The walls began closing in around me as my hands gripped the table for support, gasping for air.
“Sasha… Sasha, can you hear me?” The doctor’s faint voice boomed inside my head, but I was too lost in my own world.
What was happening to me?
A warm hand jolted me back to reality, and I snapped my head up.
The doctor’s worried face loomed close, and I gasped.
“Umm…” I swallowed hard, feeling tears prick the corners of my eyes. “I’m fine. Thank you for your concern, but I have to go.”
“Are you sure? I mean, if you insist, we could run more tests for clarity,” the doctor said, his eyes soft with pity.
I snatched my bag from the table and walked toward the door. I wanted nothing more than to leave this place immediately.
When I reached the door, I could feel the doctor’s gaze burning into my back. My hand hovered over the doorknob before I spun around.
“Yeah, let’s do that,” I said with a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “And please don’t tell anyone else, including my husband, until things are settled.”
The doctor’s shoulders slumped, and he exhaled. “You have my word.”
“Thank you.” With a curt nod, I turned on my heels and exited the office.
The moment I stepped out from the car, I could see men dressed in black suits scattered around Claire's house, and my chest tightened.
My first instinct was to leave, but I found myself walking toward the house.
“Mistress, welcome,” they all chorused in unison, and I swallowed hard.
“Where is she?” Marcus’s voice rang with a dangerous edge, and fear gripped my chest.
“Where is she, goddammit? If you don’t start talking, you won’t like what I’ll do to you,” he groaned.
“Oh my God, Claire!” My blood ran cold, and I ran inside the house.
Claire's house was scattered with objects spiraled out on the floor. My eyes landed on Marcus, who had his grip on Claire, who struggled against him.
“Claire!” I gasped.
Marcus’s eyes snapped wide as he let Claire go. She quickly put some distance between them, eyeing him with suspicion.
“Babe.” Marcus sighed with relief as he flashed a smile at me.
“Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
My fists tightened as I stared at him. “Was that why you trashed my best friend’s house?” I stood there in disbelief.
Marcus’s eyes narrowed at me, clearly shocked beyond words by my behavior.
This was the first time I was raising my voice at him, and he didn’t look pleased with this development.
“Why haven’t you been answering your phone? I’ve been calling you all day,” Marcus asked, striding over to me.
His eyes were red. Was he so worried that I left?
“I was busy,” I snorted, wanting to walk past him to meet Claire, but he forcefully grabbed my arm.
“Busy doing what? I thought we both agreed that I’m supposed to be your top priority. I came back from work this morning, and the house was empty,” he frowned.
Was that what he was furious about? That his little birdy had left its cage and he just couldn’t bear to see me free?
I flung my hands away from his grip. “So what? You get to do what you want, but I can’t? Marcus, you really are something.”
Marcus’s eyes widened in a daze. I rarely addressed him by his name. I guess he was shocked to the teeth.
Marcus turned swiftly to Claire, who flinched under his gaze. “What did you do to my wife?” he gritted through his teeth.
Claire shrank further inside when he attempted to march over to her, but I swooshed in, blocking his path.
“Marcus, can you stop acting this way? Claire is my friend. You’re scaring her. Please leave,” I said firmly.
Marcus stumbled forward. “What did you just say to me?”
“I said leave,” I repeated firmly, but Marcus let out a scoff.
“Sasha, you really are something. I came here to take you home, and you’re chasing me like I’m some pest. I’m your husband. Don’t you think these words are too hurtful?”
Marcus’s voice went low, and if my eyes weren’t open, I would have fallen for this trick.
“I’m not going home with you. I wish to stay here with my friend. I promise to—”
“That’s not happening…” Marcus’s brows knotted with a dangerous groan.
Why was he so pissed off? Wasn’t he supposed to be happy that I was no longer in the house? At least now he could be free to do whatever he wanted with his mistress.
“Why? Besides, you’re always busy with work, so I figured I’d stay here until the workload goes down,” I lied through my teeth, hoping he would believe my lies.
For a moment, I actually thought he was going to get mad, but his face softened. He pulled my face to his.
“If this attitude is about me working late, I promise to cancel and reschedule. No more late hours. That’s good, right? At least we’ll spend more time together.”
Disgust washed over me. The way he looked me straight in the eyes and lied in my face without a single thought made me even madder.
“Marcus, it’s fine. Thanks, but you don’t need to do that. We’ve been married for a while... I… I…” I stuttered, trying to find the right words to say. “I just need space.”
“Space? What space?” Marcus hissed. “Look, Sasha, I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I won’t leave until you agree to go home with me.”
The anger boiled in my chest. “I said I need space.”
Marcus opened his mouth to speak, but his phone broke the conversation. His eyes fixed on me as he fished inside his pocket.
When his eyes met the name on the screen, his body became tense. I took this chance to peek, and I saw Layla’s name.
If he had plans with his mistress, why was he out here disrupting my peace? It’s like he couldn’t bear to see me happy.
“Marcus, if you’re busy, then there’s no need for you to force yourself. Please leave.”
“Nice try, but I’m not letting you off so easily,” Marcus smirked, and I stumbled back. His hands swooshed me up from the ground until my stomach was against his shoulders.
“Marcus, put me down,” I huffed, wiggling my legs in the air.
