Karl Gordon Is Back

She loved him enough to kill him.

Karl's vision blurred, breath heavy and uneven as he struggled to pull himself back on his feet.

“Don't bother exhausting yourself Karl, you're only going to make it worse..” Melody's voice echoed in Karl's ears as his vision slowly adjusted on his wife, his chest tightening with every movement he made.

Melody sat behind her dresser, brushing her hair with an eerie calmness. She glanced over her shoulder, eyes as cold as ever.

This wasn't the woman he married, this wasn't the woman he called his wife. She…she looked different.

“Melody…” He managed, his breath coming out harsh and painful.

She paused mid brush, face twisting with anger. “Stop calling my name!” She snapped, tossing the hair comb at his face.

Karl winced, his throat was getting dry and his chest burned with a heat that made him want to rip his clothes apart. What did Melody put in his food?

Why does he feel like his insides are burning and twisting in all directions?

He laid on his back, gasping for air as his hands dug deep into the rug. He was fighting for his life, fighting for a chance at another breath.

“Wh…” he groaned. “What did you put in my food?” he managed, eyes blood shot as he stared at his wife.

His loving wife.

The one he had given up his inheritance for just so he could be with her. The same one he gave his kidney, paid her sister's tuition while working several odd jobs. The same one he had three months of sleepless nights just so she could launch a profitable company that attracted wealthy investors.

The same one he'd discovered was cheating on him two weeks ago with his so-called best friend, Caden.

“You sure know how to ask the wrong questions don't you? She said.

His vision blurred again, what is she saying? What does she mean?

“What…what did you do to me Melody?!” He reached for her ankle but she kicked his hands away in anger.

“Eww! Gross!” She screamed, her face contorted in disgust. “Don't touch me with those filthy hands!

Karl shuts his eyes as his insides seemed to explode with something that was sure to kill him. Sweat beads down his face and his fingers discoloured within minutes. Whatever she gave him, he had only mere minutes left.

“How could you…” he gasped, eyes fixed on Melody in disbelief.

He knew she was sleeping with Caden, he knew that and still, he forgave her, didn't hold it against her. Hell, he even apologised for not being enough for her!

“What did I ever do wrong?” He asked, his breath harsh and hollow now. “I'm hurting Melody. I can't…”

“Die then.” She spat. Her words pierced his heart, his mouth hung open as he stared at the woman he'd loved all his life.

“Melody…” he called. No, she didn't mean that. She's just upset at something he did. She's just mad at something stupid he did and she's acting out. If he could just apologise to her…

“I said die. Die so that my life can be so much easier.” She spat. “I mean look at you, look at me! We were not on the same level, Karl!”

His brows creased in genuine confusion, what does she mean by that? They've been together for six years, married for six months and now they aren't compatible?

“What?” Karl muttered, his heart was palpitating now and the breath in his lungs seemed restricted. He ate the meal she made him that morning and barely seconds later, he's on the floor of their bedroom, fighting for his life.

“I mean I own a company now! It's only fair that I am with someone of the same caliber. And you? You're just a hopeless college dropout.”

But he did that for her. He dropped out so he could help her build her company. He did that to help her..

“And divorce is not going to look good on me either so I figured..” she turned to him. “The only thing you can do for me that I would be grateful for is if you died.”

Karl gasped, her words seeming to float over his head with a dizzy clarity, she never loved him.

“I..I loved you..” he managed, his lips drying up completely and his eyes sunken in.

Melody chuckled, “I never begged you to love me, did I?”

Karl's mouth hung open in shock. He shook his head, no. She didn't mean it. She can't possibly mean those words..

“Babe.”

Karl's eyes followed the voice. Caden, his best friend.

“Caden..I..I don't know what Melody did to..”

Caden wrapped his arm around Melody's waist, his eyes staring down at Karl on the floor with a smirk on his face. Karl's words died in his throat. They were in on this.

“You don't have to exact yourself like this. He isn't worth it.” He placed a kiss on Melody's forehead.

“I know.” Melody cooed, her hands laying flat on Caden's chest as she glanced at Karl's in disdain. “I just hate his guts so much!”

Caden smiled. “You’ll never have to worry about him again after this. “ he glances down at Karl. “When the news hits the media, you're only going to be a young woman who lost her husband. It's only going to draw people closer to you and pique their interest in the company.”

Melody laughs. “I don't look so good in black, you know?”

“I'll find the perfect dress for you. Don't worry..”

Karl's body jerked up as he groaned, his eyes rolling to the back of his head, heat overpowering his body in a way that shouldn't even happen in the first place.

“Caden..how could you..” Karl said, lips trembling.

Caden chuckled. He crotched right next to Karl's with a smirk. “ How could I do what? Uh?”

Karl's mouth opened but words seemed to fail him. His eyes went shut as his screams got louder, fighting for his next breath, his next one minute as his wife and his friend watched like it was another show at the cinema…

How did it come to this? Where did he get all wrong? He'd loved Melody, he'd trusted Caden! What did he do wrong, where did he go wrong?

“Come on, you didn't think things were going to end with just a one night stand with Melody and I, did you?”

Karl reached for Caden but his hand fell limp to his side, his lips completely dry now and face pale. He thought it was a mistake, a one time thing.

He was a fool. He fell in love with the woman everyone had warned him about, trusted her blindly, and gave up a multimillion inheritance for her! He trusted the wrong man, called him his best friend, even forgave him for sleeping with his wife!

Karl gasped for air, his eyes rolling to the back of his head. Beg? No, he won't give them that pleasure. Not after what they've done to him.

Caden leaned in closer. “Melody is one hell of a hottie, you know?” He said, "With a body like that, you really think I'd tap that ass just once?”

Karl glared at him as he drew the very last breath he could muster. If he could rewrite the story of his life, if he could survive this and make this bastard suffer for every word he'd just spat, he'd take that chance!

Caden smirked, “Don't worry. It won't be long now..”

“We have an event to get to, Melody.” Caden announced as he got on his feet. “You don't want to be late, baby girl.”

“Right!” She exclaimed, “I'm ready.”

Caden offered his hand, “Shall we?”

Melody took his hand and the duo walked away with no care in the world for him.

The room went silent as he gasped for air. His own best friend and his wife! God, he’s been so stupid! He was really dying and nobody…nobody in the world knew he was here.

“KARL!” Anna screamed as she hurried into the room.

The young woman knelt right next to him with tears in her eyes and hands trembling terribly as she tried to help him up.

“I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I'm late. Karl? Karl, can you hear me? Karl!” She called as she tried to get him up on his feet, sobbing uncontrollably.

Soon her voice turned into a distant echo, he could barely make out her words but her face..the pain and the fear in her eyes..

How could the only person who cared for him be Melody's assistant? The same girl whom Melody had treated horribly but he'd chosen to ignore because he loved his wife way too much..

“Karl? Karl, please open your eyes, I'm begging you. Karl? I..I'll get you to the hospital okay? Just keep your eyes open okay? Karl? Karl!”

His hand went limp on his side, his eyes going shut.

“If I could choose differently…if I could get another chance…I promise I'll treat you better Anna…I'm sorry..”

~~~~

“MR KARL!”

He jerked back to reality, eyes wide open in horror. What the fuck just happened?!