A Love to Die For (Nathaly) novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The funeral was already crowded with mourners.

In the center of the gathering, Nicole stood out-her hair adorned with a white flower, dressed in a long black dress, clutching Brenda’s portrait to her chest, her almond-shaped eyes rimmed red from crying.

Nathaly’s teeth chattered as she strode forward and snatched the portrait from Nicole’s arms.

“Who told you to come? Get out.”

Nicole shrank back, her shoulders hunched, her voice timid. “Nathaly, I just wanted to apologize again to Mrs. Bow- den and you for what happened years ago…”

Her voice trembled, but her eyes gleamed with mockery as she looked at Nathaly.

“Mrs. Bowden lived her whole life in poverty and barely had any happiness before she passed. It’s really a shame.”

Nathaly’s tone was ice-cold. “If you’re so sorry, then get on your knees and bow to my mom 99 times.”

Nicole’s face went rigid, her lips pressed tight as she glanced at Elijah for help. “Eli…”

Elijah’s voice was cold and detached. “Didn’t you hear what my wife said? Leave. Now.”

He sounded annoyed, but completely ignored Nathaly’s demand.

Nicole’s eyes sparkled with triumph, her gaze at Nathaly full of challenge.

Nathaly let out a bitter laugh.

“Elijah, I said 99 bows! Isn’t she pretending to seek forgiveness? I’m giving her the chance!”

She looked Elijah straight in the eye, her voice firm.

Elijah gazed back, his eyes a

of resignation and irritation.

“I told you, don’t make it too hard on her. You don’t want Brenda’s funeral turning ugly, do you?”

He was threatening her-for N

sake.

Nathaly felt her heart squeezed tight, but she swallowed the bitterness.

“Fine.”

Seeing her relent, Elijah quickly signaled his assistant to escort Nicole away.

The other guests, unaware of the real story, whispered among themselves, marveling at how much Elijah adored his

wife.

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06:58

Each word stabbed Nathaly’s heart, leaving her bleeding inside.

Throughout the entire ceremony, Nathaly didn’t exchange a single word with Elijah.

Even after it ended, she deliberately avoided riding in the same car with him. But to her surprise, Elijah followed her.

He waved off the driver and took the wheel himself.

“Honey, remember how we used to love driving by the river after closing up shop at three in the morning?”

The setting sun cast a golden glow on his handsome profile, making Nathaly’s heart skip as memories surged back.

Back then, they had nothing, yet life felt warm and full.

One night after closing, a torrential downpour stranded their minivan. Nathaly, dealing with menstrual cramps, had fallen asleep in the passenger seat.

Elijah didn’t wake her. He placed a heat pack on her stomach, wrapped her tightly in a raincoat, and carried her four kilometers home through the storm.

When Nathaly woke up, she found him burning with fever from the rain and scolded him for being reckless.

“There was an umbrella in the van. Why didn’t you go home first?”

His cheeks were flushed, but his eyes sparkled like a puppy’s.

“Elijah would never leave Nathy behind. Not ever.”

A screech of brakes jolted Nathaly from her half-doze.

Before she could open her eyes, the car fishtailed sharply to the right.

The passenger side slammed into a truck that was barreling toward a pedestrian up ahead.

After the violent crash, Nathaly sluggishly lifted her head, blood streaming down her forehead.

Through her blurred vision, she saw Elijah-the man who’d once promised never to abandon her-not even glancing her way.

Instead, he rushed from the driver’s seat, his face frantic, and scooped up Nicole, who had fainted in the chaos.

Nathaly’s already numb heart clenched painfully. Fighting the stabbing driver’s side, skirting the crushed passenger door.

ache in her abdomen, she staggered out the

The truck driver, who’d been furious moments before, was startled by the blood pouring from her head.

“Miss, are you okay?”

Even a stranger cared enough to ask, but her own husband had forgotten all about her.

She watched Elijah’s retreating figure, her voice dry and hopeless.

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06:58

“Could you please call me an ambulance?”

As soon as the words left her lips, her strength gave out, and she collapsed.