Chapter 3

I blocked the number.

But the next day, a text came from a new one.

"I know you're at the design firm."

"After work, I'll be waiting downstairs."

"You don't come down, I come up."

A bare, open threat.

My hands and feet went cold.

I didn't want to see him.

I didn't want to look at that face ever again.

Quitting time came, and one by one my coworkers left.

I dragged it out until I was the last one, then made myself walk out of the building.

Simon's car was parked at the curb.

He was leaning against the door, smoking. When he saw me, he crushed the cigarette out and came toward me.

He'd lost weight. Blue stubble on his jaw, a worn look to him.

"You've been doing well for yourself."

His tone carried a thread of mockery.

"New phone, new job. Aren't you resourceful."

I had no patience for this.

"What do you want?"

"What do I want?"

He said it like he'd heard a joke.

"Andrea, we're not divorced. You're my wife. You tell me what I want."

"I've already filed for divorce. The summons should reach you soon."

His face darkened.

"You really have to make it ugly like this?"

"Simon, you and me, this should have ended a long time ago."

"Ended?"

He grabbed my wrist, gripping hard enough to crush the bone.

"It's not over until I say it's over."

"You're coming home with me."

He hauled at me, trying to drag me to the car.

I fought with everything I had.

"Let go of me! Simon, let go!"

"Don't make me hit you."

There was a warning in his voice.

I could smell the heavy liquor on him.

As we struggled, a car pulled up beside us.

Terry got out.

"Let go of her."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was steady.

Simon saw him and narrowed his eyes.

"Who the hell are you?"

"I'm her friend."

Terry came closer and tried to pull us apart.

"She doesn't want to go with you. Show some respect."

"Friend?"

Simon let out a cold laugh, his gaze sliding back and forth between me and Terry.

"Andrea, look at you. Lined up the next one this fast?"

"No wonder you were dead set on the divorce. You've got someone on the side."

His words cut like knives.

I was shaking with rage.

"Simon, you bastard!"

"I'm a bastard?"

He yanked harder on my arm.

"You're carrying a belly out to here and still fooling around out here? Have you no shame?"

The moment the words were out, both Terry and I froze.

He'd seen it.

He'd seen my belly.

His eyes filled with shock, disbelief, and then a towering rage.

"Andrea! Whose bastard is that in your belly?"

He roared it, his hand already rising to strike me.

Terry caught his wrist just in time.

"Mr. James, please, calm down!"

"Calm down? My wife is carrying another man's kid. How am I supposed to calm down?"

Simon was like a man gone mad. His other hand came swinging at me.

Terry shoved me behind him and took the blow for me.

The fist landed on his shoulder with a dull thud.

"Get the hell out of my way!"

Eyes red, Simon threw himself at Terry, and they grappled.

I was terrified, screaming at them to stop.

A crowd of gawkers slowly gathered around us.

I felt the dull ache start up again in my abdomen.

I couldn't stay here.

While they were still tangled together, I turned and ran.

"Andrea! Stop right there!"

Simon's roar came from behind me.

I didn't dare look back. I ran with everything I had.

I don't know how long I ran, until I couldn't hear his voice anymore.

I braced myself against a wall, gulping air.

My phone rang. It was Terry.

"Are you okay? Where are you?"

His voice was ragged with breath.

I gave him the address.

Soon his car appeared in front of me.

He got out. There was a bruise at the corner of his mouth, and the shoulder of his shirt was rumpled.

"Get in."

I got in the car, and the tears came whether I wanted them to or not.

"I'm sorry… I dragged you into this…"

"It's got nothing to do with you."

He started the car.

"He didn't hurt you, did he?"

I shook my head.

The air in the car was heavy.

It was a long time before he spoke again.

"He doesn't know you're pregnant?"

"No."

"So he thinks…"

"Yeah."

Terry didn't say anything more.

He drove me back to my apartment building.

"Go up and rest first. I'll go buy some medicine."

I looked at the cut at the corner of his mouth, sick with guilt.

"Dr. Gilbert…"

"Call me Terry."

He cut me off.

"Andrea, you don't need to apologize to me."

"Protecting you is only right."

His eyes were completely serious.

My heart skipped a beat.