Forsaken Until My Last Breath novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1

A heart-wrenching coughing fit echoed through Spring Harmony Villa’s courtyard.

“Miss, the wind’s picking up! Why are you out here again?”

Nicole Hall hurried over, draping a cashmere shawl over Rebecca White’s frail shoulders.

Leaning against the doorframe, Rebecca stared down the driveway swallowed by darkness, biting her lower lip.

“Nicole… do you think he’ll come home tonight?”

“Miss…” Nicole hesitated, words catching in her throat.

Rebecca didn’t turn around, her voice growing distant. “He went to see Susan White again, didn’t he?”

Nicole’s son was Vincent Walker’s driver, having just texted that Mr. Walker had gone to spend the night at Brocade Central Villa. Where Susan reigned.

Nicole’s lips parted, but she swallowed her words.

Silence blanketed the courtyard.

Rebecca lifted her gaze to the wind chimes hanging from the eaves, murmuring softly. “After seven years together… what did I do wrong?”

Vincent came home less each year, always blaming work while inevitably ending up at Susan’s.

The chimes chose that moment to tinkle-a crisp, clear sound that pulled Rebecca back.

Vincent had hung them himself during happier times, smiling as he promised: when the chimes ring, he’s thinking of her.

Rebecca sat gazing at the wind chimes, her thoughts adrift. The man who’d hung them now rushed to another woman amidst his busy schedule, clearly having forgotten his vows.

She murmured as if to herself, yet also questioning-though no answers would come.

After a moment’s silence, Rebecca glanced toward the villa entrance. Pushing herself up from the lounge chair with one hand on its armrest, she rose unsteadily. Nicole immediately stepped forward to support her elbow.

No sooner had Rebecca found her footing than violent coughing seized her throat. When the heart-wrenching fit sub- sided, crimson stained her palm.

Nicole-who’d been gently patting her back-turned ashen, stammering, “M-Miss… this…”

Rebecca merely said softly, as though accustomed to such scenes, “Fetch my medicine. It’s not as dire as Frank Her-

0.0%

08:47

Chapter 1

✰ 288 Vouchers

nandez had said.”

Watching her swallow pills without changing expression, Nicole stole several anxious glances before slipping away to make a phone call.

In the main hall downstairs, Rebecca sat before her easel, brush gliding across canvas.

Horizontal strokes for longing, vertical strokes also for longing-interwoven lines trapping decades of yearning with- in pigments.

With each stroke, she poured the remaining memories of her lifetime into the painting.

As the final line settled, Rebecca massaged her aching wrist and called out softly, “Nicole.”

The lock clicked, the door swung open, revealing a man in a tailored suit standing silhouetted against the light, his ex- pressionless face cold.

Rebecca froze for a moment, rooted to the spot. She hadn’t seen Vincent in two weeks.

Vincent approached, stopping a few paces away, his brow furrowing. “Nicole said you were ill. But you look perfect- ly fine to me?”

Rebecca paled at his words, her grip tightening on the paintbrush. Words failed her.

To Vincent, her silence was pure guilt.

To lure him back, this woman had even learned to fake sickness.

His eyes swept across the desolate, empty hall, a wave of disgust washing over him.

“Behave yourself, and the title of Mrs. Walker is yours,” he said, impatience sharp in his tone. “Pull another stunt like this, and I won’t hesitate to find a new Mrs. Walker.”

Staring into his icy eyes, Rebecca suddenly felt exhausted.

When had his words to her become so utterly devoid of warmth? If he knew the truth about her condition… would he still be this cold?

Her gaze dropped, voice barely audible. “Vincent… I really am sick.”

***

Vincent glanced at her, then slowly moved closer, leaning down until their breaths mingled-

“If you have mental issues, go see a doctor. Why come to me?”

His words dripped with icy detachment.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify