The Silence of Eighteen Calls
You want to act so tough, Ethan? Fine. Walk home. Or die out here for all I care!
Two weeks later, a local news report about a homicide finally jogged her memory.
Its been two weeks, shed muttered, annoyed. Is he still throwing a tantrum? Does he plan on living on the highway forever?
Her head of security, Marcus, had to deliver the news. Maam Mr. Hayes he was killed.
Impossible! shed snapped. I was just angry! I left the security detail watching him from a distance! How could he possibly be dead?
Marcus hesitated, the words catching in his throat.
Ms. Blackwood, Liam Cole ordered the detail to stand down. He said it was on your authority.
He took a shaky breath.
And theres something else. The autopsy report is back. The anonymous heart donor who saved you all those years ago it was Mr. Hayes. Not Liam Cole
1
The shredded remains of the autopsy report rained down on Marcuss face. Victoria Blackwood, my wife, looked at him as if he were a traitor.
Youve got a lot of nerve, she hissed, her voice a blade of ice. Conspiring with him to lie to me?
Sweat beaded on Marcuss forehead. Ms. Blackwood, I swear! This is what the investigation uncovered. I wouldnt dare fake something like this!
Victoria pointed a trembling finger at the paper confetti on the floor. Let me tell you something. Ethan can fake his own death for attention, he can throw any tantrum he wants, but he will not use Liams heart as a bargaining chip in his pathetic games.
Her voice was low, seething with a protective fury that was never, ever meant for me.
Do you have any idea how hard it is for Liam to live with that artificial heart? The slightest chill could kill him! Does Ethan Hayes have no humanity? To steal the credit for something another man nearly died to do?
Marcus flinched.
My soul, a weightless observer, hovered in the air. I almost laughed. Even now, after all this, she still believed Liam Cole was the one who had saved her.
Marcus was loyal to a fault. He would never lie to her. He had to tell her the truth, even if she wouldnt hear it.
He swallowed hard, his loyalty warring with his fear. Maam, Mr. Hayess autopsy shows his heart was also artificial.
Is that so? Victorias smile was pure venom. Well, if theyre going to the trouble of faking a report that detailed, they might as well go all the way.
She straightened her suit jacket, her expression hardening into something cruel and final.
Lets make the story real. Make sure hes dead.
She turned and walked away, leaving Marcus standing in the ruins of her office and my life.
2
Driving home, Victorias manicured nails tapped an incessant, agitated rhythm on the leather steering wheel. When she stopped at a red light, she, a woman renowned for her unshakable composure, slammed her fist down on the horn.
She kept replaying the words from the report in her mind.
Anonymous heart donor
A bitter laugh escaped her lips. She lit a slim cigarette, leaving a perfect crimson stain on the filter, her face a mask of irritation. Ethan, Ethan, Ethan, she murmured to the empty car. Your little games are getting more and more pathetic.
The cars sound system, which she usually kept on a low classical station, had been switched to a news channel.
and in a major breakthrough, Olympia City Police have solved the string of recent highway murders.
The criminal gangs final crime took place on the Evergreen Parkway, where their victims were a young man and a five-year-old girl.
Authorities say the man, whose name has not yet been released, used himself as bait to draw the attackers attention, buying precious time for the girl to be rescued.
Tonight, we pay our deepest respects to this selfless hero.
Victoria froze.
She reached out and silenced the radio.
Exhaling a plume of smoke, she sighed. Probably his sister, or his daughter
A sad smile touched my spectral lips.
No, Victoria. I didnt know her.
I just knew that it was better for one life to end than two. So I hid the little girl in a culvert beneath the highway, called 911, and led them away.
I thought I could hold on until help arrived.
But I was bleeding too much. The artificial heart just couldnt keep up.
Victorias hand, the one holding the cigarette, paused mid-air.
The Evergreen Parkway
She frowned.
That was where shed left me.
Flicking the cigarette butt out the window, she gunned the engine as the light turned green, a cold sneer on her face. Impossible. A man like him? We should be grateful hes not the one out there hurting innocent people.
3
A week passed. I didnt come home.
It was only after she threw a lavish birthday party for Liam Cole that Victoria seemed to remember I existed.
What, is he really going to live on the parkway forever? she asked Marcus, more annoyed than concerned. Tell him the game is over. I had plenty of security watching him. He cant fool me with some fake autopsy report.
Marcus hesitated, then decided the truth was the only path forward.
Ms. Blackwood Liam Cole told my men to withdraw that night. He said it was your order.
Oh? Victorias laugh was sharp and dismissive. Are you telling me Liam forged my command?
He swallowed hard. It seemed Victoria had conveniently forgotten. Her personal security team answered to only two people. Her, and one other person to whom she had granted the highest level of clearance.
It wasn't me, her husband.
It was Liam Cole.
Impossible, she said, her tone flat and final. Only Ethan would stoop so low as to frame Liam with a lie like that. I gave Liam that authority precisely because I was afraid of what Ethan might do to him, out of jealousy. I knew hed try to use his position as my husband to hurt him.
Her eyes narrowed.
Liam is not that kind of person. He would never do something so underhanded. Tell Ethan to stop trying to bribe my staff.
Ms. Blackwood! Marcus pleaded, his voice cracking. I swear I haven't taken any money from Mr. Hayes!
Victoria held up a hand, silencing him.
Youve been with me a long time, Marcus. Ill allow this mistake once, maybe twice. A third time will have consequences. Think carefully about your next move.
A cold sweat broke out across his brow.
4
The moment she was out of the office, Victoria called my phone.
Of course, I couldn't answer.
After a dozen rings went to voicemail, she left a message. Her voice was strained, tight with forced patience.
Youve been making a lot of trouble lately, Ethan. The passenger seat has a better view, and the open air is good for Liams health. I owe him my life; its my duty to take care of him. This is about gratitude, not an affair. Stop fixating on it. Youre a healthy man. Try to think of someone else for a change.
She paused, and just before hanging up, her voice softened almost imperceptibly.
Honey youve been gone a little too long this time.
Putting the phone down, her gaze fell upon a black umbrella clutched by a mannequin in a store window. Her hand came to rest against the cool glass.
It was like five years ago, all over again.
She was in a red dress, heels clicking on the wet pavement as she hurried through the rain. I was walking the other way, holding a black umbrella, and as we passed, our eyes met.
A spark. A moment. We both turned back to look.
I didnt know then that she was the woman who had received my heart. By the time I found out, Liam Cole was already by her side.
But she must have remembered.
She knew I loved black. And red.
That day, my black umbrella had tilted just so, sheltering her head from the downpour.
My birthday was in a week. And the mannequin it had my build, my height.
She was about to call the sales associate, to buy it, when her phone rang. It was Liam.
Victoria I cant breathe
Her expression shifted instantly from wistful to panicked.
Im on my way!
5
In the sterile hospital room, Liam sipped the broth Victoria spoon-fed him. He managed a weak smile.
Thank you, Ms. Blackwood. I never thought the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar corporation would cook for anyone.
She brought another spoonful to his lips. That depends on the man.
Even without a physical body, a phantom ache shot through my chest.
Because I knew. That man wasnt me.
Liams gaze drifted to the long, elegantly wrapped umbrella leaning against the wall. I hear you picked that out for Ethan. Are you sure its okay to give it to me?
Victoria paused for only a fraction of a second. You said you liked it, too.
I had to smile at the tragedy of it all.
He likes blue, Victoria. He only said he liked black after he heard you bought it for me. Don't you see that?
I closed my eyes. A soul cant do anything. I could only pray that whatever force governed the universe would let me dissipate, let me fade away, so I wouldnt have to watch my own wife tear me down, piece by piece.
6
The story of my heroism spread through Olympia City. The organizers of the memorial service invited the citys most prominent philanthropist to attend: Victoria Blackwood.
She accepted without a second thought.
As the citys leading corporate citizen, she even offered to cover all the expenses for the memorial. No budget. A fitting tribute for a true hero.
On the day of the service, she stood in the solemn, flower-filled hall. When she saw the name on the main placardIn Loving Memory of Mr. Ethan Hayesher expression faltered.
The same last name she murmured.
Then, a bitter smile. If only my Ethan had half the character of this Mr. Hayes, we wouldnt be where we are today. It was just about repaying a debt to Liam. Why did he have to make it such an issue? She just couldn't understand.
After paying her respects, the event organizer approached her, the primary benefactor. Ms. Blackwood, someone has raised questions about the autopsy report, claiming its a fabrication. Should we perform another one?
Whos questioning it? Victorias brow furrowed.
The organizer looked uncomfortable. Well
Victorias patience snapped. This mans face and body were mutilated by his attackers. The coroner did their best to make him whole again. Who in their right mind would want to subject him to that all over again, and for what reason?
The organizer wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.
I sighed. The irony was suffocating. She had no idea. It was her own man, Marcus, who had requested the second autopsy, all because she refused to believe the first one.
In the morgue, Victoria gave the final order. Cremate him. Let him rest in peace.
Would you like to see him one last time, Ms. Blackwood?
No, she said, a flicker of genuine empathy in her eyes. No one would want to be remembered that way, stitched together and broken.
My body was pushed into the incinerator.
After a final, respectful nod, Victoria walked out of the hall.
Whats trending with men these days? she asked her new assistant.
The assistant, startled, quickly recovered. For Mr. Cole, its always high-end luxury. Patek Philippe, Louis Vuitton
I meant for Ethan.
The assistant blinked. Youre buying a gift for Mr. Hayes?
Yes, Victoria sighed. Theres been a misunderstanding between us. This isnt just for his birthday. Its an apology.
She patted the assistants shoulder. Im leaving this to you. The budget is unlimited. Get it done.
Yes, Ms. Blackwood!
Behind her, my ashes were being sealed in an urn.
7
The assistant tracked down an original, handwritten manuscript from an obscure but brilliant composer, Arthur Finch, at an old collectors estate. I had always been fascinated by his work.
But the score was badly damaged, almost illegible.
Ms. Blackwood, Mr. Hayes loves Finchs compositions. Weve had this professionally restored, but its still not perfect. Perhaps I should just commission a custom luxury item instead?
No. Victoria stared at the tattered pages. Anything that can be bought with money is a cop-out. Leave it. Ill restore it myself.
Maam?! The assistants eyes went wide.
Victoria knew how. In the early days, when she loved me most, she had learned about antique restoration to share my passion.
For five days, she didnt leave the studio.
When she finally emerged, the Arthur Finch manuscript hung on the wall, pristine, as if the ink had just dried.
When he sees this, she whispered to herself, hell come back.
Just then, her phone rang. It was Liam, his voice a ragged whisper.
Victoria I think Im dying
8
She found him by the riverbank, soaked and covered in blood. He was coughing up water and blood, his hand gripping her blazer with surprising strength.
It was Ethan he choked out. He tried to kill me
My spirit froze.
After a harrowing trip to the ER, once Liam was stable, he told his story through tear-filled eyes.
I knew Ethan was upset with you because of me. His birthday is coming up, and I just wanted to find him, convince him to come home and clear the air. But when I finally tracked him down he was by the river with another woman.
He choked on a sob.
Victoria gripped his shoulders. What happened?
Liam shook his head violently. I cant say they werent wearing anything
Victorias pupils constricted.
Ethan said if I came back, Id tell you everything. He said his meal ticket would be gone I tried to run, but they pushed me into the river. If the tide hadnt washed me ashore I would have never seen you again, Victoria
He clung to her, sobbing.
I watched her face, my non-existent heart pounding. Victoria you know me. Dont you? You know Im not that person. Hes lying! He got into trouble with his own creditors!
Victoria gently pushed Liam back onto the pillow, her touch surprisingly steady. She wiped a tear from his cheek.
Get some rest.
Then she turned, walked out, and drove home.
In the studio, she stood before the restored Finch manuscript. She dialed my number.
Ten times.
Twenty.
Fifty.
A hundred unanswered calls.
Her eyes began to burn. The fingers on her right hand, raw and scarred from the chemicals and tools shed used for the restoration, throbbed with a dull pain.
RIIIIIP!
She tore the manuscript from the wall.
ETHAN HAYES, YOU BASTARD!
The paper disintegrated in her hands. The violent motion tore open the healing cuts on her fingers, and droplets of blood spattered across the ruined notes.
Panting, she threw open the studio door. Her staff, waiting outside, stared at her in alarm.
Her face was flecked with her own blood.
Get the word out, she commanded, her voice ragged. Im marrying Liam Cole. Announce it to the entire city. Spare no expense.
On the last four words, her grip was so tight on the doorframe, it seemed the wood itself might splinter.
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