CHAPTER 3—The Lesson

I was dragged down the hallway despite my desperate pleas of innocence. My screams echoed against the cold walls.

His stance remains defiant towards me while he attends to my sister. Over his shoulder, a wicked smile crossed Ana’s face as she watched me being dragged. At that moment, I wanted to rip her apart.

I watched as Cole carried my sister in his arms to the hospital; moments later, I was thrown into a dark room, and the door slammed shut.

That night, I was not given any food, and my stomach kept rumbling in hunger. The next morning, a loud bang woke me up. The door swung open.

Cole stood in the doorway, anger written all over his face. Before I could speak, he rushed to where I was, slamming my back against the wall and grabbing me by my throat. “You refuse to know your place, and I am going to teach you." He said coldly.

I tried to fight back, but he was stronger than I am. "Leave me alone." "You want her; you can have her to yourself, all you want. I do not care," I said as I spat on him

“Ana is in the hospital because of you. Are you saying she did that to herself?”

“I already told you, I did not do that to her."

“Can you hear yourself, you liar?" Disgust written all over his face. And before I knew what was happening, the slap came fast. It was more shocking than it was painful. In three years of our marriage, he had never raised his hand against me. The realization hurt more than the blow.

"Cole!" I screamed as I tried to stand on my feet before pain exploded in my abdomen, sending me back to the floor. I curled instinctively, wrapping my arms around my stomach. While I was trying to recover from the first kick, more kicks kept coming. I used my body to cover my stomach, trying to protect my child. When he bent down, he forced my face to look up at him, giving me a blow on my face. After he was done beating me, he said to me, ‘Know your place, Leah. Never in your life ever lay your hands on Ana ever again. He spat and stormed out of the room and closed the door with a bang.

I lay there, trembling, tasting blood, my body aching, but it was my heart that felt shattered beyond repair.

As darkness slowly pulled me under, one thought echoed in my mind: he chose her.

I woke up in the hospital; no one was around, but the pain I felt had subsided. ‘How did I get here?’ I asked myself; just then a nurse walked in. “You are awake, Mrs. Adams." "The doctor said you should rest and you still need to recover. I will be right back." She said as she stepped out.

As I sat on the bed, everything my sister said replayed in my head, and Cole’s betrayal

The door opened softly and the doctor walked in with a clipboard in his hand.

“You’re awake, Mrs. Adams. It’s a good thing you were brought in here on time.”

My throat felt dry. “How… how am I?”

“You’ll have some soreness for a few days,” he said gently. “But physically, you’ll recover.”

I felt relief, then his expression shifted.

“I’m sorry,” he continued. “We did everything we could… but we couldn’t save the baby.”

The room went silent for a moment.

“My baby is gone?” I asked quietly, "I am sorry, Mrs. Adams." the Doctor replied with sympathy

"When can I go back home?” I ask the doctor, “By noon you will be discharged."

By the time I got home, I went straight to my room, my hands mechanically packing my clothes into my suitcase; I could not live in a house where my sister and Cole shared secrets behind closed doors. I was going to sell the jewelry and gifts he had given me for appearances this past few years so nothing reminds me of him. Uncontrollable tears kept coming while she packed. I picked up my phone and dialed my friend Selena. It rang twice.

“Hello?”

“Are you home?" I asked her

‘Leah? What’s wrong?” Selena asked

“Just tell me if you’re home." I replied

“I am, but why? I know that voice, what…” Before she could finish her statement, “I’m coming over.” I told her

“Did something happen with Cole?” she persisted

“I’m leaving." I told her curtly; She took a deep breathe before finally saying

“Does he know?” “He will.”

“You can stay as long as you want," she said quietly. “The guest room’s yours.”

‘Thank you,' I said before ending the call.

I went downstairs to find him. “Here is some document I need you to help me sign." I said, and without reading its content, Cole signed the papers; his expression was indifferent and absent-minded.

That night I silently left my three-year marriage for good, embracing my new life and the chapters to come.