Chapter 2
Johnson finally relaxed his furrowed brow. His tone softened. “I asked Betty to make you some tonic. Come drink a little.”
Before I could respond, light footsteps came from upstairs. A girl in a bathrobe ran down and threw herself into his arms.
“Thank you, John!”
It took me a second to realize–he wasn’t talking to me.
“Adeline, do you not like the gift I bought you? A specialist from Germany recommended it. They said it might help with your condition…”
I didn’t want to hear her voice. I turned and walked upstairs.
Johnson quickly stepped in front of me, tone still gentle for once. “At least say thank you to Julie…”
I looked back. That empty condom box was still next to the gift.
“I didn’t ask her to buy it.”
Seeing Juliette’s hurt expression, Johnson chased after me again. “What are you mad about this time?”
I let out
a sigh. “I’m not mad. Just tired.
Leaving that sentence behind, I didn’t wait for his reaction. I turned into the guest room.
After taking my meds, there was a knock on the door. I locked it. I didn’t have the energy for any of this.
I took off the diamond ring on my left hand and stared at it for a long time. The diamond was small–and fake.
He’d bought it from a roadside boutique when he first confessed to me. We’d come from the same small mountain village. We paid our college. tuition with part–time jobs.
After graduation, we paid the rent and were left with just five bucks. But because I looked at that ring a second too long, he bought it without hesitation.
Later, Johnson made a lot of money. He bought me countless diamond rings. But I never took this one off.
Now, it meant nothing.
I opened the balcony door and hurled it with all my strength. With a soft splash, it landed in the fountain just outside the garden.
The moment I sat back down, my locked door burst open.
Johnson rushed in, panic flashing across his normally calm face.
After I got sick, he kept all the keys in case I ever did something reckless.
Seeing I was safe, most of his panic faded. “Julie knocked. Why didn’t you open the door?”
Maybe I threw the ring too hard–my stomach started to ache again. I sat down on the cushion by the balcony, casually covering the pain. “I didn’t hear.
“From now on, no one comes into my room without permission.
“Not even you.”
I pointed at him. The shock in his eyes didn’t escape me.
Chapter 2
This guest room has rounded corners on every table. No sharp edges. When I spiral, this is the room I lock myself in.
He used to hold me, chin buried in my neck, whispering until I calmed
down.
I couldn’t live without him. I was scared he’d leave.
But now it’s different.
He changed. So did I.
Lying in that hospital bed, listening to the machines beep, I realized a lot.
Johnson stared at me, eyes fixed.
I had no idea how long the silence lasted before he let out a cold laugh.
“All this… just because I didn’t pick up your call?”
