Chapter 2

"I've regretted it for three years," Judy continued calmly, right there in front of the entire crowded terminal.

I took a step back, unable to believe that this was the same woman who had stayed by my hospital bed for three straight days and nights three years ago. This was the woman who, on our wedding night, had kissed my scars and sworn in front of my late mother's portrait that she'd cherish me, care for me, and treat me right for the rest of our lives.

Dan wrapped an arm around her waist. He lowered his gaze, while an almost imperceptible smile played at the corner of his lips. It was a smile I'd seen far too often in the photos of him in Judy's album.

"Ma'am."

An airport security guard hurried over, slightly out of breath.

"We received a complaint that someone's causing a disturbance and trying to detain another passenger's luggage."

Judy immediately pointed to me. "It's my husband. He's not mentally stable. He came to the airport, saw me talking to a friend, and just lost his mind."

"Sir, please don't interfere with other passengers' travel," the security guard said to me.

I forced down the bitterness rising in my chest and straightened up, my palms slick with cold sweat.

"I have reason to suspect that there is contraband hidden inside that suitcase. Please assist me in detaining him."

The guard frowned. "Do you have any identification?"

I opened my mouth, but Judy's mocking scoff cut me off.

"He's just a company's guard dog making 600 dollars a month. What kind of ID do you think he'd have?"

Dan chimed in right on cue, his tone a mixture of guilt and innocence.

"I'm a member of Doctors Without Borders, and I just got back from an epidemic zone in West Narlia. The suitcase contains my personal belongings and some medical notes. This gentleman… seems to have misunderstood the situation."

He pulled a credential card from his bag and handed it to the security guard.

After taking a look, the guard visibly relaxed. "Since this credential is from a legitimate organization… Sir, could you please—"

"The credential is fake," I said.

The entire crowd fell dead silent for a second before erupting into even louder laughter.

"Oh, it's fake? Let's see you produce a real one then!"

"Is this guy so mad about getting cheated on that he's lost his mind?"

"His own wife says he's mentally unstable. That poor woman, marrying a lunatic."

Judy's face darkened completely. She strode up to me and lowered her voice, speaking with the air of someone generously offering me one last chance.

"There's absolutely nothing going on between Dan and me. It's nothing like the filthy things you're imagining. Leave with me right now, Joel, and I can give you one last chance."

I didn't budge.

"You're not going to leave?"

She reached out to grab my arm, wanting to drag me along.

"Don't touch me, Judy! My old injury—"

"You're playing that card again?" she snapped, disgust filling her voice. "Last time, when you argued with me over a male student, you pretended your injury flared up and went to the hospital. Now you're claiming that the old injury you got when you took a knife for me is acting up again?"

"If you're really hurt that badly, wouldn't you be resting at home instead of coming to the airport to make a scene?"

Dan stood next to her, one hand resting on the suitcase handle while the other rummaged around inside his bag for something.

The suitcase was very close to clearing the checkpoint.

I braced my hands against my knees and stood up, but I didn't chase after Judy. Instead, I rushed toward the wall next to the security desk, about ten feet away. There, a red button was mounted beneath a clear plastic cover, with a small label printed above it that read, "Level One Biohazard Alarm".

I flipped open the cover and slammed my palm down on the button.

A piercing alarm instantly echoed throughout the entire airport terminal. Red warning lights flashed wildly, and the noisy crowd fell silent for a few seconds before descending into even greater panic.

Dan froze in his tracks. He pulled his hand out of his bag, his fingers visibly trembling.

When Judy realized I was the one who had triggered the alarm, she charged toward me in a rage. She raised her hand and swung it straight toward my face, her palm cutting through the air with a sharp whoosh.