Delaney’s enemy had fallen on the spot, and she barely managed to escape. The bullet that struck me had landed just a fraction away from my heart.
When I woke up in the hospital, Delaney was sitting by my bedside, her eyes swollen from crying, her sobs barely more than whispers.
“From this day forward, my life belongs to you, Tucker.”
“This life of mine, I will never betray you, Tucker.”
She had the bullet removed from my chest and turned it into a necklace. Holding my hand in hers, she kissed the bullet with reverence.
“From this moment on, I’ll carry this reminder, this life is yours.”
“This necklace is my keepsake. As long as I breathe, it will never leave me.”
I didn’t know if it was the sincerity in her tearful eyes or the deep emotion behind the kiss she pressed to the necklace, but in that moment, all I knew was that my heart had softened into a sea of tenderness.
But now, the very necklace Delaney had once sworn she would never part with as long as she lived hung quietly around the child’s neck.
Delaney’s lips trembled slightly, as though unsure how to explain, but in the end, she remained silent.
Jade, however, couldn’t hide the flicker of triumph in his eyes.
“Oh, that necklace? When the baby was born prematurely, the doctor said Torren was in danger. Delaney gave him the necklace out of worry. He’s worn it since the day he was born.”
“But I’ll tell you this, the necklace really seems to work. This kid, ever since he was little…”
Before Jade could finish, Delaney cut him off with a cold voice.
“Enough! Shut up!”
She grabbed Jade’s arm, dragging him out of the room. The child, frightened, burst into loud sobs. But I couldn’t summon the energy to care; my mind was consumed by Jade’s words.
Delaney didn’t return for what felt like an eternity. I didn’t know how much time had passed, but soon, a series of indecent sounds started drifting into my ears. I rose from the bed and followed the noise out of the room.
The sounds were coming from Jade’s room.
The woman’s voice was sweet, seductive, enough to make one’s bones ache with desire.
“Don’t. Tucker is still at home. What if he hears us?”
The man’s voice was hoarse, thick with lust, though he struggled to contain it.
“He won’t. I’ve locked the door tight. He won’t hear a thing. Come here, Delaney. It’s been so long, haven’t you missed me?”
What happened next followed with agonizing inevitability.
Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, Jade, hovering over Delaney, suddenly turned his head and met my gaze.
When I saw the smug, taunting gleam in his eyes, it hit me.
Jade had done it on purpose. He’d said he locked the door, but the truth was painfully clear: it had been wide open.
He had done it on purpose, to ensure I saw everything, to force me to confront the truth of their relationship.
I lowered my gaze and gently closed the door behind me.
The next morning, when I made my way downstairs, only Torren was at the dining table. He sat there innocently, holding a small bowl and slowly spooning cereal into his mouth.
When he noticed me, his face brightened with a smile.
“Uncle Tucker, you’re awake? Want some cereal? It’s creamy corn and potato chowder. It’s really yummy…”
But before he could finish, he suddenly started to choke. His little face flushed with color, and he grabbed at his throat, tumbling from the chair with a heavy thud.
I froze, stunned by the sudden turn of events. Without hesitation, I rushed forward to check on him.
After all, no matter what had transpired between the adults, the child remained innocent. I couldn’t stand by and let him suffer.
But just as I reached out, Jade’s furious roar shattered the silence of the room.
