Chasing Light Through Darkness By Caleb Snow 23

Chasing Light Through Darkness By Caleb Snow 23 Summary

 

The narrator wakes up in a hospital bed, overwhelmed by intense pain and sorrow. Her mother-in-law is by her side, expressing sympathy and promising to confront the woman who has come between her and Javier, the narrator’s husband. Despite their complicated relationship, the narrator and her mother-in-law had grown close over three years of caregiving, but now the mother-in-law is determined to protect her son’s interests and status.

 

Later that day, the mother-in-law sends a video showing her violently slapping Milena Sanders, Javier’s new love interest, warning her to stay away. Soon after, Javier arrives with Milena, and tension erupts. Javier angrily accuses the narrator of trying to manipulate him through his mother, demanding she apologize to Milena by slapping herself. Instead, the narrator slaps Javier, declaring that Milena can have his “Mrs. Gayle” title if he loves her.

 

Javier retaliates by threatening to ruin the narrator’s reputation, revealing a humiliating photo of her that Milena has already posted online. Milena then leaves angrily, and Javier chases after her. Rumors and insults quickly spread about the narrator both in person and online, painting her as disgraceful and unworthy.

 

An hour later, Javier returns with divorce papers, his demeanor softened. He apologizes for his earlier anger and explains that Milena is difficult to handle. He asks the narrator to agree to a divorce temporarily, promising they will remarry once Milena calms down. After a moment of hesitation, the narrator quietly agrees, accepting the painful decision.

 

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Chapter 3

A relentless ache pierced my chest, stabbing over and over like a cruel, unending torment. The pain was so intense it felt as if I were trapped in a dark, endless abyss with no escape.

When I finally opened my eyes, I found myself lying in a hospital bed, the cold sting of an IV needle embedded in my hand. The sterile white walls around me felt suffocating, and the faint hum of machines filled the quiet room. Sitting beside me was my mother-in-law, her face streaked with tears, her expression heavy with sorrow.

“My poor child,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I’m so sorry you’ve had to endure so much. But don’t worry—I’ll stand up for you. I’ll handle that woman myself.”

For three long years, I had cared for her, never leaving her side until she regained her health. In that time, we had grown close, almost like a real mother and daughter, sharing moments of tenderness and understanding.

My nose tingled as tears threatened to spill, but I forced a calm smile. “Since he’s found his true love, I guess it’s time to let him go,” I said softly.

Her eyes filled with worry, but she quickly masked it with a reassuring smile. “You’re such a silly girl. Even if my son broke your heart, you still need to hold on to his money and status.”

She clenched her fists, determination flashing in her eyes. “I’ll deal with that shameless woman myself. Let’s see if she can keep acting so arrogant once I’m done with her.”

Before I could respond, she stormed out of the room, her anger palpable in the air she left behind.

That very afternoon, my phone buzzed with a new message—a video from her. In it, she was slapping Milena Sanders fiercely, her hand connecting hard enough to leave Milena’s cheeks swollen and red. The warning was clear: stay away from Javier.

No sooner had I finished watching the video than Javier burst into my hospital room, Milena trailing behind him. Milena’s eyes were rimmed with red, but her voice was icy as she confronted him.

“I want to see how you handle this,” she challenged. “You promised to stand up for me. Now prove it.”

Javier’s face twisted into fury. He grabbed me roughly by the neck and shouted, “You think you can use my mom to control me? Saina, are you trying to mess with our marriage certificate now?”

I was too weak to resist. Tears blurred my vision as I stared at the man who had become a stranger to me, someone I no longer recognized.

Even if I insisted I had nothing to do with any of this, I knew he wouldn’t believe me.

Grinding his teeth, Javier spat out his next command, “Slap yourself. Keep going until Milena is satisfied. That’s your apology.”

Summoning the last shred of my strength, I slapped him instead. “You love her, don’t you? Then she can have your precious ‘Mrs. Gayle’ title!”

For a moment, he froze, stunned by my words. Then his anger erupted like a storm.

“If you don’t slap yourself, I’ll ruin your reputation completely!” he threatened.

He pulled out his phone, revealing a humiliating photo of me surrounded by adult toys—a scene that would shatter any woman’s dignity.

To protect his mistress, he didn’t just destroy my honor; he tore apart his own as well.

Milena looked at him coldly and said, “I already posted it online. If you can’t leave her, then don’t bother coming back to me.”

With that, she stormed off, feigning anger. As expected, Javier dashed after her.

Within thirty minutes, whispers filled the hallway outside my hospital room.

“That’s her? Wow, who would’ve guessed? She must have some wild appetite, buying all that stuff.”

“Tsk, tsk. Looks like Javier couldn’t satisfy her. What a shameless woman.”

“Probably why she’s in the hospital—overdoing it. Can’t even control herself anymore. What a disgrace to the Gayle family.”

The online world was even harsher, with insults pouring in and people urging Javier to divorce me.

An hour later, he returned, clutching divorce papers. This time, his face was devoid of anger. Instead, he leaned close to my forehead, his voice soft and almost gentle.

“I’m sorry for losing my temper earlier,” he murmured.

“Milena has a bad temper and likes to control our relationship. You’re more understanding than she is, so please, just let her win this time. You both mean the same to me.”

His eyes glistened with unshed tears as he pleaded, perhaps afraid I would refuse.

“She’s hard to calm down. Let’s get a divorce for now, okay? Once she’s feeling better, we’ll get married again. Please?”

His vulnerability struck me, and after a moment’s hesitation, I whispered, “Fine.”

Conclusion

 

The chapter closes on a poignant note of heartbreak and resignation, capturing the fragile threads of love and betrayal that bind the characters. Saina’s endurance through humiliation and pain reveals the depth of her emotional struggle, while Javier’s torn loyalties and vulnerability expose the complexity of their fractured relationship. The raw emotions, from the desperate pleas to the cold manipulations, paint a vivid picture of a love caught in the crossfire of jealousy and power.

 

Despite the turmoil, there is a subtle glimmer of hope woven through the sorrow—a tentative understanding that even broken bonds might find a way to mend. The chapter leaves us suspended in a delicate balance of despair and possibility, reminding us that love’s light can sometimes flicker through the darkest shadows, waiting for a chance to shine again.

 

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

 

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the fragile and tangled emotions that bind Saina and Javier. As Javier’s conflicted heart wavers between two women, the lines between love, loyalty, and betrayal blur even further. Readers can expect to witness the raw vulnerability behind Javier’s seemingly cold decisions, as well as the simmering tension that threatens to ignite into something far more explosive.

 

Meanwhile, Saina’s journey is far from over. Her quiet strength and resilience will be tested as she navigates the storm of public humiliation and private heartbreak. The shadows cast by jealousy and manipulation grow darker, hinting at difficult choices and painful confrontations ahead. Will Saina find a way to reclaim her dignity and sense of self, or will the weight of betrayal crush her spirit completely? The emotional stakes have never been higher, and the next chapter will reveal just how much each character is willing to sacrifice in the name of love.