Page 147 of Unleashed

My stomach churned as I replayed the video. There he was, looking at her the way he used to look at me. His smile, that effortless charm—it felt like a knife to the gut. He told me he wanted us to last. But now… I wasn’t so sure.

What had changed between us? My mind raced, trying to pinpoint the moment when we’d shifted. I hadn’t changed. I was still the same woman he’d married.

The knot in my chest tightened until it felt unbearable. I set my phone on the pine nightstand, my fingers numb and crawledbeneath the covers. The soft glow of the television flickered against the walls, but I barely noticed.

I felt beaten down. Hollow. And despite the warmth of the room, I couldn’t shake the cold that settled deep in my bones.

CHAPTER 31

When I woke, the sky outside was dim, a thick gray blanket of clouds casting a gloomy pallor over the snow. My stomach churned violently. Before I could think, I bolted to the bathroom, dry heaving over the toilet, desperate to avoid vomiting in bed. My body convulsed, but nothing came. I knelt there, head pressed to the cold porcelain, wishing for relief.God, I hope I’m not getting sick.

After what felt like an eternity, I crawled back into bed, feeling drained. The hours passed in a haze as I lay there, the heaviness in my limbs mirroring the oppressive stillness outside.

A soft knock at the door broke the silence. Sally peeked in, her warm presence a welcome distraction. I sat up slowly, blinking away the fog.

"You need any extra blankets?" she asked, stepping inside. I glanced out the window, catching sight of the thin layer of snow dusting the porch railing and driveway.

"I see winter is not letting go," I murmured, pulling the blanket tighter around me.

Sally nodded, then eyed me with concern. "Nick said you never came in for food. Are you feeling okay, or are you feasting on those terrible MREs?"

I tried to smile, but it faltered. "Not feeling so great. My stomach’s upset."

She frowned, folding her arms. "Did you purify your water?"

"I didn’t fill up on the trail," I explained, sinking deeper into the pillows. "Stopped at Collier’s yesterday."

"How are they?" she asked, perching on the edge of the bed.

"They’re good. Jesse looks like he’s put on some muscle since I last saw him."

Sally laughed, shaking her head. "That boy eats like a horse."

I chuckled weakly. "Yeah, he does."

Her smile softened into something more maternal. "You need to eat too. Want some soup? Nick made chicken vegetable this morning. I’ll bring you a container and some ginger tea. It'll settle your stomach."

I hesitated, grateful but feeling guilty. "That sounds perfect, but I can get it myself."

"Nonsense." She waved off my protest. "You’re practically ready for bed already. It’ll take me two minutes. Just gotta make sure the other guests are set with blankets."

"Full house tonight?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from myself.

Sally sighed, a weary but satisfied look in her eyes. "Every room is booked. Had to cram six guys into one because we only had a single left. Got a couple staying on cots in the storage room, too. Didn’t charge them."

"You’re a saint, you know that?" I said, smiling at her.

She laughed. "I’ll make it back when they spend the night in the diner, drinking coffee, playing cards, and eating nachos." She stood, brushing off her apron. "Nick’s not pulling the night shift tonight, though."

"Got someone else working?" I asked, curiosity piqued.

"Yep. A guy named Cal. He’s good with the night crowd."

"Moving up in the world," I teased.

Sally winked. "Maybe one day we’ll even expand this place."

"I hope it works out for you," I said sincerely.

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