The Womb They Stole Chapter 05
Julian’s POV
Fire truck sirens screamed through the night.
I knelt on the lawn, watching the main house collapse into flames. Heat slammed into me. Smoke burned my
throat. I couldn’t move.
All I could see was Elsie at that window, staring at me with that calm look on her face.
Twenty minutes later, firefighters carried out a stretcher.
Under the white sheet was a burned body. On the wrist–a diamond wedding ring.
Elsie’s ring.
“No…” “I ran over and yanked back the sheet. The face was gone–burned beyond anything I could recognize.
But I knew. It was my wife.
“Elsie!” I started CPR, pressing on her chest over and over. “Don’t you DARE die! Stay with me!”
“Sir…” A firefighter tried to pull me back. “She didn’t make it-”
“Get OFF me!” I shoved him away and kept going.
My arms were shaking. I didn’t stop. Not until paramedics physically dragged me away.
I fell beside the stretcher, staring at what was left of her. Tears poured down my face.
How much pain she must have felt. How terrified she must have been.
“I’m sorry… Elsie… God, I’m so sorry…”
After the funeral, I locked myself in the bedroom.
Wouldn’t see anyone.
I’d covered every surface with photos of Elsie–our wedding, our honeymoon, candid shots when she was sleeping… I stared at them for hours.
This one was from our wedding day. White dress. That bright smile. She’d asked, “Do you promise to
love me forever?”
I’d said, “Of course.”
I’d lied. I didn’t love her then. I married her for Chloe.
For my “savior.”
But at some point, I got used to having her around- waking up next to her, coming home to dinner she’d made, her bringing me coffee when I worked late, massaging my shoulders when I was exhausted…
I thought it was just routine.
Until she died. Then I understood–it wasn’t routine.
It was love.
Too late.
“I’m sorry…” Tears dropped onto the photo. “I’m sorry, Elsie… I love you… but I figured it out too late…”
“Bang, bang, bang-”
Chloe’s voice from the hallway. “Julian, you need to eat… It’s been three days… Elsie’s gone, but you still have me and the baby…”
“Get the HELL OUT!” I threw a picture frame at the door.
Silence.
**Late night**
I started going through Elsie’s things, numb.
Her clothes. Jewelry. Skincare products–every single item felt like a knife in my chest. Her favorite
perfume. The earrings from our wedding. That teddy bear she slept with…
My hand hit something hard under the bed.
I pulled it out–a locked wooden box.
I pried it open. Inside: a worn diary and a necklace.
When I picked up the necklace, I froze.
Silver. My name engraved on it–Julian Thorne.
The necklace I’d given my “savior” ten years ago.
Why did Elsie have this?
Ten years ago, my father’s rivals kidnapped me. Locked me in a mountain cave. Beat me. Starved me. Tortured me. I thought I’d die there.
Then one day, a girl snuck in and cut me loose. “Run! Down the mountain, go!”
We ran. But they found us. I was hurt. Couldn’t keep up. The girl looked back, her face set with determination. “Hide! I’ll draw them away!”
She pushed me into the bushes. Before she ran, I grabbed her hand and pressed my necklace into it. “I‘ Il come back for you. I promise.”
She clutched it, smiled at me, then ran toward the cliff edge.
The kidnappers chased her. Police found me not long after.
Once I was safe, I searched everywhere for that girl… until at the police station, I saw Chloe–she looked exactly like the girl who’d saved me.
I’d hugged her tight. “Thank you… thank you saving my life…”
From that moment, I knew I’d marry her.
But then Chloe said she was in love with someone else. Asked me to marry her sister Elsie instead. I agreed, not wanting to disappoint her. But in my heart, there was only room for the girl who’d saved me.
**Now**
I gripped the necklace, shaking. If Elsie had this… then the person who saved me…
My hands trembled as I opened the diary. First page, in young handwriting:
*“Saw Julian at school again today. Standing by the basketball court with sun in his hair. He looked so good… He’s never noticed me. Mom always says Chloe‘ s the pretty one, the likable one. I guess that’s why…“*
*“Julian killed it at the debate tournament today! He was amazing. I sat way in the back and cheered for him in my head…“*
*“I keep seeing this car following Julian after school. Black sedan, tinted windows. What if something happens to him? What if they hurt him? I’m so scared.
The entries stopped the day I was kidnapped. A month–long gap.
When they started again:
*“I woke up. Doctor says I fell off a cliff. Was in a coma for a month… My leg’s broken. My back is covered in
scars…“*
“Nurse told me Julian’s safe. He was rescued. Thank God. At least he’s okay…”
“But why are they saying Chloe saved him? I was the one. I did it…“*
“I confronted Chloe with the necklace. She
threatened me. Said if I told anyone, she’d destroy the family, Said Julian loves HER and even if he knew, he wouldn’t believe me…“*
“Mom and Dad told me to keep quiet… said it’s better for everyone this way… If Chloe marries Julian, it’ll help the family business…**
Later entries showed her struggles–trying to reach me, blocked by Chloe every time. Wanting to tell her parents, but they only cared about the family. Almost giving up. Trying again.
Finally, Chloe had compromised. Kept the credit for the rescue. Let Elsie have the engagement.
*“Fine… As long as I can be with him, even if he never knows what really happened… Just being near him is enough…”