“The Remains of Summer) Chapter 1
“Ms. Price, this is the contract for the
staged death service you’ve booked with
- us. The date of death is set for two weeks
from
now, on your wedding day. The
cause of death will be suicide by
drowning. Please sign here to confirm.”
Amelia Price nodded, her hand
steady as she signed her name on the
dotted line.
The city bustled around her as she
walked home. Glancing up, she saw the
massive billboard replaying the video of Ethan Carter’s proposal. He knelt,
normally stoic, his hand trembling as he
held the ring. Tears welled in his eyes
when she said “yes.”
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Two girls beside Amelia sighed
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dreamily, clutching each other. “OMG,
Ethan is so in love with Amelia!”
“Total fairytale romance. They’ve
been childhood sweethearts forever. He
confessed his love at seventeen, designed
a diamond tiara for her twentieth, calling
her his princess. At twenty–three, when
she was in that car crash, he almost gave
his own blood dry to save her. At twenty-
six, the whole world watched him propose.
He’s the ultimate husband material!”
Amelia tuned them out, a bitter taste
rising in her throat. Everyone envied their
love. Everyone believed Ethan was
hopelessly devoted.
No one knew he’d been keeping a
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social media influencer, Chloe, in a
luxury apartment for three years.
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The gut–wrenching realization that his late–night “business trips” were spent entangled with Chloe felt like a knife
twisting in her heart.
The explicit photos blurred in her vision. She remembered being fifteen, her parents‘ divorce tearing her world
apart. Ethan had stormed in, grabbed her hand, and declared, “If they don’t want you,
I do!”
From that day, he’d showered her
with affection. He’d broken three ribs
fighting for her, remembered every
period cramp, filled his social media with
her pictures. His buddies called him
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whipped.
When he slipped the engagement
ring on her finger, tears streamed down his face as he begged her to love him
forever, to never leave him. He swore he’d
go
insane if she did.
He was the one who claimed he
couldn’t live without her, yet he was the
one who betrayed her.
So, she would fake her death,
disappear, change her name, and erase herself from his life. He would never find
her.
Wiping away a stray tear, she was about to leave when a sleek black SUV
screeched to a halt. Ethan jumped out,
rushing towards her.“Amelia! You were
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<<<The Remains of Sum…
supposed to wait for me! I was coming to take you wedding dress shopping. Why are you out here alone?”
He took her hand, noticing how cold it was, and draped his jacket over her shoulders.“Your hands are freezing! Why didn’t you wear a coat? Trying to worry me to death?”
Amelia remained silent, staring at
him. The concern in his eyes seemed genuine, which made his betrayal all the more confusing. How could one person love two people at the same time?
He tightened the jacket around her, guiding her towards the car. The two girls, startled by the commotion, turned and
gasped. Their faces flushed as they
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<<The Remains of Sum…
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approached hesitantly.
“Excuse me, are you Amelia Price and
Ethan Carter? We’re huge fans! Could we
maybe get a picture with you guys?”
Amelia hesitated, then nodded.
The girls excitedly sandwiched themselves between the couple, beaming
at the camera. Ethan, usually camera–shy, obediently put his arm around Amelia
and smiled for the photo.
Gushing, the girls thanked them profusely, wishing them a lifetime of
happiness.
A lifetime?
Amelia glanced at Ethan. He caught
her eye and flashed her a tender, loving
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smile. He seemed to echo the girls‘
sentiments.
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Only she knew their lifetime
together was over.
At the bridal boutique, the staff rushed out as Amelia stepped out of the
car, their voices tinged with envy. “Ms.
Price, Mr. Carter has arranged for a thousand custom–designed wedding
dresses. You can try on as many as you like.”
She looked at Ethan, who was
engrossed in his phone, a hungry look in
eyes – a look she’d only seen in those
his eyes
photos with Chloe. Sensing her gaze, he
pocketed his phone and
apologized.“Amelia, so sorry, something
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(The Remains of Sum
(Mono)
urgent came up at work. The driver will
stay with you. He’ll take you home after
you’re done.”
He kissed her forehead and hurried
into a waiting car, leaving her alone.
The boutique attendant approached
tentatively.“Ms. Price, are you ready to try
on some dresses?”
Amelia shook her head.“No. I don’t
want any of them.”
After all, there would only be a dead
bride at their wedding.
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