Where My Heart Was Wrong

I was in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend. It had been three years, and he never let me go to him. I cried, I protested, and I even shouted at him. Alas, all he did was give me a tired answer. "It's for your own good, Wendy." I shut up because that really was the truth. I had made frequent trips to him during the first year we were together. The first time I went, I forgot to turn off the stove, and the fire burned my house down. The second time I went, the elevator I took malfunctioned. I was locked inside for hours. The loss of oxygen nearly knocked me out. Then, the third time came. I didn't think my luck would be this rotten, but it was. On my way to the airport, I ran into a car crash and stayed in the ICU for three days. Since then, he came to me. The fateful day came. My company sent me on a trip to Imperia. I didn't tell Chris and prayed to God that this trip would go smoothly. My prayers were answered, and the plane landed smoothly. I was so excited about my change in luck. I was about to text Chris to tell him all about it when I turned around and saw him standing among the crowd of people picking up the passengers. He was holding a bouquet of roses. I thought either my friend told him, or we were secretly telepathic. Just when I was going to approach him, I saw him smiling at a girl and pulling her into his embrace. Then, they kissed. Chapter 1 An Answer I tightened my grip around my phone. My unsent text still sat in the chat window, but my heart had already frozen over. Linda, my colleague, patted my shoulder. "What are you spacing out for, Wendy?" My mind was a chaotic mush, but it quieted the moment Linda saw Chris. "Whoa, that's Mr. Lawson, our technical partner. And that's his wife! I came here for work three years ago and ran into their wedding! They even gave me candy!" "They got married three years ago?" So… the long-distance relationship and the last eight years meant nothing to him? I blinked quickly and refused to let the oncoming tears spill. Oblivious to my tears, Linda smiled and continued, "Yeah, and his wife used to be his secretary. They worked together all day. Can't believe he came to pick her up, even when he's busy." Another colleague chimed in, "You have no idea how much he loves his wife. He and his wife handpicked her gowns, the venue, and the rings. They took 18 sets of wedding photos, and he didn't even get annoyed!" I listened in stunned silence, my eyes on the couple sharing a warm embrace. Something had cut my heart open. I could barely hear anything they were saying. It just hurt so much. I knew he was a busy man. I was in Bluelis, while he was in Imperia. We were separated for more than a thousand miles. Even worse, I couldn't go to Imperia. Fortunately, Chris would video call me. He would patiently coax me and soothe my worries when the dark circles under his eyes were very visible. "I'll go to you once my work is done, Wendy." He didn't break his promise. The tickets from Imperia to Bluelis piled up, but he never stopped returning to Imperia either. One time, he worked overtime until midnight for seven days straight, and he still took time to celebrate my birthday. The candles burned, and his eyes shone like stars. "Happy birthday, Wendy." My heart was filled with devotion back then. I was looking forward to ending this long-distance part of the relationship and marrying Chris. Yet, he kept dissuading me and saying, "Give me some time. I'd like for my career to settle down a little so we can have a home." 'Some time' turned into three years. He couldn't even come over when I had gotten into a car accident and was hospitalized because he was swamped with work. I told myself it was fine and got back to work after I healed up. I didn't even have the time to tell him about the miscarriage I had suffered during the car crash. I did all this for the beautiful future we envisioned. Unbeknownst to me, he had given his promise to someone else. The words of my colleagues rang in my ears, "He would still give his wife a bouquet of flowers no matter how busy he gets." Linda stopped her praise and turned to me. "I thought your boyfriend's in Imperia? Maybe we'll get to be at your wedding this year!" I pulled a smile and turned around, trying to control my breathing. "Maybe." Then, I saw Chris leading the girl into a car, and I blurted, "I have something to handle. You guys get to the company without me. I'll catch up!" I ran toward the airport's exit before my colleagues could say anything. The first thing that hit me was the winds of Imperia and the snow that came with it. They were biting, freezing my whole body. It wasn't until I had entered a cab that I realized my scalding tears had drenched my collar. "Follow that car," I said, my voice raspier than I thought. Snow was howling outside the window. I had imagined watching snowfall with Chris many, many times, but my heart wasn't in it now. My vision was blurry, and I only had one thought ringing in my head. I wanted answers. Chapter 2 The Dark Truth The ride was long, and it stopped many times. I watched them visit every single couple's spot along the way. I watched how they switch poses during a wefie. I watched how they exchanged thrilling, nearly romantic gestures in the haunted house, and I watched how they blushed just because they shared a drink in the theater. I followed them, even though everything I saw was torturing me. I did it as if a clearer look could kill my hopes and give me the courage to demand Chris for answers. In the end, they stopped before a daycare center. A child who looked just like Chris barreled into his embrace and loudly, lovingly called him 'Dad.' I was thunderstruck as I was stuck to my seat. Not only were they married, but they also had a child together. The family of three stood together, warmly, perfectly, just like a family. Meanwhile, I was nothing but a bug who was stealing glances at the happy family, with no chance to even present myself. My hand went to my belly. The scar was proof that I'd gotten into a car accident. It was proof that it had nearly robbed me of all hope I had with the death of my baby, but now I was relieved it was never born. Then again, this also painted the old me as a joke. The old me, who used to scold herself whenever she couldn't sleep and thought she should see Chris. The little family stopped before the villa, and the cab followed them. Before I got out of the car, Chris suddenly texted me, "Once I'm done with work, I can finally fly back to Bluelis and see you again." The old me used to look forward to his visits. Those few, precious moments were the only times I could see him. Now, everything felt like a big joke. Perhaps it was fate. In the first year of our long-distance relationship, I kept trying to come to Imperia for him, only to run into all kinds of accidents. The first time I took that trip, I forgot to turn off the stove before coming out, and the fire devoured the whole house. The money we'd saved to build our family went up in flames. The second time, I ran into a malfunctioning elevator, and the hypoxia nearly killed me. I developed claustrophobia after that. The third trip ended with that car crash that killed my unborn child. The scar still lingered on my stomach, and it still throbbed. I naively thought all the good luck in my life was already redirected toward meeting Chris. He was the one who helped me escape that hellhole I once called home. It was nothing but an abyss filled with curses and abuse, with monsters that would marry me to an old widower for a handsome dowry. Chris protected me. The pursuing villagers broke three of his ribs while we were running away, but he didn't let go. Instead, he kept holding me. I cried and asked him to put me down, but he didn't. He earnestly said, "I won't. We'll have a better future. You've got good grades. You shouldn't be trapped here. We'll have a home, a family we call our own. Believe it." Chris graduated before I did and later joined the company where he was now working for. He worked for long hours and even got himself hospitalized due to overwork, but he only said, "I want to make you happy." The man who promised never to let go already had. Soon, strangled sobs escaped my throat. The cab driver gave me a worried look before understanding filled his eyes. "Out with the old, in with the new, girl. Don't obsess over one guy." Unfortunately, I just couldn't let go. He promised me we'd have a family, but he also lied to me for three whole years. I wondered if he was thinking about his family in Imperia every time he came back to my cramped place and held me in his embrace. He had so many chances to tell me the truth, but he didn't. Right now, he was even texting me and sending me pictures, claiming that he'd asked his vacationing colleagues to buy me several gifts. However, I knew the truth. When I was following them, I'd long seen how those gifts were merely the ones they'd casually thrown in the basket after carefully picking out their anniversary gifts. Disappointment slithered and crawled across my heart, biting deeper into its flesh and hurting me even more. I squeezed out a smile and thanked the cabbie for driving me and for his advice. The family had gotten out of their car. I was about to step in and finally air things out, but that girl hugged Chris from behind as she said with a sob, "Chris, I know you always sent someone to hurt Wendy so she wouldn't come to Imperia and ruin my or our child's life, but you can't just keep her in the dark forever." Chapter 3 Slap Him My mind froze at that very moment. I couldn't understand what that woman was talking about. What did she mean, he sent men to hurt me so I couldn't come to Imperia? The girl's tears wouldn't stop, as if she were the victim of a horrifying incident. "I know that pregnancy was an accident. I know I betrayed her, but we're already a family, and I couldn't just let go. I can't just watch you keep her in the dark either. It's unfair to her." For a moment, I wanted Chris to deny it, but he confirmed the exact truth I didn't want to hear. "Don't worry. She'll never find out, Nancy. Just stay with our child in Imperia." Chris' phone rang, and the man on the other end said clearly, "Chris, Wendy's company is sending her to Imperia for work, and it's really important to her. Her promotion depends on this." Chris didn't even miss a beat as he answered nonchalantly, "Set up an accident like usual. Make sure she can't come." My heart sank. That explained everything. All this time, I had assumed that fate just had it out for me, but the truth was far more absurd than that. I used to down coffee and energy drinks like water just so I could squeeze out more time for work, to make enough money, and raise a family with Chris as soon as I could. Now, everything left from those days was something bitter. That made me snap. I walked out from the shadows and stormed toward Chris. When I got close enough, I slapped him with all the strength I had. The man I used to love looked stunned, like a deer caught in headlights. "Wendy? Why…" I held my breath and bared my lips in a ferocious smile. "Surprised? Well, you must be smug for marrying your secretary and having a child behind my back." He defended Nancy immediately, but his eyes were on me. There were even hints of panic in them. How disgusting. "I can explain!" My lips pulled further. When I spoke, my voice was cracking. "Explain what? Explain how you sent hitmen after me so I couldn't come to Imperia?" During our first year in our long-distance relationship, I risked my life to save everything when the fire engulfed our house. I ran back in there just to save the pieces of memories I shared with Chris. In the end, only a pile of ash remained despite my efforts. The hatred and loathing I had for myself nearly killed me. I cursed myself for forgetting to turn the stove off and letting the fire destroy everything. Chris was on the other end of the video call, crying his heart out. He blamed himself for not being there for me when tough times came calling. However, that concern eventually turned into something more robotic when I kept trying to see him out of longing. It was always the same thing. "I'll come back when I'm done, Wendy. It's for your own good." Now, I knew that it had been a lie to cover up the existence of his other family. Now, I knew that he had done so at the cost of my safety. My tears finally fell in earnest as I slapped him again with my trembling hand. "Does our relationship mean nothing to you?" Chapter 4 Back to the Abyss Before Chris could say anything, a small figure charged right into me. "Don't bully my dad!" The child's hand hit the car, and I grunted in pain. I didn't even think as I shoved him away. Then, an even greater force nearly toppled me. A furious Chris roared, "Why would you do that to a child, Wendy?" I staggered and wobbled, but I finally stood still. Meanwhile, my stomach was screaming in pain. Nancy darted over and grabbed the child as she cried out piteously, "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, Wendy, but the child is innocent!" They defended the child, but they didn't stop him from screaming at me. "I'll kill you, you witch! I won't let you hurt Dad and Mom!" Chris' gaze was filled with warning. I met his eyes, and something mad drowned my mind. I mocked, "I wonder what might happen if your company finds out the perfect couple is actually…" Chris interrupted, "That's going too far, Wendy." I laughed until my tears came. I kept laughing until I felt my wounds being tugged. "Too far? What, you don't have the guts to own up to your own actions?" Nancy grabbed her child and went down on her knees, groveling. "Wendy, please. Chris and my son are all I have left. I don't come from a great family. I'd die if I lost them." A heartbroken Chris pulled them up. When he looked at me, there was disappointment in his eyes. "I never thought you were this petty, Wendy!" Madness drowned my mind again, and I glared at him with red eyes. "You expect me not to fight back when you're the one hurting me? If you think you can stand against judgment, do you? Then, we'll let everyone see the truth!" Chris' expression went cold. He called a group of people, and they came over. They tied me up and tried to shove me into the car. I struggled, utterly panicked by the turn of events. Then, someone slammed their foot into my knee, and I crashed to the ground. Agony seared itself in my head, and I stared at Chris in disbelief. "What are you doing? Kidnapping's a crime." He then announced the address that I thought I had long forgotten. It was the same home I had escaped from. My heart sank, and I lost the strength to even struggle. Chris looked at me as he said coldly, "You'd have stayed in the mountains your whole life without me, Wendy. I'm just sending you back to where you belong." Invisible walls closed in on me, suffocating me. The one who once pulled me out of hell was now shoving me back into the same abyss. His men shoved me into the car while I was stuck in my daze. My head slammed against the hand brake, and blood spilled. Chris frowned. He was about to say something when Nancy started sobbing. So, he closed the door and went back to check on her. The disappointment I felt turned into hatred, but I was tied too tightly and couldn't even fight back. The car revved up soon enough. A long, long while later, it started to shake and tremble as it drove up the winding mountain path. The tires slipped, and we crashed into the mountain's boulders. I felt despair crashing over me. Everything around me spun. The car toppled over in mere moments. I felt a wave of heat mixed with the stench of gas assailing me. Three days had gone by since then. Chris was in his office, staring at his phone in frustration. All he wanted was to scare me a little so I wouldn't use his affair to start something. Then, he remembered the hatred in my eyes before I was taken away. Soon, a sense of unease filled his heart. He called someone, but a trembling voice stopped him before he could say anything. "Sir, she's gone missing. Ms. Gray has gone missing."