Chapter 2 — The Ring That Started Everything
The next morning, Mark came to the hospital.
He carried an envelope.
Inside was Lucy’s wedding ring.
“I thought you should have this back.”
Lucy stared at it.
She didn’t reach for it immediately.
“Did Alex ask for it?”
Mark hesitated.
“No.”
That answer hurt more than she expected.
She finally took the ring.
But instead of putting it back on…
she placed it inside the drawer beside her bed.
“I don’t think I can wear a promise that someone else broke.”
Mark looked down.
“I’m sorry you had to see that.”
Lucy gave a faint smile.
“Thank you for seeing me.”
Those words stayed with Mark.
Because everyone had seen Valerie.
Everyone had heard Valerie.
Everyone had rushed toward Valerie.
But nobody had seen Lucy.
Except him.
Meanwhile, Alex’s world began collapsing.
The department praised him for the elevator rescue.
News outlets called him a hero.
“Firefighter Saves Woman Trapped in Elevator.”
The headlines showed Valerie being carried out.
But one person knew the truth.
May you like
Mark.
And he refused to stay silent.
