nurse passing by.

“Did anyone admit a burn victim? Anyone matching Olivia’s description?” I asked desperately.

The nurse checked her clipboard and shook her head.

“No… I’m sorry.”

I turned around, searching every face, every corner, but there was no sign of her.

Rosa caught up with me, arms crossed.

“Someone must have rescued her,” she said coldly. “If not… maybe she got what she deserved.”

I shot her a glare but didn’t argue.

Just then, a doctor approached me with a grave expression.

“Mr. Stonewell?” he called.

I turned immediately.

“Yes? What is it?”

“We found a body,” the doctor said quietly. “In the fire. Burnt beyond recognition.”

I stumbled back, feeling like the ground was giving way under my feet.

The doctor opened a small plastic bag and showed me what was inside.

A ring.

The promise ring I had given Olivia. Still on the finger of the body.

“No… no!” I muttered, shaking my head. “It can’t be her. It can’t!”