Love in the shadows of Revenge

The dinner date was tense, with Alexandra Thompson glaring at her lover, Ethan Blackwood. She was seething, but her words were stuck, her mouth felt heavy, unable to open. Today marked their three-year relationship anniversary, and she couldn't fathom how he could betray her like this. Tears fell subconsciously, her heart felt like it would shatter. "Hey baby, why are you crying?" Ethan asked, concern etched on his face. Alexandra gripped the table tightly, her knuckles white. She took deep breaths, steadying herself, then stood up abruptly and rushed out of the diner. People stared, concerned, but Alexandra didn't care. She sprinted towards the car park, Ethan hot on her heels. She tried to open the car door, but Ethan grabbed her hands, holding her back. "Alex, please talk to me. Why are you crying? You're scaring me," Ethan pleaded, his voice laced with fake concern. Alexandra scoffed, pushing his hands away. She glared at him with hatred and disgust. "How could you do this to me? I loved you! You f*****g animal!" she screamed, pounding her fists on his chest. Ethan was taken aback by her outburst, holding her hand firmly. "What the f**k is your problem?" he screamed in frustration. "You! You f*****g cheated on me on our anniversary!" Alexandra spat, her voice venomous, her eyes blazing with a fierce anger. Ethan's eyes widened in fear and shock, his face pale, as if he'd been punched in the gut. "I can explain, Alex, it was—" Ethan tried to stammer, but Alexandra's angry slap cut him off, her palm cracking against his cheek with a loud smack. The sound echoed through the car park, a stark reminder of the violence of her emotions. "I f*****g saw it on my phone, you pig!" Alexandra screamed, her voice hoarse, her words tumbling out in a torrent of rage. "This relationship is over!" She yanked open the car door and flung herself inside, her body shaking with sobs. Ethan followed, his eyes fixed on her, his face a mask of contrition. He tried to speak, to explain, but Alexandra's angry scream cut him off. "Shut up! Just shut the f**k up and drive!" The car roared to life, and Ethan put it in gear, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. Alexandra cried throughout the ride, her head pressed against the glass window, her body shaking with sobs. The only sound was her ragged breathing and the soft hum of the engine. With a sigh, Alexandra finally turned towards him, her eyes red-rimmed, her face puffy from crying. Her gaze was a mixture of anger, hurt, and betrayal.. "Why?" Alexandra asked, her eyes red and puffy, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please, Alex, forgive me—" Ethan started to say, but Alexandra's angry scream cut him off. "SHUT UP!" Ethan tried to explain, but their argument escalated, their voices growing louder and louder until they were screaming at the top of their lungs. The tension was palpable, the air thick with anger and hurt. Suddenly, a massive truck came careening around the bend, its headlights blazing like a freight train. Alexandra's eyes widened in terror as she tried to scream, "WATCH OUT!" but it was too late. The truck slammed into their car, sending them flying over the bridge's railing. The impact was brutal, the sound of shattering glass and crumpling metal deafening. Alexandra felt herself weightless, her body suspended in mid-air as the car hurtled towards the water below. Time seemed to slow, her mind racing with thoughts of her scholarship, her mom, and the life she'd never get to live. The car plunged into the river, the water rushing in like a tidal wave. Alexandra struggled to free herself from the seatbelt, but it held her in place like a vice. Panic set in as she tried to hold her breath, but the water was rising too fast. She felt her lungs burning, her vision blurring. As the water filled her lungs, Alexandra's thoughts grew foggy, her consciousness slipping away. She could hear Ethan's barely audible whispers, his voice a distant echo in her mind. The sirens grew louder, a distant wail that seemed to come from another world. With a final effort, Alexandra's body went limp, surrendering to the darkness. The last thing she saw was the water closing over her head, the last thing she heard was the sound of her own heartbeat fading away. Two months later, the steady beeps of the machine monitoring Alexandra's vitals filled the hospital room. A nurse noticed a slight movement of Alexandra's finger and screamed for her colleagues to rush over. The nurse rushed to inform the doctor, her voice trembling with excitement. Alexandra slowly opened her eyes, taking in her surroundings. The hospital room was plain and dull, the smell of Dettol and drugs filling her nostrils. She tried to turn her head, but a tube connected to her throat held her in place. She turned to see a doctor staring at her, a kind smile on his face as he checked her eyes for any abnormalities. "Good day, I am Doctor Nate. If you can hear me, blink twice," the doctor said, his eyes expectant. Alexandra blinked twice, and the doctor smiled, jotting down some notes. "Do you remember how you got here?" he asked, pulling a chair closer. Alexandra blinked twice again, memories of the accident flooding her mind. She wondered where Ethan was, her heart racing with anxiety. The doctor said something to the nurse, and they rushed to her side, removing the tubes connected to her. Alexandra could finally open and close her mouth, her voice scratchy as she whispered, "Water..." The nurses rushed to bring her a glass of water with a straw, and Alexandra sipped it gratefully, feeling a little better. "Surprisingly, you're okay, considering you've been in a coma for two months," the doctor said, sitting beside her. Alexandra's mouth hung open in shock. Two f*****g months! She couldn't believe it, no wonder her throat felt so scratchy and dried. As Alexandra struggled to sit up, she felt a wave of weakness wash over her. Her legs wobbled beneath her, and she gazed outside the hospital window, taking in the vibrant colors of spring. She remembered the last time she opened her eyes, it was winter, and a sigh escaped her lips as she tried to move her legs again. To her relief, they responded, albeit slowly. "Where is Ethan?" Alexandra asked, concern etched on her face, despite his infidelity still fresh in her mind. The doctor's confused expression only added to her worry. "There wasn't an Ethan admitted to the hospital with you," he said, checking the records. Alexandra's eyes widened in disbelief. "The boy who was brought here with me," she insisted. "Oh, Mr. Ethan Blackwood," the doctor said, "he was discharged two months ago. He didn't sustain significant injuries." Alexandra felt a mix of emotions: relief that he was okay, but also hurt that he hadn't stayed by her side. She asked to borrow the doctor's phone to call her mom and Ethan, since her phone had been destroyed in the accident. The doctor handed her his phone, and she dialed Ethan's number, but it rang endlessly without an answer. She tried her mom's number, but it too went unanswered. A sense of unease settled in. As a last resort, Alexandra called her best friend, Olivia Wilde, but even Liv didn't pick up. Frustrated and worried, she dropped the phone and turned on the TV, only to be met with a news broadcast about the Blackwood Corporation's sole successor getting married..Alexandra's eyes widened in shock as she watched the news on the hospital TV. Ethan, her boyfriend, was getting married - and it wasn't to her. She felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Without hesitation, she rushed out of the hospital, ignoring the doctors and nurses calls, her scrubs and worn-out shoes a stark contrast to the elegant venue she was headed to. She ran as fast as she could, her feet pounding the pavement, her mind racing with thoughts of betrayal and heartbreak. How could he do this to her? They were supposed to be together, not him marrying some stranger. As she turned the corner, she saw the grand entrance of the venue, adorned with flowers and ribbons. Her heart sank. She pushed past the guests and made her way inside, her eyes scanning the room for Ethan.. And then, she saw him - standing at the altar, exchanging vows with a woman non other than her best friend Olivia Wilde.. Alexandra's vision blurred as tears streamed down her face, her body shaking uncontrollably. She felt like she'd been stabbed in the back by the two people she trusted most. Olivia, her best friend, and Ethan, her boyfriend, were getting married. She noticed that Olivia was already pregnant for Ethan because of her baby bump. Olivia's gaze met Alexandra's, and for a moment, their eyes locked in a silent understanding. Olivia's expression was a mix of guilt, shame, and apology, but it was too late for regrets now. As Alexandra's eyes scanned the crowd, she saw her own parents beaming with pride, cheering on the happy couple. They had known about this betrayal all along, and yet, they had kept it a secret from her. The feeling of betrayal cut deeper, and Alexandra felt like she was drowning in a sea of deception. She slowly got up, her eyes fixed on Ethan and Olivia, her mind racing with questions and anger. How could they do this to her? How could her parents condone this? What has she ever done to deserve this treatment?