“I’ll marry her again,” James said immediately, desperation bleeding through his words.
Neil exploded. “Are you insane? She’s already married to someone else! You’re divorced—you can’t—”
James surged to his feet, fury overtaking reason. He ended the call mid-sentence and hurled the phone across the room.
It smashed into the side table.
The fruit basket toppled. Apples and oranges scattered across the floor, rolling in every direction.
James staggered back, his vision spinning violently. His legs buckled.
He tried to grab the table—but missed.
His head hit the wall with a sickening thud. The table crashed down beside him as he collapsed to the floor, his body hitting the ground hard.
The noise echoed through the room.
Moments later, doctors rushed in.
“Call for assistance—now!”
They lifted him onto the bed quickly, checking his vitals, treating his injuries again. His body lay still, unconscious.
Eventually, the room fell quiet once more.
James lay on the bed, eyes closed—but his lips moved faintly.
“Mia…”
Again.
“Mia…”
He kept whispering her name, over and over, as if he couldn’t stop himself.
In the darkness behind his closed eyes, he stood alone on a silent path. The street stretched endlessly ahead, trees lining both sides. Everything was still—except for one figure walking away from him.
Mia.
His chest hurt so badly he could hear his own heartbeat pounding, each thud heavy and desperate. He stood frozen in his suit, perfectly dressed, unable to move.
“Mia?” he called.
She kept walking away.
“Mia!” he shouted louder, his throat turning hoarse.
Suddenly, she stopped.
She turned back.
Her eyes met his—and she smiled.
She lifted her hand and beckoned him forward, her voice warm and familiar.
“What are you doing standing there?” she asked softly. “Come on. Let’s go.”
James’s heart slammed violently in his chest. Tears filled his eyes as he ran toward her, faster than he ever had before.
