It wasn’t that I couldn’t leave Michael. I had stopped loving him a long time ago. But I knew him too well. I knew how cruel he could be.
Once, I refused to wash Regina’s underwear. I told him I couldn’t do it anymore. I had some pride left, even if just a little. Regina got angry and refused to speak to Michael. He was so frustrated that he snapped.
That night, Michael dragged me out, stripped me completely and locked me on the balcony in the middle of winter. I shivered out there all night until I passed out from a high fever.
When I woke up, he didn’t take me to the hospital. He didn’t even ask if I was okay. He forced me to clean up the bedroom, as if nothing had happened. As if I had done something wrong.
Remembering that, I lowered my head.
I bent at the waist, almost to the ground.
"I’m sorry. It’s all my fault."
But before I could finish my sentence, someone kicked me from behind.
I stumbled forward and hit the counter. A sharp pain hit my forehead and everything spun. I reached up and felt the swelling start to rise.
Tears blurred my vision, but I bit my lip to stop them from falling. I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction.
The only thing I could do was to lie there while my body was shaking. Michael gave me another kick, this time with the back of his foot.
"Hey, I barely touched you. Why are you pretending to be so weak?"
Then, he clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Forget it. I don’t want to waste time on you. Come to the family mansion with me tomorrow and say you want the ring back. But listen carefully, don’t say anything stupid. One word out of place and I’ll make you regret it."
With that, he turned and walked off with Regina, as if nothing had happened.
It took me a long time to sit up. My hands were bleeding. Little pieces of glass and gravel were stuck in my skin. I couldn’t even feel the pain anymore.
I dragged myself to the side of the road and tried to call for a taxi. I just wanted to get to the hospital and treat my wounds. After that, I heard the sound of a car speeding up.
Regina’s car came straight toward me. Before I could react, everything went black with a loud crash. When I regained a bit of awareness, I heard voices.
It was Michael and the doctor.
"Did Evelyn have a miscarriage?"
There was a short silence.
"Forget it," Michael said coldly.