I Missed His Cheat, I Curse His Fate

Just before my tarot shop was about to close, the final customer, Serena Quinn, came in, eager to unravel the mystery of her ongoing 8-year romance. When the Wheel of Fortune card appeared upright, I truly hoped for the best for her. "Luck is on your side," I reassured Serena, "and soon your story will have a perfect ending." Serena's laughter was as bright as her mood, and she tossed two plane tickets onto my tarot table with a flourish. "With your blessing," she declared, "I'm off to have my wedding in Glacialand the day after tomorrow." To my shock, the name of my fiancé, Sean Lewis, was on one of the tickets, and the date matched the day we had planned for our engagement. She calmly reapplied her lipstick, her gaze dripping with mockery. "You've predicted futures for so many couples," she mused. "How did you miss the fact that Sean's 'there's no one else I could ever marry' wasn't meant for you?" After her words hung in the air, Serena let out a gentle laugh before making her exit. "Mr. Lewis informed me that the engagement party is temporarily postponed," Sean's assistant, Leon, mentioned as he placed a plush black velvet box on the tarot table. "He intends to make amends soon." Inside the box lay a stunning pink diamond necklace, intricately cut to perfection. "You caught Ms. Quinn's comments, right?" I began collecting the tarot cards scattered before me. "Leon, is it accurate that Sean is thinking about heading to Glacialand to tie the knot the day after tomorrow?" Leon bowed his head slightly. "Mr. Lewis is simply doing everything he can to ease Ms. Quinn's mind. Her brother sacrificed himself to save Mr. Lewis back in the day. Now she's struggling with renewed anxiety. He assured her that, in all aspects other than the title, he would honor her wishes entirely." I ignored the necklace. Instead, I picked up my phone and initiated a video call with Sean. Within moments, Sean's serious expression filled the screen. He wore a tailored black suit, and his tie was impeccably tied. "Did you receive the necklace?" Sean inquired, his voice calm and measured. "Something urgent came up, an international meeting. Make sure to rest tonight. Tomorrow, I'll go with you to select a wedding ring." Gazing at the screen, I noticed him fidgeting with the edge of his watch using his left thumb, a telltale gesture of his whenever he was being less than honest. Eight years had passed, and that habit of his never changed. "Is your so-called international meeting set in Glacialand?" I pressed, meeting his gaze directly. Sean's hand paused over his watch as a frown creased his forehead. "Has Serena been feeding you tall tales again? Sarah, try to cut her some slack. Her health is fragile. She's got this fixation with Glacialand. I'll be back before you know it. You're already Mrs. Lewis. There's no reason to let a patient's whims ruffle your feathers." "We've been orchestrating this engagement party for six months." I slid the two plane tickets across the table toward the camera. "Sean, you despise tardiness. Remember that time I was a minute late, and you left me out in the snow for two hours? Yet now, for her, you've thrown our plans to the wind." Sean's demeanor turned icy. "Sarah, let's not churn up old history. Serena's brother saved my life, so I'm indebted to her. I'll throw you an even bigger engagement party next month. Just wear the pink diamond necklace until then." The video call cut off abruptly, leaving the screen black. Staring at my pale reflection, I mustered a smile. He had no idea that the one who had risked their life to pull him from the fire was never Serena's brother. It was me. A f*******: alert popped up on my phone. Serena just shared a new photo. Aboard the private jet, Sean's oversized coat was draped over her shoulders. The post read: He has postponed billion-dollar deals just to make my dream come true. A sudden jolt of pain gripped my stomach like a vice, forcing me to bend over and clutch the edge of the table for support. A metallic tang of blood rose in my throat, bitter and unmistakable. "Ahem!" A spurt of fresh blood, mingled with dark remnants of medicine, splattered into the trash can. I grabbed a tissue, dabbed at the blood trickling from my lips, and tied up the trash bag neatly. From my purse, I retrieved a bottle of painkillers and dry-swallowed two tablets. The old silver bracelet on my wrist chimed against the table. I pressed a hidden catch, and 18-year-old Sean's gravelly voice crackled to life. "Sarah, I owe you my life. I'll protect you as long as I breathe." He never realized his life belonged to me the day I risked everything to drag him out of that blaze. Gazing at my reflection, my face pale and ghostly, I tucked the pink diamond necklace, worth a fortune, into the drawer's depths and secured it with a click. Leon lingered nearby, unwavering. "Mrs. Lewis, Mr. Lewis insisted you wear it. He also mentioned a storm is brewing tonight and advised you to return to Whispering Pines ahead of time." Rising to my feet, I declared, "Returning to Whispering Pines isn't an option. There's still unresolved matters at my tarot house that demand my attention." Leon shifted uneasily. "Mr. Lewis insists you're back by 10 p.m. If you deviate, it complicates things for me, Mrs. Lewis." "He's off to Glacialand. Do the same rules even apply when he's away?" I slipped the bracelet back onto my wrist without a second thought. Leon spoke softly, "When Ms. Quinn had her episode, she kept calling out for Mr. Lewis." Then he sighed. "Mr. Lewis doesn't have much of a choice. You've been by his side for eight years. Surely you see his predicament." "I do," I replied, lifting my bag as I made my way out. "Tell him I've got the necklace. I'm delighted with it." Relief washed over Leon's face. "Mrs. Lewis, I'm grateful for your understanding. I believe Mr. Lewis only cares about you." I said nothing and stepped out of the Tarot House's glass door. The wind lashed at my face, its chill biting and harsh. My stomach seized with sharp pain. I doubled over next to a lamppost, coughing until blood specked the clean, white tops of my sneakers, a vivid scarlet. Carefully, I dabbed at them with a tissue. When I looked skyward, dark clouds threatened above. I hailed a taxi and directed the driver to take me to the hospital.