Chapter 2
The refined and cultured scholar from five years ago had vanished.
All that was left was a wounded beast, its dignity torn apart.
I took out my phone, tuning out his angry yelling.
I searched through my contacts and found the number I needed.
It was the building security office.
The call went through almost instantly.
I said, "Hi, this is the owner of unit 1101 in Building A.
"There's a stranger outside my door, banging and making a scene. Can you send someone over to deal with it?
"Yeah, I don't know him at all.
"Alright, please hurry."
After hanging up, I continued telling the story to Lara.
I said, "A girl met a big bad wolf.
"The wolf disguised himself as her Grandma and lay in bed.
Lara looked up at me and asked, "Mommy, why did the wolf pretend?"
I looked into her eyes.
"Because his belly is full of greed," I replied.
The shouting and cursing outside the door didn't stop.
Another woman's voice cut in. "Alban, please, don't do this. Let's just go to a hotel..."
Her voice was young and clear.
I remembered her.
Five years ago, Alban had pointed her out to me.
"This is my PhD student, Irene Tucker. She's really talented and will be coming with me overseas this time," he said.
Back then, Irene had stood right where she was now.
She lowered her head and gave me a shy smile.
"Hello, Mrs. Massy," she said.
Now, she was standing there again.
She was trying to talk Alban down, telling him not to act crazy and bang on my door.
It was quite ironic.
About five minutes later, the pounding and cursing outside were suddenly cut off by the crackle of a walkie-talkie.
The security guards had arrived.
I heard the serious voice of one of the guards.
"Sir, who are you? The owner has reported you for causing a disturbance," the guard said.
Alban's voice responded, defensive and unyielding.
He said, "This is my house. My name's Alban Massy. I'm the owner.
"Tell Camille to come out. I'm her husband!"
The guard's reply was cold and businesslike. "Sir, we've checked. The only owner on record for this apartment is Ms. Fairbank.
"Her file says she's divorced.
"If you don't leave now, we'll have to call the police."
Outside, Alban's voice was abruptly cut off.
The world was quiet again.
I turned another page in the storybook and kept going. "Then, the hunter came and cut open the wolf's belly."
My phone buzzed.
It was a text message from an unknown number. [You're really heartless, Camille. Let's talk.]
I barely glanced at it before deleting the message.
Then I blocked the number.
There was nothing to talk about.
The moment he walked out of my life five years ago, everything between us ended.
That was the end of it.
That night, Lara had trouble sleeping.
She would occasionally wake up, whispering for me.
I stayed by her side, gently patting her back.
I knew the afternoon's chaos had really scared her.
As I looked at her sleeping face, my heart felt cold.
I couldn't believe that Alban had the audacity to do this.
He vanished for five years without a word, then came back like nothing happened and turned our lives upside down.
The next morning, I took Lara to kindergarten.
When the elevator doors slid open, I froze.
Alban and Irene were standing inside.
They were blocking the way.
Alban looked like he hadn't slept a wink. His eyes were sunken and bloodshot, and his suit was all wrinkled.
Irene stood behind him, looking just as rough, holding a bag of takeout breakfast.
They looked like they'd been standing there all night.
We locked eyes.
The air in the elevator froze.
Alban's gaze was like a knife, cutting right into Lara.
Lara hid behind me, trembling with fear.
I pulled Lara close, my face cold as I stared him down.
"Move," I said coldly.
Alban didn't budge. He locked his gaze on me, cold and relentless.
"Who is her father?" he demanded.
His voice was rough and hoarse, like sandpaper.
"That's none of your business," I shot back.
"I'm your husband. I have a right to know!" he shouted.
I arched an eyebrow. "The paperwork says divorced, security told you, remember? Or did you forget?"
He was so choked up he turned pale.
"That's just paperwork. We never actually got divorced!" he yelled.
"As far as I'm concerned, you died five years ago," I said coldly.
Irene gently tugged at his sleeve from behind.
"Alban, please, don't cause a commotion out here..." she pleaded.
Alban jerked his arm away from her.