When Stars Fall, So Do Dreams

In the air of the abandoned textile factory, my wrists were bound behind me with nylon rope, my skin already a bloody mess.

"Did you get through?!" My father swung a rusty metal pipe against the nearby iron bars. "As long as Ethan Black invests, once Titan Capital's money comes in, I'll be back on top! You're his fiancée—didn't he swear to always protect you? Why the hell isn't he answering?!"

I lay on the ground, struggling to reach the phone beneath me. This time, it finally connected.

"Ethan... help me, my dad has kidnapped me, he's in..."

"Emma?"

Ethan's tone was irritated.

"What the hell are you doing? Do you have any idea what I'm busy with right now?"

"It's real... I don't want money, it's him..."

"Enough, Emma." Ethan cut me off. "You're pulling this pathetic kidnapping stunt to force me to fund your dad's bottomless pit?"

"Don't call me again. I'm watching the meteor shower with Chloe and don't want you ruining my mood."

Beep—

The call ended.

"Where's the money? What did that bastard say?!" My father lunged at me, yanking my hair.

"He doesn't believe me..." Tears mixed with the dirt on my face.

"You useless piece of trash! If you can't get the money, what good are you? Just die!"

His fists and slaps rained down on me as I curled up, desperately protecting my abdomen.

There was a tiny life, just eight weeks old, that I had planned to surprise Ethan with this weekend.

"Dad, please don't hit me... I'm pregnant..."

"Pregnant? With that good-for-nothing Ethan Black's kid? Then don't keep it!"

He kicked the wooden chair out from under me.

I fell backward, the pain exploding from my tailbone as warm liquid rushed down my legs, quickly soaking my long dress.

My father let out a shriek and ran into the darkness.

I lay on the cold ground, my consciousness starting to fade.

I don't know how long it was before I used my last bit of strength to dial 911.

When I woke up again, I was in a hospital room.

A nurse came in to change my bandages. When she saw I was awake, a flicker of pity crossed her eyes.

"Ma'am, you're awake... I'm so sorry, but the baby... has been lost. Your injuries are severe. You may never be able to have children again."

A sharp pain shot through my heart as I groped for my phone on the bedside table.

After a night away, Ethan hadn't even asked where I was. Instead, I turned on my phone to see Chloe's Instagram post—the "innocent" girl Ethan had brought back to the Long Island villa, claiming she was homeless and needed care.

In the photo, brilliant meteors streaked across the night sky.

In the corner of the picture was my fiancé.

He was looking down at Chloe, his gaze so soft it could melt ice.

The caption read:

[Missed the dinner, but caught the once-in-a-lifetime meteor shower. The one I love is right here with me, making wishes. So happy, so warm. He said as long as I'm here, the meteors will stay for me.]

It was posted four hours ago.

While I was being beaten on the dirty concrete floor, pushed down the stairs, and desperately crying for help, he was out watching stars with another woman.

Memories crashed over me, the details I had deliberately ignored suddenly sharp and cruel.

Last month, I had a high fever.

Chloe made a whole spread of Thai dishes, all with peanut sauce.

But I was severely allergic to peanuts.

I'd only said, "I can't eat this," and Chloe's eyes filled with tears as she accidentally cut her finger while cleaning up.

Ethan rushed over, yelling at me, "Chloe meant well! Why are you being so cruel right now?"

He forgot that three years ago, the old butler had been fired on the spot just for switching his coffee to a slightly lesser brand.

Two weeks ago.

Chloe was cleaning the study and spilled water on a priceless merger contract from Titan Capital.

I couldn't help but scold her a little. Ethan, however, comforted the tearful Chloe, saying calmly, "We can just print another copy. She didn't do it on purpose; don't act like a crazy person."

But when I was interning at his company, I had made a tiny mistake with a decimal point in the meeting notes, and he had thrown the folder at me in front of the entire board, saying, "If you can't even handle this, go back to being a rich girl; I don't support useless people."

I stared at the photo of the meteor shower on my phone screen.

I liked it and left a comment.

[The meteor shower is beautiful. I hope your dreams come true.]