Page 60 of My Husband’s Wife

Fifty-Nine

I close my eyes and hope that I die fast. I imagine the van hurtling down the cliff side.

My life flashes through my mind. Growing up.

Mum. Nan. Happy memories. I met Hugo and it was love at first sight.

When I thought I couldn’t love anymore, I gave birth to Caiden.

I lost Emily. Letting out a cry, I wait for the clutch to be released – but it doesn’t happen.

I open my eyes. Hugo pulls the handbrake back on.

‘I’m sorry about everything I put you through. I wish things could have been different but the cards weren’t mine to play. I did what I had to do to survive but you’ll never understand. I can see that now. I’m going to make it up to you, okay?’

‘I don’t want anything from you. I just want to be with Caiden.’ Tears fall down my face. The thought of going over that cliff has made me feel more alive than ever. I don’t want to die.

He leans over and kisses me on the lips, like he used to do all those years ago. In another life I’d have melted and told him how much I love him, but that life is over. He opens the driver’s door.

‘I can’t live this life anymore. You and Caiden deserve more.

Emily deserves more. I’m no good to anyone.

You were right about everything. I killed Theo and took his life as my own.

I threatened Cynthia and I did everything she said I did.

All because of one stupid mistake as a kid.

There’s no place in this world for me after what I’ve done.

’ Tears form in the corners of his eyes. ‘Goodbye, Eva.’

He slams the door and begins to walk to the top of the stone steps that lead to the small shingly beach below.

I hate him, I really do but I can’t let him take his own life.

Yes, he’s evil, calculating, manipulative and a murderer, and he needs to pay for what he’s done.

I wonder how Caiden would feel if he ever found out that I let his father die.

I’m not like Hugo; I can’t carry on as normal and pretend that none of this happened and move on, and I doubt that Nicole or Madison can either.

After one final struggle, I manage to free my hands.

I reach over and untie the binds that are fixing my body to the passenger seat and I fling the van door open.

Limping towards the top of the steep stone steps, I carefully walk down them one by one while holding onto the rail.

With each step, the wound on my ankle stings.

The moon is reflected in the sea. The wind almost sends me flying, and the rain pelts at my face, making it almost impossible to see too far ahead.

A huge cloud starts to block the moon’s light.

I’m in the dark, but I can hear the crashing of breakers on the pebbly shore.

‘Hugo?’

As I reach the bottom, I step onto the stones and keep calling his name.

I’m soaked through and my hair is plastered to my face, including that bloody fringe.

I struggle as my feet sink into sand and stone with every step, then I eventually reach the shoreline.

With one of my hands shielding my eyes from the torrential downpour, I scan the ground.

That’s when I see a shadowy lump ahead. I limp over to it and kneel beside it and I begin feeling my way through Hugo’s coat and boots.

‘Hugo,’ I call out, hoping that if he’s in the sea, he’ll hear me and come back. I glance back at the rock face. It looks like it wants to swallow me up. Hugo is nowhere to be seen. I spot his top crashing to shore on a wave, and I yell at the sea, ‘Hugo.’

I cry into his coat before I slip it over my shoulders, then I hear something jangling from the pocket – the van keys. I glance once more at the sea and I know that Hugo is gone forever. It’s over.