Chapter 3
For the next three days, Richard was like a madman, frantically searching for the medicine.
He tore through the house, turning everything upside down.
I just watched with icy indifference, not saying a single word.
On the fourth day, he finally broke down.
He asked, "Emily. Where did you hide the medicine?"
Richard blocked the doorway, his eyes bloodshot.
He said, "Are you doing this on purpose? Just to piss me off?"
I kept packing my bag, not even bothering to look up.
"Why should I tell you?" I replied coolly.
"I'm your husband," he shouted.
"So what?" I shot back.
I looked up, meeting his eyes calmly.
"So you think being my husband gives you the right to steal the meds that keep me alive?" I shot back.
"I didn't steal anything," Richard shouted, his voice shaking with anger.
He was fuming, practically about to explode.
He said, "I was just worried you'd leave it lying around."
"Well, it's safe with me now. You don't need to worry anymore," I replied coolly.
I brushed past him and walked out.
Richard suddenly grabbed my arm.
"You have to get the medicine back, now," he demanded.
My arm hurt from how hard he was gripping me.
I shook off his hand, my voice icy.
"Richard, let go," I said coldly.
"No. You're not going anywhere until you explain everything," he shouted.
There was a crazed look in his eyes.
"Are you cheating on me? Is that why you're acting like this?" he shouted.
I scoffed, unable to hold back a bitter laugh.
"Don't flatter yourself," I said.
Richard yelled, "Why are you so different now? You never used to be like this.
"You used to be so gentle, so caring. Now you look at me like I'm some kind of enemy."
I paused, staring straight into his eyes, and said each word slowly, "Maybe it's because I've finally seen your true colors."
Richard just stood there, speechless.
I pushed him away and walked out without even glancing back.
Behind me, I could hear him smashing things in a fit of rage.
With a blank face, I stepped into the elevator.
My phone buzzed. It was a text from Rachel.
Rachel: [Emily, Richard's been in a bad mood lately. Did you two fight?]
[He told me he really misses how you used to be.]
[Emily, don't be so willful. Richard's really having a hard time.]
One message after another, all that fake nice-girl crap.
I scoffed, fingers flying as I fired back a reply.
I sent: [Rachel, my husband's business isn't your problem.]
[And delete his number. Don't ever contact him again.]
I hit send.
Her reply came back almost instantly.
Rachel: [Emily, you've got it all wrong. Richard's just my teacher, that's all.]
Emily: [Oh, really? Since when do teachers and students need to text each other until midnight every day?]
I kept typing.
Emily: [Or do students usually send their teachers messages like Goodnight, Mr. Coleman, muah?]
[Or ask them to buy gifts for you?]
She went quiet.
After what felt like forever, she finally texted back.
Rachel: [Emily, did you snoop through Richard's phone? That's kinda messed up, don't you think?]
Emily: [Between husband and wife, there are no secrets.]
[But you? Instead of studying as you should, you spend all day flirting with a married man. Do your parents even know what you're up to?]
Rachel replied: [You!]
Her true colors finally showed.
Rachel: [Don't push it, Emily. Richard chooses to talk to me; it's not like I'm forcing him.]
I replied: [Oh, then by all means, keep chatting.]
I kept my cool as I typed.
[But just so you know, I've already screenshotted every single message. I'll send them straight to the dean and let everyone see how Mr. Coleman really cares for his students.]
Once I hit send, I deleted her contact without a second thought.
My phone started blowing up again.
It was Richard calling.
He said, "Emily! Are you out of your mind? You actually threatened Rachel?"
He was absolutely losing it.
"She's just a kid. How could you be so cruel?" Richard yelled.
I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at the word husband on the screen.
How ironic.
For his side chick, this man would call me cruel.
He'd even steal the meds that keep me alive.
He wouldn't even blink if I dropped dead right in front of him.
I picked up the phone, my voice eerily calm.
I said, "Richard, since when is twenty-three still a kid?
"So what does that make you at thirty-eight? Some dirty old man?"
"You!" Richard was so mad he could barely get the word out.
"Just so we're clear, I didn't threaten her," I said, my voice icy.
I let out a cold laugh.
I said, "I'm just stating the facts. Your chat history is really something."
"Emily!" Richard shouted, his voice trembled with anger.
He said, "If you actually send those out, I swear I'll."
I asked, voice dripping with sarcasm, "Or what? Gonna divorce me?
"Go ahead, I've been wanting out anyway."
With that, I hung up.
My heart raced.
But it wasn't fear; it felt amazing.
I'd been bottling it all up for way too long in my previous life.
This time, I was going to live for myself, no matter what.