“That’s enough—you’ve had more than enough for one night.”

Caleb’s voice cut through the chatter, low but firm. He didn’t even notice I had entered. He reached over, gently but assertively plucking the shot glass out of Lilith’s hand. Without a second thought, he tossed the drink back himself.

A chorus of whoops and whistles erupted around him.

So, this was it—an impromptu celebration thrown by the training team. Caleb hadn’t planned to come. He’d promised to stay home with me tonight. But somehow, Lilith had talked him into showing up anyway.

Someone finally noticed me standing there, awkward and quiet in the doorway.

“Oh hey—Sabrina’s here!” one of them blurted, trying too hard to sound casual.

Lilith’s smile froze for half a second before she turned, lips curling like she’d just spotted fresh meat. “Welcome to our little get-together, Sabrina,” she said, her voice sugary sweet, dragging the last word out just a little too long. Her eyes swept over me with a lazy kind of challenge.

I drew a breath, pasted on a polite smile. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“No, no, you’re not!” someone chimed in, a little too enthusiastically. “Come sit! Caleb said he was staying home to be with you, but we dragged him out anyway—sorry about that! You two should sit together.”

Before I could decline, Caleb pulled out the chair beside him. “Sit down,” he said softly.

I could tell he was trying to tread carefully—nervous, even. He knew how I felt about him drinking in public. He was an Olympic gold medalist now—every move scrutinized by the press. I’d warned him time and again: don’t let the tabloids catch you off guard.

In the past, I would’ve scolded him, lectured him quietly but firmly. But tonight, I said nothing. Not a word.

And that silence unsettled him.

I sat beside him, my spine stiff. I hadn’t even caught my breath when Lilith walked over, holding a fresh drink in her hand.

“Let’s have a toast, shall we?” she said, her tone overly friendly.

“I don’t drink,” I replied coldly.

“Oh, don’t be like that,” she said, leaning closer. “You’re already here.”

Her voice dropped to a whisper, just loud enough for me to hear.

“You got the photo I sent, right? Your husband’s incredible in bed. While you were off sobbing over your dead baby, I was moaning under him. Maybe I’ll carry the next one.”

That wound—the baby I lost—was something I didn’t even let myself touch. It lived buried in the darkest part of me. But Lilith had found it. And she ripped it open with glee.

Something in me cracked wide open.

I jerked up, reaching to shove her away, but before I could touch her, she gasped—stumbling backward—spilling her drink dramatically down her blouse.

“What the hell, Sabrina?!” she screeched. “You splashed me?!

“Don’t pin your clumsiness on me!” I snapped, voice rising. “You did that yourself—”

“What the hell is your problem, Sabrina?”

Caleb was on his feet in an instant, his expression thunderous. He stepped in front of Lilith like a shield, glaring at me.

“Lilith didn’t do anything to you! She’s just drunk,—and you splashed drink on her– practically humiliated her in front of everyone! You’re being crazy!”

I froze, my chest caving in.

“I’m crazy?” My voice cracked, laced with disbelief and rising anger. “You really think I’d do something like that for no reason?”

“But you just did,” Caleb snapped. His jaw clenched. “I saw it. We all did.”

He didn’t even try to hide the rage burning in his eyes—or the fact that he automatically positioned himself between us, like I was the threat.

“Why are you always targeting her? She’s just a teammate—my junior, for God’s sake! This kind of behavior is gonna make me—”

“Make you what?” I cut in, my voice shaking.

Caleb stiffened. I saw the sudden hitch in his breathing, but he kept his mouth clamped shut for a moment. Then he let out a slow breath, like he was forcing himself to stay calm.

“Just get a grip, okay? I know you’ve been emotionally fragile since the miscarriage. Lilith and I are just teammates. But you’re acting like some hysterical jealous girlfriend, making a scene in public. It’s—embarrassing.”

I let out a bitter laugh, but it caught in my throat. The weight of disappointment and humiliation crashed down on me like a wave.

“Caleb, that contract you signed a few days ago. It was—”

“Now’s not the time for that, damn it!” he snapped. “You messed up tonight. Just take some damn responsibility for once!”

He didn’t even look at me as he turned and scooped Lilith into his arms.

He carried her out the door.

Silence fell like a curtain. The other athletes exchanged awkward glances.

“Uh… Sabrina,” one of them offered hesitantly. “You might’ve gone a bit far just now. I mean, Lilith’s just his junior, you know?”

“Yeah,” another chimed in. “He’s always been so good to you. Don’t blow it all up over something small.”

“Come on, just go talk to him, apologize. It’s not worth ruining everything.”

I clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms.

They kept trying to get me to apologize. To calm down. To smooth things over.

I left the room and stepped toward the restrooms.

Then I passed a room with the door slightly ajar.

I heard voices coming from the room—low, intimate.

“Lilith, please don’t cry,” Caleb’s voice was soft, pleading. “It’s killing me to see you like this…”

“Then kiss me,” she whispered. “Just once. And I’ll stop crying…”

There was silence.

Then the sound of a kiss—quiet, unmistakable.

I pushed open the door.

Lilith was clinging to him, her lips brushing his.

Caleb’s face went pale. “Sabrina—wait—it’s not what it looks like. She’s drunk. I didn’t want to hurt her by shoving her off.”

I let out a cold laugh. “You’re a grown man, Caleb. You couldn’t manage to push her off?”

He flinched like I’d slapped him.

Just as he finally shoved Lilith away, clearly trying to explain, she let out a scream.

“Ow! My ankle… I think it’s twisted…”

Caleb hesitated, his brows pinching together in guilt. “Damn. I—I didn’t mean to push that hard. I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

There it was again. With Lilith around, my emotions were always forced to come second.

I said nothing more. Just turned and walked away.

He moved like he wanted to follow, but Lilith tugged on his sleeve—and he stayed.

That night, Caleb never came home. I didn’t even bother wondering where he was.

The next morning, I went straight to the training center and handed in my resignation.

This place—this building where I’d spent countless sleepless nights by Caleb’s side—where I watched him bleed and blister, where he clawed his way back to the top—now felt like a tomb.

“You’re really leaving?” one of my teammates asked, eyebrows knit with disbelief.

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “Seven years is long enough. Time for me to stop.”

“Does Caleb know?”

“I’ll tell him.” I offered a small, empty smile.

After I submitted the paperwork to administration, I stepped outside and exhaled, like I’d finally put down a weight I’d carried for years.

But just as I reached the exit, Lilith blocked my path.

“Leaving already?” she asked sweetly. “Here to watch Caleb train?”

“Move.” I wasn’t in the mood.

“Aww, don’t go just yet.” She lifted a training air gun and twirled it in her hand like a toy. “Want me to teach you how to use this? It’s actually fun. You’ve been with Caleb for years, right? Funny how you still don’t know how to use the thing he loves most.”

“I’m not interested,” I said flatly, trying to step around her.

But she slid right back in front of me, grinning like a child with a secret.

“Come on, don’t be boring. How are you two supposed to have anything in common if you don’t even get his world?” She leaned in, voice laced with venom. “Face it—you and Caleb were never a match. I’m the one who truly gets him. I’m the one who loves him.”

I stared at her, my voice dry. “Men always seem better when you steal them, huh?”

That hit a nerve. Her smile faltered, but only for a second.

“Well,” she huffed, “I didn’t say that. But Caleb did. Every time we’re together, he says you don’t understand him. That you’re old-fashioned. Boring.”

“You know Lilith, I think it’s better just shut up because then you’ll sound less dumb.”

She only smiled wider. “Angry now, are you? Then just take the gun. See how our worlds feel like.” She shoved it toward me.

I instinctively stepped back. But…

Bang!

The gun went off with a sharp crack, the sound slicing through the air like a whip. The echo made my heart stop.

Lilith shrieked. The gun fell from her hands. A red welt was rising on her skin.

Luckily, it had been unloaded. Just a misfire. If it had been a live round… her hand might’ve been ruined.

I stood frozen, ears ringing.

Across the training center, Caleb came running like the building was on fire.

“Lilith! What happened?!”

He skidded to a stop beside her. The second he saw the red mark on her skin, his face drained of all color.

“Caleb…” Lilith whimpered, grabbing his arm, tears spilling like she’d rehearsed them. “I just wanted to show Sabrina how to use the gun… But she to grab it and I—I lost my grip…”

“You shoved it at me!” I snapped. “You fired that thing!”

“Sabrina!” Caleb barked, turning to me, rage flashing in his eyes like lightning. “How long are you going to keep this up?!”

I laughed bitterly, pointing straight at Lilith. “She came at me with that gun. I never even touched her!”

Lilith burst into sobs, cradling her hand. “Sabrina, I know you don’t like me, but why would you do this? I was just trying to be nice.”

Caleb’s expression darkened. He bent, picked up the gun and turned it toward me—pointed it at me.

I froze. The air thinned.

His eyes were cold. Unfamiliar.

His eyes were cold. Unfamiliar. Like I was looking at a stranger wearing my husband’s skin.

“Is this a joke to you?!”

“You think I’d believe an athlete—an Olympian-in-training—would accidentally pull the trigger?” His voice was low, dangerous. “Do you have any idea what it means if her hand is injured? What it could cost her career?”

My throat burned. “I told you—I never touched the gun!” I met his eyes, fury hot in my chest. “You believe her? Just like that?”

Caleb let out a bitter laugh, the kind that sounded like it hurt on the way out.

“You think Lilith would lie about this? She’s a national-level competitor. If her hand’s ruined, can you pay that price?!”

“So now what?” My voice cracked. “You’re gonna point a gun at me? Caleb—I’m your wife. Five years!”

He didn’t answer. His finger twitched.

Bang!

A plastic training round tore past my face. Heat exploded along the side of my head. A sharp, blinding pain bloomed in my ear.

I stumbled back, hand flying up.

Blood. My fingers came away red.

Caleb’s hand trembled slightly, as if even he hadn’t expected the shot to land.

He straightened, masking it behind a chilling calm. “Don’t mess around with things you don’t understand. That was just a warning.”

I laughed. It came out broken and tears blurred my vision.

“You’re right,” I whispered. “I don’t understand guns… and I sure as hell don’t understand you!”

Caleb flinched. For a brief second, something flickered in his eyes. Regret, maybe. Too late.

***

ER Waiting Room

The antiseptic air stung worse than the wound. I sat on a stiff plastic bench, ears ringing like a swarm of bees had taken up residence in my skull.

“Miss? Can you hear me?” The doctor leaned in, raising his voice.

I blinked, then nodded slowly.

“You’ve got a surface burn near the ear. You’re lucky—it didn’t rupture anything, but you’ll have ringing for a few days. Might scar, though.”

My fingers hovered near the wound. It was warm. Wet. Pain bloomed at the slightest touch.

“Do you have anyone we can call?”

My mind blanked, until all I could see was the image of Caleb walking away, Lilith clinging to him.

I felt something tear open in my chest.

I gave a soft laugh, bitter as ash. “They’re all dead.”

The doctor froze. Clearly, he didn’t know how to respond.

I smiled faintly, waved him off. “Just wrap me up. I’ll manage.”

When I stepped out of the room, I passed by another door left half-open.

Lilith’s voice drifted out—fragile, pleading.

“What if… what if I can’t shoot again, Caleb? What if my hand’s ruined? What will I do?”

His voice followed, low and steady. “Hey, it’s gonna be okay. It’s a minor injury. You’ll recover.”

“But I’m scared…” Her voice cracked. “If I lose this… will you think I’m worthless? I won’t even deserve to stand beside you anymore.”

He sighed, voice softening. “Of course not. I’d never think that.”

He never asked if I was okay. Never looked for me. But here he was—soothing her like she was porcelain.

I turned to leave. But then—Lilith’s voice again, hesitant.

“Caleb… would you ever consider… letting me take over as your manager? I don’t need to be your wife. But can’t I stay by your side… even just as that?”

There was a pause.

Caleb murmured something I couldn’t make out.

And then—Lilith’s soft, triumphant laughter.

“I just want to stay near you, Caleb. You know I’d do anything for you…”

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

A text from my lawyer: Divorce finalized. Papers filed.

I exhaled slowly, then pulled the envelope from my bag and placed it at the threshold of their room.

When I walked out of that hospital, I didn’t look back. I went home, grabbed my bags and booked a one-way ticket out of the city.

“Caleb, let’s pretend I never walked into that shooting range seven years ago.”

“Let’s pretend we never met.”