I stared at it. The smell turned my stomach. But I didn’t speak. I didn’t have the strength to argue.
The doorbell rang before he could press further. A few of his friends came in, faces drawn and tense. He handed me the bowl, told me to rest, and disappeared into the study with them.
….
As soon as the door closed, I poured the medicine down the sink. The black liquid swirled away, like everything else between us.
Then I heard voices.
“Dominic, Loriana’s in trouble,” one of them said. “Her family’s forcing her to marry someone else. The wedding’s in two days.”
There was a crash probably a cup hitting the wall. Then silence.
And then his voice, “I won’t let that happen!”
Someone laughed, nervous. “What are you saying, man? You’re going to stop the wedding?”
“She’s your ex. You have a wife. A baby coming.”
“You’re gonna ruin yourself for her?”
“What about Rosie?”
“What about your kid?”
Their voices tangled together, all confusion and disbelief.
Then his voice cut through, colder this time. “I’ll handle it. She won’t find out.”
A pause.
“And if she does?” someone asked.
“So what if she does?” he said, almost amused. “She loves me too much to ever leave.”
Outside the door, I couldn’t move.