He thought about the painting he saw at the
gallery. A sense of dread washed over him.
Before, he was happy that Sarah was alone in
the world, that she had no family or friends, no
one to rely on but him. That’s why he thought
she’d always come back. The butler had told
him about the disconnected number and he
didn’t care.
“Unless she died out there, she’ll be back.”
<
The butler was shocked, “Do you think she’s
dead?”
He scoffed, of course not, if she were dead, the
cops would call. But it had been almost a year and he hadn’t heard anything from her.
Today, seeing the painting, he felt his heart skip
a beat. The woman in the painting looked so
much like Sarah, but so unlike her at the same
time. She was vibrant, full of life. Sarah was the
opposite, she was like still water. He always felt like he could bend her without her ever pushing back. He remembered seeing her crying by the
greenhouse, and when he walked by, she’d
hide, like a cat. He never liked that about her,
the way she was so quiet.
He was going to buy that painting, and hang it
in her room, hoping it would change her. When
Ben told him, “This is my favorite painting of
my wife, I can’t sell it,” Liam felt a tiny bit
better, like it couldn’t be Sarah in the painting.
11:55
1
Still, he needed to find her now. She had been mad long enough, it was time for her to come
home.
54
He got annoyed, and turned to his bodyguard. “Find my wife! Bring her home.”
Liam’s bodyguards showed up at my apartment
while Ben was setting the table for dinner. When he opened the door, they rushed inside. Ben stopped them.
“Who are you looking for?” The bodyguards looked at me, standing there with a spatula. “Mrs. Sterling, Liam sent us to bring you back.‘
دو
It had been almost a year, but I still flinched when I heard that name. “That’s not her, she’s my wife.” Ben pushed the bodyguards back. They looked at each other, and one pulled out his phone. “Mr. Sterling, she is married.”
Liam arrived way too fast. He was standing
there in minutes. The bodyguards moved, and
Liam tried to get around Ben, but he wouldn’t
move.
“Get him out of my way!”
“Liam, you’re in my house, and you can’t take
my wife.” Liam finally looked at him. “So,
you’re the one who painted the portrait of my
wife. I want an explanation.”
“Explain what? We got married, she’s my legal
wife.”
Liam looked at me. “Sarah, you little rebel. You
ran away and married this guy behind my back?
Come back, and I’ll pretend this never
happened.” He held out his hand. Every time he
did that before, I grabbed it without hesitation.
But I stayed put.
“Liam, I gave you the ring, and we’re done.”
<
“Done? My family took you in and took care of
you. You think you can just ditch me like that? Are you crazy?” Liam was turning red, Ben wasn’t fast enough, and Liam charged. He grabbed my arm, I felt my wrist pop. “Go file a divorce now! You want a certificate? Go get one!”
I slapped him. The room went silent. Liam’s
face twisted like he couldn’t believe what I’d done. “Liam, get out of here! I left your house and I don’t want the certificate anymore! I’m done with you. Leave us alone.”
“I won’t leave you alone, you were raised in my family, and I won’t let you leave.” He picked me up. He was halfway to the door when the
evator opened, Ben’s bodyguards were there.
“Mr. Sterling, if you take her, I’ll have you
arrested for kidnapping. Do you think I can’t
protect my wife?”
imaninaal thin
<
I was freaked out. I never imagined this would
ever happen. I always thought he’d be happy
that I was gone.
I don’t know how the fight started, all I know is
that it was a mess. Ben was beating Liam up.
When it was over, Ben’s face was cut.
“Old man, maybe fighting is not for you, leave
that to the young folks.”
I grabbed his sleeve, scared that Liam would
retaliate. Liam had never been in a fight, he
looked awful. His bodyguards were also beat
- up. “You guys should go. Leave us alone.” |
dragged Ben inside.
He was touching his face. “Honey, he hits hard,
do you think I’ll have a scar?” I took out the
first aid kit. “Don’t call me that. Let me get
some medicine on you.”
I leaned in, and he turned his head and kissed
<
- me. “That feels better. When Liam was here,
you didn’t stop me from calling you ‘honey‘,
why?” I handed him the antiseptic.
“You said we were just faking a marriage.”
Ben grinned. “I wanted some legal rights to you,
so that Liam won’t take you away.”
“That was a scam!”
