3.

I wasn’t shocked when Adrian kicked me awake the next morning. “Get up and get inside before the neighbors see the trash all littered out here,” he snapped.

He didn’t even wait for me to answer. He straightened his cufflinks and left for the office like nothing happened.

I lay there for a while, shivering. My body ached everywhere, sharp stabs in my side with every breath. It felt like someone had scooped out my insides and filled me with ice.

When I finally managed to crawl inside, I grabbed my phone with trembling hands. I called Lina. My voice cracked. “Please… can you come? I feel like I’m going to die.”

She came as fast as she could and pulled me into her car. I remember the sound of her panicked voice, but my eyes kept closing. By the time we got to the hospital, I had already fainted.

When I woke up, Lina was sitting by my bed, clutching my hand like she was afraid I’d slip away again. Her eyes filled with tears the second I stirred. “Thank God,” she breathed. “I thought you were gone this time.”

I groaned as I tried to sit up, every muscle screaming. Maybe death would’ve been easier than this.

“Where’s Adrian?” I croaked, noticing the wires and machines strapped to me.

Lina’s face darkened. “How can you even ask about him? That man hates you. He doesn’t care if you live or die. Why can’t you see it?” Her voice rose until it cracked. “Leave him, Emily!”

I couldn’t answer her. I had given him years of my life. And what did I have to show for it? No child. No love. Nothing but scars.

The doctor told me I had pneumonia from being out in the cold too long. He gave me pills and painkillers and told me to rest.

I left the hospital with Lina begging me to stay at her place, but I shook my head. She had already done enough for me. I swallowed the medicine, trying to push the pain aside.

When I got home, the door was locked. My key was missing.

I tried calling Adrian. Once. Twice. Five times. He didn’t answer. His secretary swore he was at the office. Finally, after begging her to pass him the phone, he came on the line.

“Adrian, please,” I whispered. “I just came back from the hospital. I think I lost my key.”

His laugh was sharp and cruel. “Then maybe you should’ve died there. Don’t bother asking for another. I changed the locks. You think you can vanish for days and play sick? Don’t insult me, not everyone is as stupid as you are Emily.”

The call ended with the click of his contempt. My hands shook as I lowered the phone. So I’d been lying in a hospital bed, fighting for air, while he was busy locking me out of my own home.

I walked to my father’s house. Mr. Hargrove, the butler, opened the door. Laughter carried from the sitting room before I even stepped inside.

“I knew she was a tramp,” my stepmother’s voice rang out. “How many days gone without a trace?”

“Yes. Adrian told me everything. She’s a disgrace,” my father’s voice added, heavy with disgust.

When I entered, both of them fell silent. My father rose, his face twisting at the sight of me. “How dare you show your face here?” he spat.

I looked at the two of them and knew there was no point explaining. I only needed a place to rest until Adrian came home.

“So now you’re mute on top of shameless?” my stepmother sneered.

“I was in the hospital,” I said softly. “Pneumonia. Adrian left me outside in the cold.”

“You liar!” my father roared. “Adrian would never hurt you. Look how he treats Kira.” His voice thundered, each word striking like a whip.

Why did I even come here? My father had hated me for as long as I could remember. Ever since my mother died on that hospital bed giving me life, he hadn’t looked at me the same. He used to love her before her tragic passing and somehow all of his anger landed on me as he insists I ruined things by choosing to come to his life.

I left without another word. The street felt kinder than that house.

I should’ve gone to Lina’s, but she’d already done enough.

My phone buzzed. It was my boss.

“Emily, where are you? We’ve got a client waiting. This deal is important.”

“I’m sick, Mark,” I said.

“We can’t afford to lose this one. Please, just come in, they asked for you by name.” His tone was desperate.

I sighed. I was the best videographer at the company. Even sick, I was needed. So I went.

At the office, A small group was waiting in the conference room… a tech startup looking to launch their brand with a flashy campaign.

Mark introduced me, and I pulled up old clips and edits I had worked on. The CEO leaned forward, intrigued, asking me questions no one else in the room could answer.

By the time I finished walking them through a mock storyboard, their minds were made up.

“Let’s sign,” the CEO said. “We want her on the project.”

The deal was worth more than I earned in months.

Mark clapped me on the shoulder as they left. “You saved us, Emily. I don’t know how you do it.”

Mark exhaled in relief. “We nearly lost them. Thank God you showed up.”

I forced a small smile. Funny how my talent meant so much here, yet at home, I was nothing.

I stayed late to plan the campaign with Mark. My body screamed in protest, but I pretended to be fine. At nine, I finally left, hoping Adrian would already be home.

On the way, my phone vibrated. A message from Lina flashed across the screen.

Please come, Emily. He won’t stop. I need you.