Once She Came Like a Flash novel Chapter 48

**Title: Faith Didn’t Survive Time – by Aadi Sharma**
**Chapter 48**

“Rence, that’s enough now.”

Adam’s voice was a low rumble, laced with frustration. He finally reached his limit. Rising from his seat with a determined stride, he approached her and wrapped a protective arm around her waist. Casting a quick glance at Jasper, he managed a tight-lipped smile that barely masked his irritation.

“Sorry about this, Mr. Zeller. My wife has a bit of a weakness for alcohol. I’ll be taking her home now.”

“I’m not drunk! Who says I’m drunk?”

Renee’s words sliced through the air, sharp and defiant. Despite her wobbling legs, her mind was surprisingly lucid. The alcohol had chipped away at her usual restraint, and now, she felt liberated enough to express her true feelings.

With a sudden burst of energy, she shoved Adam’s hand away, her voice rising with indignation. “Get your hands off me!”

God, how she despised him in that moment.

The atmosphere was thick with tension until Jasper’s calm voice pierced through the chaos. “It’s getting late. I should be heading out as well.”

His words seemed to act as a catalyst; the other guests, sensing the shift, began gathering their belongings, preparing to leave.

Julian approached Adam, offering a supportive pat on his shoulder, signaling that he would take care of the bill. Adam nodded appreciatively, then turned his attention back to Renee, ready to assist her.

But just as he reached out again, a sudden, piercing cry echoed through the room.

“Oh God, it hurts!”

All heads turned in unison, eyes wide with concern.

Kayla had stumbled on the carpet, her fall abrupt and painful. Hidden within the fibers of the rug was a shard of broken glass, and she had landed directly on it, the sharp edge slicing into her knee.

“Are you okay, Ms. Spencer?” someone called out, panic threading through their voice.

“How did she even fall?” another voice echoed, bewildered.

“Damn, her knee’s bleeding!”

“Somebody help her up!”

In that moment, her gaze reflected a profound sadness, a sense of being utterly lost. She felt heartbreakingly fragile, as if she were a delicate glass figurine, one wrong move away from shattering completely.

“Thank you, Mr. Zeller,” Renee murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she tried to compose herself.

Across the room, Adam was still preoccupied with Kayla, the stark contrast between their interactions painfully evident.

Everything about this scene felt like a cruel twist of fate, a mockery of the love she had once cherished so deeply. It felt as if the universe was laughing at her, ridiculing how trivial it all seemed now.

“Well, at least you didn’t throw yourself at me on purpose,” Jasper teased lightly, attempting to inject some levity into the heavy air.

Before Renee could formulate a response, Adam approached with Kayla cradled in his arms, his expression taut with concern.

“Renee, you should head home first. I’m taking Kayla to the hospital. She’s hurt.”

Renee glanced down at Kayla’s knee. The cut wasn’t severe, just a little blood, and it appeared that by morning, it would likely scab over.

When she met Kayla’s gaze, she caught a glimmer of smug satisfaction in her eyes, as if Kayla were silently declaring, ‘See, Renee? I will always be the one Adam cares about most. You’ll never outshine me.’