And now I knew. His scars had already been healed—by another woman.
The moment Benjamin saw me, he froze. Then, instinctively, guiltily, he tugged at the apron.
"Maud... what are you doing here?"
Behind him, Elise's face appeared. Her small features were pinched with anxiety as she peered at me.
"Professor's wife... no... Miss Fox, what are you doing here?"
Tears welled in her eyes as she stepped in front of Benjamin, shielding him.
"Miss Fox, if you need someone to take your anger out on, just hit me. Professor Delgado only did all this to help me..."
Benjamin looked at her with aching tenderness, then turned on me.
"Maud, how can you be so heartless? Elise's family is trying to force her to marry the thug who assaulted her. All I did was step in to protect her. Can't you show a shred of compassion?"
"No!"
My voice trembled with fury.
"If she's so pitiful, that's between her parents and whoever hurt her! She could have said no! She could have called the cops! Why should I be the one to sacrifice my marriage and my happiness?"
"Unless..."
A sob crept into my voice.
"Unless none of it ever happened. Unless you two were already together, and that's why—"
The slap came before I could finish.
Benjamin stood with his hand raised, face twisted in rage. "Don't you dare talk about her like that! I already told you—Elise and I are only getting married on paper! Why do you insist on twisting everything into something ugly?"
Our shouting drew a crowd. Neighbors from upstairs and downstairs poked their heads out, gathering on the landing.
Someone turned to Elise and Benjamin. "Elise, who is this? What's her relationship with your husband?"
Elise stammered, her voice small. "She's his... ex..."
The look on her face said everything she didn't—wounded, long-suffering, victimized.
Understanding dawned on the neighbors' faces. They turned to me with open disgust, and one of them actually shoved me.
"They're about to get married! You're still chasing after someone else's husband? That makes you the other woman! You look decent enough—have some shame!"
"Exactly! Someone get a photo of her! Post it online!"
I laughed—a sharp, bitter sound—and slammed my suitcase down in front of them.
"Benjamin, why don't you tell them who the real other woman is?"
The suitcase popped open on impact. But Elise let out a shriek and crouched down.