Michael immediately turned around and hugged her tightly. He promised her a vacation to the Maldives, bought her new jewelry and transferred money into her account. All while I was still on the surgery bed, bleeding.
They acted like I wasn’t even there.
After that, my phone rang.
The sound cut through the cold silence in my heart. I saw the name on the screen and, for a brief second, the pain in my body seemed a little easier to bear.
I answered quickly, just to say I was safe. I didn't want anyone to worry.
But when I looked up, Michael was staring at me with suspicion.
"Who was that?"
"Someone from the Purnell Family."
Michael didn’t look surprised.
"Don’t tell them anything. I mean it."
He didn’t ask anything else after that. In his mind, I had no friends, no one who could help me. After we got married, Michael made me cut off all my social connections. No parties, no work, no friends. My world became smaller and smaller, until only he and his family remained in it.
I didn’t want to stay and watch the two of them flirt anymore. I picked up my phone and tried to leave the room. But as soon as I stood up, I felt dizzy. My vision blurred and before I could fall, Michael caught me from behind.