Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

The fever left Stella's muscles aching and weak, sapping every ounce of strength from her body.

She was slung over a man's shoulder, every jostling step sending sharp pain shooting through her ribs.

Face contorted in agony, Stella gasped, "Cedric Clarke, put me down... My ribs are killing me..."

The man ignored her completely.

He strode out of the house into the pouring rain.

Within seconds, Stella was drenched to the bone.

"Damn it—!" The shock of cold rain jolted her fever-fogged mind awake.

She wiped the water from her face and started pounding on the man's back with what little strength she had left. "Cedric Clarke, are you crazy? If you're trying to cool me down, this is not the way! Put me down, right now!"

But instead of slowing, the man quickened his pace.

Stella froze, a sudden chill running deeper than the rain. Something was wrong. This definitely wasn't Cedric Clarke.

Cedric might be many things, but he'd never drag her, sick with fever, out into a storm.

"Who are you?" Panic rising, Stella thrashed and fought, kicking and flailing with both hands and feet. "Who the hell are you? Where are you taking me? I swear, if you don't let me go, I'll scream for help!"

The man kept silent, forging ahead.

His rain boots splashed through muddy puddles along a winding mountain path. Wind howled, rain pelted down, and thunder cracked overhead.

Through her disorientation, Stella finally caught sight of their surroundings.

She went rigid with fear.

taking her into

was he

had taken judo classes-under normal circumstances, she could've flipped herself free

and weak, her body barely obeyed her. Every attempt

Suddenly, the man stopped.

had time to process

she felt herself suspended

man, face shadowed under his rain hood, didn't

ripped through the night, illuminating his features for a split second. In that brief, heart-stopping moment,

didn't even have time to scream before her body crashed into the raging

Cedric Clarke returned, clutching the medical kit, the bed

in confusion.

out several

anxiety twisted

and the storm outside was getting worse. Where could

outside, but something caught his eye- her shoes,

couldn't have left without

the male doctors. "Check with Dr.

we're all in the living room playing cards. Wasn't Dr. Joyner supposed to

"Something's wrong! Dr. Joyner might be in trouble. Get the others, put

it! We're on our

and stood, his voice urgent.

Dr. Clarke says we all need to help

do you mean, missing?" someone

resting-she wasn't

her dinner earlier. She barely ate, looked awful, so I

sick-we have to find