Her Second Chance

Valerie was a shell of her former self. Her deep golden hair looked ashen and grey. Her body was hooked to machines. A tube in her throat as she couldn’t even breathe on her own, and she knew she would soon die. No one believed her. She’d been painted in such a horrible light by her jealous cousin in this life, and everyone thought Valerie was the villain.

She’d been framed, and after being kicked out of the family, she had no way to clear her name. The man she loved even hated her. The fiancé she thought would stick by her, but ended up always doting on her cousin Kiki. Taking her to events and having her on his arm, they had even gotten engaged after a while, when he’d broken it off with Valerie.

Valerie had even tried to move away. To let them all forget her and start over somewhere new, only to be dragged back when her father died and humiliated more. Her own mother had a hand in making her wolfless, in causing her own daughter’s downfall. It stung horribly.

Her biggest regret was not fighting sooner. Now it was too late, with her tarnished reputation and false evidence stacked against her. Kiki had become heir to their fortune and used it to smear and defame Valerie. Kiki had hated her that much, she was such a demon, and no one else could see it. It felt like Kiki got away with it so easily.

The reason Valerie lay dying in this bed was because of Kiki. Kiki caused a serious accident, but Kiki died this time. She’d been trying to frame Valerie again, to cost Valerie her life, but she didn’t expect Valerie to fight back this time and try to escape. However, both of them had been caught in the collapse, and of course, everyone thought that Valerie was the reason for it. Trying to sabotage her own new construction for profit.

Valerie needed surgery to survive, but she wasn’t stable enough to have it yet. Valerie was too tired to even fight, she was already sick from being poisoned half her life. She knew she was dying and didn’t have long.

Someone came into Valerie’s room as she lay there barely awake. It was a man, tall, well-built, and very handsome. He had well-groomed black hair and teal eyes. His clothes said he had money. His aura seemed cold and aloof. Like always, but from the slits of her eyes, she could see him and felt a tear roll down her cheek.

He gave a heavy sigh and walked in next to her bed, she saw his strong facade crack and sadness was in his eyes. He didn’t know she was awake. To him, she looked like she was sleeping, out with the drugs.

“I didn’t know if I was going to come, but I think I would spend the rest of my life regretful if I didn’t. I know you can’t really hear me, they said you are out of it. That you might not make the night,” Evan Moss said. Valerie wanted to say something to him, but she couldn’t move, couldn’t speak.

“I…” he reached and took her hand, and it sounded like he might cry. He seemed to swallow a sob. She felt a little bit of hope, her heart jumped in joy that he might still care for her. Then his next words cut her.

“Why couldn’t you have just been more like her Val? Or at least let it go, just let it go with her. Look what’s happened because of it,” he lowered his head, and she did hear sorrow in his voice. “I didn’t want to give up on you, my wolf mourns you, but all the things you did. All the pain you caused, why?” He demanded of her.

Why? How could he say that? He wasn’t innocent either. He did leave her, he didn’t help her when she needed it. Said he didn’t know she needed help until it was too late, but Valerie didn’t believe that.

Valerie, in her current state, couldn’t answer him. The monitors didn’t even jump for him to know she was listening. It crushed her that he thought her the villain. That he did give up on her and believed Kiki after all.

All of this started with her engagement to him. Kiki moving into her parents' house when Kiki’s parents died had been rough with the bullying. However, Kiki had wanted to marry Evan. She’d actually dated him once. When she found out that Valerie was to be his contract bride between their packs, things got bad.

Evan, I always loved you. Why didn’t you believe me? Valerie thought. Evan spoke out loud while Valerie lay there unable to respond or let him know she was awake.

“Kiki showed me the videos, Valerie, you with those other men. I waited, and I shouldn’t have. You just used me. I should have just picked her and not suffered the heartache you gave me. I could have dealt with it better,” he said, rubbing his face and his eyes were red.

Valerie wanted to shout at him that Kiki had set her up with those men. It had been force, not concent. She didn’t know that Kiki had shown him. He never said anything. Kiki said she wouldn’t show anyone if Valerie disappeared. Which she had, her heart wept for this.

“Rest, Valerie. If you don’t make it, don’t worry. I will make sure your last rites are seen too. I will pay for everything,” Evan said to her. He stood up and left the room. Valerie felt the last bit of her resolve to live break. The only man she loved had believed all the lies and the false evidence.

If I could do this all again, I would just walk away rather than feel this pain. I wish I could have lived for myself. Valerie thought this several times, throwing up a prayer to any god or goddess who might hear her, that in her next life she would have peace. Not be treated like this ever again.

These were the last thoughts that went through Valerie’s mind as she succumbed to her injuries, and the sound of monitors flatlining was the only sound in the room as everything faded black.