After everything Gordon did on the previous day, Laura finally found the courage to confront Gordon. Her body was shaking with fear. "Where were you last night?" she asked Gordon without hesitation. Her voice was soft and shaky. "I waited for you all night. You sent me a message..." "What message?" Gordon interrupted sharply, his voice cold. His eyes were icy. "I never sent you any message." "You did!" Laura quickly replied to Gordon. "You told me to meet you in room 906 to celebrate our anniversary." Her voice grew louder, nearly turning into a scream. "Gordon, I was there! I stayed in that room all night waiting for you and you never came!"
Gordon looked at Laura with disgust. His expression showed that he didn't believe a word Laura was saying. Laura looked like someone lying poorly. Then Gordon's face changed. It became harder and more dangerous. "If anything happens to Allison," Gordon said in a dark voice. "i will make your life a living hell."
Laura blinked, confusion pushing her fear aside for a moment. "What? What does Allison have to do with this?"Allison came to see you last night." Gordon stepped closer, casting a shadow over Laura. "Allison got into a car accident. Allison is in the hospital now fighting for her life." Gordon moved closer, his hot breath brushing against Laura's face. ". The street security camera shows that it was your car that hit Allisons. You crashed into Allison car, and you ran away. "
The blood drained from Laura's face. Her skin turned as pale as a ghost. "That's… Gordon that's impossible! I wasn't driving that night. I was at the hotel! Waiting for you, I stayed in that room the whole night !" "Stop lying!" Gordon's voice exploded through the room like a whip. "You are a liar! You are jealous of Allison, so you tried to kill Allison!"I am not lying!" Laura cried, her voice breaking into sobs. Tears streamed down Laura's cheeks, heavy. Laura didn't even try to wipe them. "I was in that hotel room all night! I didn't hit anyone! I didn't even leave the hotel until in the morning. Gordon please… Please listen to me at once!"
In desperation, Laura reached out. He held Gordon's arm, gripping his sleeve tightly. Gordon pulled away as if Laura's touch burned him. Then Gordon pushed Laura back. "Don't touch me!." "We have been married for three years," Laura whispered, her voice broken and weak. Laura suddenly felt so small. "So. Worthless." "Three years.. and you still don't believe me? You still can't trust me after all these years?"
A strange look crossed Gordon's face. It was not guilt. There was no doubt. It was something colder. "Trust you?" Gordon let out an empty laugh that made Laura's skin crawl. Gordon looked into Laura's eyes, and what Laura saw there made her chest tighten painfully. "I didn't marry you because I trusted you," Gordon said to Laura. "I only married you because you are RH negative. A rare blood type." Laura froze. "So is Allison, " Gordon continued coldly to Laura. "You are only in this marriage for one reason. So when Allison needs blood, you can give it to her." Gordon's eyes were cruel. "Laura is nothing more than a walking blood bank."
The room fell silent. Even the ticking clock seemed to stop. Laura stood still, her arms hanging weakly at her sides. Laura felt every word hit her heart one after another. Heavy. Painful. Crushing. Like stones falling into a dark hole. I always knew my marriage to Gordon wasn't cold. I always knew Gordon was only distant.. i had lied to myself. I always keep telling myself there might still be a spark left. It was a tiny piece of love i could nurture if i just stayed patient. So i waited for Gordon. Hoped for Gordon.. Now I have realized the truth. I had been a fool. "Laura talked to herself. "
Laura's lips pressed into a line. Laura's chin trembled. Laura refused to let another tear fall in front of Gordon. Without saying another word, Laura turned her back. Walked away before Gordon could see Laura completely break apart.
(The Memory of a Bracelet)
In an office filled with warm sunlight on the other side of the city, Nickson Campbell sat behind a huge mahogany desk. He wasn't working. He was simply staring at the wall, his jaw tight. "Sir." His assistant, Paul, stepped into the room holding a tablet. "Is there any news about Laura?" Nickson asked. His voice sounded calm. The tension in his shoulders was clear. Paul slowly shook his head. "Not yet, sir. They are still checking the guest list for that floor."
Nickson nodded sharply. Paul understood immediately. Quietly left the office gently, closing the heavy door behind him. Once he was alone, Nickson leaned back in his leather chair. He pressed two fingers against his temple, trying to ease the headache that lingered. Nickson's mind returned to the hotel room. To the darkness. To the desperate voice of the woman who whispered a name all night. A name that wasn't Nicksons. Gordon.
Nickson slipped his hand into his jacket pocket. Took out a small delicate bracelet, which he found next to him in the morning when he woke up. Nickson placed it carefully on the desk. It was simple. A little old.. It was clear it had been kept with care. Nickson stared at it for a moment. For the time that day, Nickson's eyes softened. Then, an old memory slowly came back. Two children sat on the grass as the sun set. A little girl with shining eyes was placing a handmade bracelet onto Nickson's small wrist. She looked at Nickson with seriousness. "When we grow up," she said, "we are going to get married."
Then Nickson had laughed, thinking it was just a childish game.. She hadn't laughed. She had meant every word. Nickson picked up the bracelet from the desk. Held it carefully between his fingers as if it could break. Nickson's voice was quiet in the room. "Was that you, Laura?"