I arranged to meet my best friend, Tessa Hartman, in the early evening when I went out to buy groceries. The once mischievous girl had become a well-known journalist.
I handed her the USB drive and the report. She frowned as she flipped through the documents, struggling to contain her anger.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let him get away with this,” she assured me.
I glanced at the man’s face on the report and couldn’t help but gag. Tessa was startled and quickly came to my side, wiping the corner of my mouth.
Clutching her hands, I pleaded, “Please make sure his crimes are exposed.”
Tears welled up in Tessa’s eyes as she nodded. “I will. But you have to take care of yourself before then, okay?”
I shook my head weakly. “It’s too late... I just want to do something for him one last time.”
She clenched her fists in anger and pounded a nearby table. “You’ve done more than enough for him over the years!”
Through tears, I looked up at her. “Because of me, Miles’s life has been ruined.”
She was about to argue further, but my phone rang, interrupting her. I answered, trying to steady myself.
“Miles, what’s up?”
Miles’s tone was light yet laced with a hint of menace. “Does it really take that long to buy groceries? You’ve been out a lot lately.”
I feigned a casual tone. “Are you that clingy? I’ll be home soon.”
His voice turned icy and commanding. “Come back immediately. The house still needs cleaning!”
After hanging up, Tessa was even more furious than I was, ready to fight Miles if he were in front of her. I calmed her down and hurried home.
The floor was littered with trash; everything in the house was shattered and destroyed. I knew this was his way of throwing a tantrum.
Miles played his game as he ordered me to clean up and cook. After washing the dishes in the kitchen, I started sweeping the floor.
An empty paper roll accidentally rolled into the study. I stood at the doorway, hesitating. The study symbolized the tension between Miles and me. He kept his true self in that closed room, allowing no intrusion.
Reluctantly, I bent down, trying to retrieve the paper roll. Suddenly, Miles’s cold voice echoed above me.
“I’ve told you many times not to come into the study. Are you testing my limits?”
I quickly stood up, stammering, “No, it was just the paper roll…”
Like a madman, he grabbed the back of my neck, unlocking the door with a key while shouting, “You want to see? Then see all you want!”
Terrified, I closed my eyes. He forcefully gripped my chin, making me face the chaos within the study. I trembled, tears streaming down uncontrollably. His ragged breathing slowly calmed.
In a shaky voice, I said, “I really didn’t…”
He paused, then pulled me into a tight embrace. My scalding tears felt like they might burn a hole in his shirt. He held me tightly, struggling to speak.
“I’m sorry... but please, don’t come into the study again.”
