Chapter 2

Half an hour later, the locksmith and the ambulance arrived almost at the same time.

I told the locksmith to wait outside.

The medical staff lifted Grant onto a stretcher and carried him out.

Ashley was dumbfounded. "What are you doing? Where are you taking him?"

"To where he needs to be," I said coldly.

Once the medical staff had taken Grant away, I tossed the small bag to Ashley. "His stuff is all here."

While Ashley stared at me in shock, I told the locksmith, "Sir, you can start now."

I shut the door right in front of Ashley.

The old lock was taken out and a new one put in. It took less than ten minutes.

The locksmith handed me a fresh set of keys. "All done."

"Thanks," I said while paying him. I didn't look at Ashley once the whole time.

I leaned on the door and listened to her banging and yelling outside until her voice went hoarse and turned into quiet sobbing.

Then I went back into the quiet living room.

I collapsed onto the couch, feeling completely exhausted.

I didn't cry at all. All I felt was a chill rising from deep within my bones.

My phone wouldn't stop ringing; it was Ashley calling.

I shut it off without a second thought.

Soon, it was dark outside. I left the lights off, letting the darkness consume me.

*****

It wasn't until midnight that I powered my phone back on. The moment it came to life, a familiar overseas number started blowing up my screen.

It was Benjamin.

I watched the phone light up and go dark over and over. After it rang more than ten times, I finally picked up.

"Lillian, have you lost your mind?" Benjamin shouted the moment I picked up, his voice crackling with anger. "My mom has been stuck in the hallway for three hours at 14 °F. Are you trying to freeze her to death?"

Every word dripped with blame and fury, as if I had done something terrible.

I held the phone and suddenly laughed. It was a quiet laugh, but cold and sarcastic.

"Benjamin," I said in a low voice. "Did you ever think about how I was stuck here taking care of your paralyzed dad and putting up with your mom while you were abroad marrying your first love?"

There was dead silence on the phone.

For a full thirty seconds, he said nothing. His breathing grew loud and heavy.

He was rattled.

"How did you find out?" His voice was hoarse and trembling.

"If you don't want me to find out, you shouldn't have done it in the first place," I said.

I couldn't be bothered to argue with him. My tone held no accusation, only certainty.

"Lillian, I can explain. It's not what you think," Benjamin said, stumbling over his words.

I cut him off. "Benjamin, I don't want to hear your excuses. I only have three things to tell you.

"First, I've dealt with your parents. Your dad is in a hospital, and your mom is there taking care of him. I'll send you the address later.

"Second, I'm putting this house up for sale soon and getting ready to split the property.

"Third, my lawyer will contact you tomorrow."

After speaking, I hung up without waiting for his response. Then I blocked his number right away.

After that, I finally felt some of that bottled-up anger in my chest ease up a bit.

However, a few minutes later, someone was banging on the door like crazy. "Lillian, open the door."

It was Ashley. Her voice was hoarse, seething with hatred.

"You crazy bitch. Where the hell did you send Grant? If you dare hurt him, I'll make you pay." She kept yelling and kicking the door, making loud noises.

I went to the door and peered through the peephole.

The hallway light was on. Ashley looked messy, her hair loose, her face angry and twisted.

Several neighbors opened their doors a little and peeked outside.

I couldn't let her keep making trouble.

I opened the door.

Ashley didn't expect me to open the door and paused for a second, then rushed at me angrily. "I'll kill you, you—"

I didn't flinch.

Right as she rushed at me, I held my phone up. The call screen was already on.

"Hi, 911? I want to report an emergency," I said, my voice steady but clear enough for everyone in the hallway to hear. "Yeah. Someone is making trouble at my door, kicking it violently and threatening me.

"Yes, I've got you on speaker. You can hear everything live."

Ashley stopped mid-step, her fierce expression collapsing into stunned fear. "Did you call 911?"

"Yeah. You heard it." I shot her a cold glare. "Aren't you saying you're the victim here? Well, let's see how the officers will help you."

The neighbors who were watching quickly pulled back and shut their doors.

Her face went pale and then flushed. She cared a lot about her reputation and hated dealing with the police.

She'd always assumed I was a pushover she could manipulate, but guess what? I was done being one.

The officer's voice came through the phone. "Ma'am, stay calm. We've already sent officers over. Please keep yourself safe."

"Okay, thank you," I replied.

I hung up and looked at Ashley. "Now, you can keep going."

Ashley's lips trembled, but she couldn't get a single word out.

She was scared.

*****

Within ten minutes, two officers came upstairs. "Who made the call?"

I raised my hand.

The officers looked me over, then glanced at Ashley, who stood aside looking like she'd lost a fight, and at the luggage scattered all over the hallway. One of them asked, "What's going on here?"

I gave them a quick rundown, skipping over Benjamin's bigamy. I only said it was a family dispute and that Ashley was lingering at my door, harassing me.

"Sir, this is my house. I have the right to keep her out," I said, my tone firm and confident. "She's been out here in the middle of the night, kicking my door and screaming. Everyone in the building heard it. Isn't that illegal?"

I spoke clearly and logically.

Ashley tried to argue, but she wasn't good with words and could only resort to throwing a tantrum.

"She sent my husband away, and now he's missing," Ashley shrieked.

"Ask your Benjamin. He knows exactly where Grant is," I replied indifferently.