CHAPTER 5

SARAH'S

The sight of Williams and Berky together in the garden was like a punch to my gut. The warmth in his gaze, the glint of connection—was it all just a lie? I felt like a fool for letting myself believe there was more between us. My heart ached as I realized that his attentiveness might have been a façade.

After that encounter, I noticed a change in Williams. He approached me as I worked, a hopeful smile on his lips. But my response was devoid of the usual warmth. I left abruptly with Emma, leaving him standing there, puzzled. His presence stirred a swirl of emotions within me—anger, hurt, confusion.

Walking toward my office, I spotted Sarah in the distance. A smile tugged at my lips; her presence was always a pleasant surprise. As I approached, I was met with her distant tone, her eyes devoid of the usual spark. Confusion clouded my thoughts—what had changed?

Weeks flowed by, and Sarah's distant demeanor continued. Many times I attempted to have conversations with her, but her replies lacked the usual engagement. Each interaction left me with a growing unease, a sense of disconnect that I couldn't decipher. Had I misread her signals all along?

My thoughts churned incessantly. The weight of the situation pressed upon me, making me feel smaller with each passing day. The stress manifested physically, and I found myself in a hospital, undergoing scans. The doctor's words were a blow—I was in the last stage of brain tumor. Devastation flooded me, and anger surged within me.

In my room, tears streamed down my face. The Grand Palazzo, my haven, felt like a cruel joke. Blame shifted to William, his role in my dedication now a source of bitterness. If not for his influence, maybe I would have lived differently. I knew that was a stupid blame but I needed someone to blame.

While at my vacation house, I was taken aback when the TV news highlighted James Hotel's proposal, which astonishingly mirrored my own. The timing of this coincidence was impossible to overlook. This realization sent a shiver down my spine—could there be a mole within my circle? My mind raced as I analyzed the potential information leak that could jeopardize my edge in the industry.

My life spiraled, the diagnosis a cruel twist. Anger, frustration, and a sense of time slipping away engulfed me. I yearned for moments I'd missed, for dreams left unfulfilled. I took charge, embracing the time I had left, determined to live on my terms and to stop putting up to people.

A car ride to buy onions—the absurdity of it made me smile. I remembered William's aversion to the smell. It was a small rebellion, a declaration of my newfound defiance.

The night was quiet, and my home was serene. Or so I thought, until noises pulled me from my thoughts. The living room was dimly lit, and there she stood—Sarah, almost unrecognizable with her cap. Confusion mingled with alarm as she advanced toward me, her grip on a hammer threatening.

Time seemed to slow as the hammer hung in the air. But instead of striking, she tossed an envelope at me. Her resignation, and a pack of onions. Her departure was as abrupt as her arrival. I chased after her but she has already left with her car

His confusion was evident, but there was no turning back. The envelope held my resignation, a silent declaration of my autonomy. Tears blurred my vision as I left, my heart heavy with emotions I couldn't put into words.

I called after her, the phone pressed to my ear, but her voice was a barrage of accusations and curses. My thoughts were a jumble, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Inattentive to the road I didn't notice a car speeding towards me until I found myself on the ground losing consciousness.

I didn't hear Mr Williams's voice again. I was now hearing low gasping of air, fear gripped me. I turned my car back and went in the direction of his house. My car screeched to a halt in front of his house. Dread settled in my chest when I saw him on the ground, unmoving. Panic consumed me; the man I was angry at lay there, helpless. I called for help, my voice trembling.

Consciousness wavered as I struggled to stand. The world around me was a blur of lights and voices. Sarah's face hovered, her eyes wide with concern. My heart raced—what had happened?

My heart raced, my emotions a tumultuous storm. Fear battled anger as I followed the ambulance to the hospital. The guilt that I'd wished him harm gnawed at me.

My consciousness returned in fragments. Beeping machines and sterile walls greeted me. Sarah's face swam into focus, her expression a mix of worry and relief. Confusion clouded my thoughts—how had I ended up here? Why did I see James in the scene while I was losing consciousness? Was this accident staged?