Chapter 3

But the slap never landed.

Not because he couldn't bear to hurt me, but because everyone was watching, and the respectable university professor could not bring himself to hit a woman in public.

He jabbed a finger against my forehead, forcing my head backward.

"Do you know what happens when you make a false emergency report? Arrest. Fines. You may have no shame, but I do!

"You're an office assistant making three thousand dollars a month. What right did you have to press that button? Do you understand what you've done?"

He truly didn't know.

He had never cared about my work or once asked what I actually did.

Whenever I came home late, he only said, "What could possibly keep you busy at that worthless job?"

For three years, I had been nothing more than a useless ornament in his world, dependent on him and supposedly kept alive by his money.

"Sir! Ma'am! Clear the area!"

The airport biosecurity response team rushed from a restricted corridor in full protective equipment, pushing a sealed mobile testing unit.

The security supervisor ran ahead, his radio crackling.

"Control, Level One alert activated in Zone A3. No visible release at this time. Requesting verification support."

Celeste stood rigid beside the gate, her suitcase trapped inside the secured corridor by the emergency barrier.

Panic crossed her face for less than a second before her composure returned.

She even gave the response team an understanding smile.

"Supervisor, I'm a credentialed Doctors Without Borders physician.

"This woman is involved in a private marital dispute. She blocked my exit and maliciously activated the biosecurity alarm."

The terminal supervisor examined her documents, then looked at me in plain clothes with a bloodless face.

He was clearly intimidated by the paperwork and turned on me sternly.

"Ma'am, a federal inspection area is not the place to settle a domestic dispute."

Damien faced the biosecurity team leader and adopted the calm authority of a university professor.

"Officer, I'm sorry. My wife has been emotionally unstable lately. She may have done this because we argued...

"I apologize for the disruption. This is all a misunderstanding."

"That woman is completely insane. She accused a doctor of carrying a biological weapon, and now we're all trapped here."

"I feel terrible for the doctor. She risked her life helping people and came home to this."

"If I were her husband, I would've divorced that lunatic years ago. Someone should shut her up."

I listened as my nails dug into my palms.

The emergency team was following protocol. They needed my ID before initiating a specialized inspection.

My phone had shattered when Damien shoved me.

Without it, I couldn't contact my supervisor.

Without my credential, the team had no reason to recognize me.

Damien stepped closer and lowered his voice.

"Kneel down, apologize to Celeste, and admit you did this because you were desperate for my attention.

"Then I might use my position at the university to help get you released after the police take you in."

Kneel.

Apologize to Celeste.

I looked at the face I had once loved and, for the first time in three years, found it terrifyingly unfamiliar.

"Damien."

My voice was quiet and even. "I gave you one last chance to walk away from her."

"Are you threatening me?"

He laughed with open contempt.

"It isn't a threat."

I looked directly into his eyes. "From this moment on, you will be legally responsible for every choice you make."

Celeste listened from beside him, impatience flashing in her eyes.

With a click, she opened the combination locks and raised the lid for everyone to see.

"Since you're so desperate to look, then look.

"Everyone here can be a witness. When you find nothing prohibited, I'll make sure she spends years behind bars."