Too Far for Longing

This year's winter in City L seemed to be in no rush to leave. It was already April, yet snowflakes still danced outside the window.

She reached out, touching the cold glass. It screeched faintly as her fingertip left a long streak on it.

Emily Thompson was pushed down onto the bed. A rough hand tore apart her silky nightgown.

Then pain hit her hard, all at once.

"Grace... please don't leave me…" His breath, reeking of alcohol, brushed against her ear.

Her face turned pale from the pain, but what hurt more was the mess her heart had become. "I'm not Grace Carter…"

William Carter flipped her over, lips curled into a cold smirk.

"Of course I know you're not. You think I'd treat Grace like this?"

With that, he shoved into her again—fierce and fast—like he was trying to punish her.

Emily closed her eyes, trying to hide the despair welling inside as she turned her head and silently endured the wild fury poured into her.

She felt a wet mess down there, and she knew—it wasn't desire. It was blood.

Tears slipped down from the corners of her eyes. Finally, she couldn't hold it back anymore. Her teeth loosened, lips trembling.

"William... stop. It hurts... It really hurts…"

A strange feeling crossed William's mind for a second, but the moment he thought of Grace, that feeling got swallowed by fury again.

"You think I'm doing this to make you feel good?"

Emily's fists clenched, and with what little strength she had left, she tried to push him off. Her eyes were red.

"Was three years not enough? How much more pain do you want to put me through?"

"Three years? That's nothing! Grace was violated by those bastards, do you know how much she suffered? Do you even understand how hopeless she felt when she threw herself into the sea?"

He gripped her chin tightly, eyes ice-cold. "If you had just called the cops, Grace could've been saved. Everything that's happening now—you brought it on yourself."

Emily snapped, "William, I've told you so many times! Luna Mitchell and I both saw it happen. She said she'd call the police, so I chased after the kidnappers instead. But when I got into that alley, I passed out—I don't even know how!"

"Enough!" he yelled. "It's been three damn years and you're still lying. Do you seriously think just because there were no street cameras, you can twist the truth however you want? Luna was already boarding a flight to the U.S. that day—how could she have been there with you?"

Emily fell silent. She had no idea why Luna hadn't called the police or why she'd lied to frame her.

She stared at William, anger practically burning in his eyes. It was scorching—the kind of hurt that went straight to her chest.

And right then, something inside her just gave up.

Three years. She'd explained her side over and over again, but what was the point?

Her nails dug into her palm. "William, let's get a divorce."

He froze. Just hearing the word "divorce" made something twist uncomfortably inside him. But it only lasted a second. Then he pulled away coldly.

"Divorce? Who the hell do you think you are? You think you were ever really Mrs. Carter? You think I married you because I wanted to?"

With that, he walked out and slammed the door behind him.

Emily lay there, both mind and body completely drained. She'd done nothing wrong to Grace, so why was she stuck paying the price?

The sky was just starting to lighten when her phone rang, cutting through the silence of the room.

She grabbed it from the nightstand and answered.

"Emily, I'm back. I heard you're trying to uncover the truth about back then?"

That voice—familiar, mocking—made Emily freeze. She started shaking with rage.

The one who made her suffer these past three years… was back.

Her grip on the phone tightened, knuckles turning white.

"Luna. Where are you? I need to see you—now!"