Chapter 3

Edward went through hell to pull me out of my family.

He helped me prepare for all the exams we needed to study abroad, guided me through the visa process, and even split his hard-earned tuition savings with me.

But his family was fiercely against us.

To force us apart, they cut him off. He lost his life of luxury and, to save money, moved with me into a cramped, windowless basement.

Life was hard back then, but we were happy.

We brushed our teeth together in the morning, shared cheap lunches, and held each other for warmth at night.

In those days of poverty, even plain water tasted sweet.

Looking back now, I sometimes wish we could have stayed in that basement forever.

"Ms. Summers? Ms. Summers?"

A doctor's voice pulled me from my reverie. I snapped back to the present and took the prescription he was holding out.

It had been three days since I moved out. But my insomnia had only gotten worse.

I ran into Emily at the pharmacy.

She saw me and put on her usual mask of wide-eyed innocence.

"Ms. Summers? What brings you here?"

Before I could reply, she brightened with fake understanding. "Oh, I know. It's about the baby, isn't it? Don't be too sad. You can't force these things. If it's meant to be, you'll have another one."

I stepped back, abruptly cutting her off.

"Don't worry. There won't be another. Ever."

Just then, Edward appeared with a grim expression, holding a bottle of spray.

Emily turned, smoothly taking the spray from him, and glanced back at me with a shy smile. "It's just a minor sprain. Edward insisted I get it checked."

I blankly averted my eyes, paid for my medication, and turned to leave. But Edward suddenly grabbed my wrist, snatching the bag from my hand.

"You're sick? Can't sleep?" Edward asked, his brow creased with what looked like genuine concern. "You're way too young for that. How did this happen?"

Impatiently, I yanked the bag back, casting a sharp glance at how close they were standing. "Worry about your girlfriend clinging to your side, not me."

"Jo! Are you done making a scene?" Edward barked.

His voice rose, his face contorting with anger.

Even now, he still thought me moving out was a stunt, a bid for attention.

From the day I left until this second, he hadn't bothered to figure out where I went or what I'd been doing. He was just waiting for me to crawl back.

I sighed and tucked the meds into my bag. "If you've got time to play chauffeur, use it to sign the divorce papers."

"You!" Edward snapped, face flushing with anger.

But instead of blowing up, he reined in his anger and grabbed my wrist again.

"You haven't slept, so you shouldn't drive. I'll take you home."

Emily's face fell, but I refused.

"No, thank you. Your work is more important. I'll get home on my own."

Anyway, the place I was going back to wasn't the home I used to share with him.

*****

After my father died in a car crash, he left me money and a house.

The same house where I had been beaten countless times was now my only refuge.

I turned to leave, looking small and alone. Edward's eyes brimmed with something like regret.

But before he could catch up, Emily went pale and grabbed his arm.

"Edward, I... I think my blood sugar's crashing..."

Before the words were even out, her knees buckled. Then she fell straight into his chest.

He scooped her up and rushed away, not sparing me a single backward glance.