“You little—!” Michael shouted. Losing his balance, he stumbled, and Emily used the split second to climb onto the couch, putting furniture between them.
“Help! Help!” she shouted at the top of her lungs, hoping the neighbors would hear through the thin walls.
Michael recovered and advanced, his eyes wild. “Scream louder!” he laughed derisively. “No one’s coming.”
“Wrong!” a voice thundered from the hallway.
It was Sarah.
Emily looked at her friend as if she were an avenging angel. Tears of relief streamed down her face. Sarah stood in the doorway, focused and alert, holding a canister of pepper spray in her right hand—a gift from Kevin “just in case.” Now was that case. Hearing Emily’s screams from the stairwell, Sarah had yanked the unlocked door open and charged in.
“Emily, you okay?” Sarah asked, her eyes locked on Michael. She quickly dialed a number with her free hand, never lowering the spray. “Come up,” she said into the phone, then hung up.
“I’m fine now,” Emily nodded, shaking.
“How’d you get here?” Michael hissed, backing away slightly.
“This is private property, and you’re not welcome,” Sarah announced, stepping into the room. “Leave, or I’m calling the cops.”
Michael was furious. He’d spent so long plotting this moment, and this woman had ruined it.
“Go ahead,” Sarah said firmly. “You can tell them why you attacked my friend.”
“What attack?” Michael shrugged, instantly composing himself into a mask of innocence. “We’re old lovers; it’s just our games.”
“Liar!” Emily shouted, her voice breaking. “You disgust me! I would never touch you!”
“Never thought you were such a hypocrite,” Michael sighed bitterly, adjusting his shirt. “Five minutes ago, you were begging me to sleep with you, but now that your friend’s here, you’re the proper married woman again.”
“Shame on you,” Sarah shook her head, not buying a word of it. “I know my friend. She’d never sleep with a lowlife like you. But she did sleep with your brother, so even the best make mistakes.”
Sarah eyed Michael, keeping the spray aimed at his face. “Emily, how long to pack?”
“Twenty minutes,” Emily replied quickly. She edged toward the door, watching Michael warily.
Just then, Kevin entered, filling the doorway with his reassuring bulk. Seeing his wife with pepper spray raised, he asked, “Need help?”
“Kevin, keep this guy from bothering us while Emily packs,” Sarah requested, stowing the spray but keeping her hand on it.
“Got it.” Kevin crossed his arms and blocked the doorway, letting Emily pass.
Michael knew he was no match for Kevin physically, so he slumped onto the couch and turned on the TV, feigning indifference. It was a pathetic attempt to regain control, acting as if the people in the room didn’t exist. Better she leaves,he thought, masking his humiliation. He’d tell his mom and brother that Emily came onto him, and he kicked her out. Let her try proving otherwise.
Fifteen minutes later, the friends emerged with a suitcase.
“All set?” Kevin asked.
“Not quite,” Emily looked at Michael, who was pretending to watch a game show. “You said there’s proof of James’s guilt in this room.”
“You misheard,” Michael muttered, avoiding her gaze.
“No, I didn’t,” Emily said firmly. “I need it. The hospital records.”
“Buddy, hand it over,” Kevin threatened, stepping into the room.
Michael jumped up, realizing he was cornered. He flipped a dining chair and ripped a large folder taped to its underside. He tossed it onto the table.
“This it?” Kevin asked sternly, picking up the papers.
“Yes,” Michael said, his voice trembling.
“If you’re lying…” Kevin raised a fist, leaving the threat hanging. “Girls, let’s go.”
They hurried out, followed by Kevin. Outside, Emily inhaled the fresh air, clutching the papers tightly. It wasn’t the dashcam, but it was proof of James’s faked disability. Maybe it would help Ethan in court.
“Guys, thank God for you,” Emily said, her voice thick with gratitude.
“And you for us,” Sarah hugged her.
“Enough standing in the open,” Kevin said, loading Emily’s suitcase into the trunk. “Let’s go home. We’ve got something to celebrate.”
Just then, a tall, beautiful woman approached them from the sidewalk.
“Emily, hello,” she said, her voice steady but tense. “I need to talk.”
Emily looked at her. She had never met Lauren in person, but she instantly knew who she was. The air of entitlement was unmistakable.
“I’m listening,” Emily said firmly. She felt Sarah step up beside her, shoulder to shoulder.
“I’m Lauren,” the woman introduced herself. “Your husband’s friend.”
“You mean mistress?” Emily corrected without missing a beat. “Let’s call it what it is.”
“If it makes you feel better,” Lauren shrugged indifferently. She wasn’t here to argue semantics. She wanted to set things straight. She was tired of being the secret, tired of being second.
“What do you want to talk about?” Emily asked, exhausted. Suddenly, she didn’t care. She just wanted a shower and a bed.
“Emily, let’s go to the park,” Lauren nodded toward the small park across the street—the same one Emily used to wheel James to. “It’s awkward discussing personal stuff in the courtyard.”
“No way,” Sarah objected immediately. “Talk here.”
“She’s right,” Emily said, glancing up at the apartment windows. Michael was watching them from behind the curtains. “Let’s go.”
“Emily, but…” Sarah tried to protest.
“Sweetie, let them talk,” Kevin said gently, putting an arm around his wife. “They need this.”
“Fine,” Sarah sighed, yielding. She glared at Lauren. “We’ll be nearby. Whatever you’re planning, it won’t work.”
“Don’t worry,” Lauren said calmly. “I’m not here to hurt your friend. I just need to talk.”
Emily walked the path, sensing Lauren’s tension. But what kind of rival was she now? Emily and James were done.
Suddenly, Emily wanted to warn her. “Lauren, did you know James recovered from the surgery?”
“Yes,” Lauren replied quietly. “I knew from the day he got out of the wheelchair.”
“Got it,” Emily sighed. Apparently, everyone knew except her.
Guess the wife really is always the last to know—about the mistress, the recovery, all of it. Oddly, Lauren walked silently beside her, twisting the strap of her purse. This started to annoy Emily. Why call for a talk and then say nothing?
“Emily, here’s what I wanted to discuss,” Lauren said finally, stopping by a wooden bench. She sighed, her breath hitching slightly. “As I said, I’m your husband’s friend.”
“Just say what you want,” Emily stopped abruptly and faced her.
“I need your help.” Lauren seemed on the verge of tears, her composure cracking.
“Lauren, what’s wrong?” Emily scanned for a bench, sensing the other woman’s legs were about to give out. Guiding her to the nearest seat, Emily looked at her intently. “Tell me what’s bothering you.”
“Emily, please let James go,” Lauren pleaded, suddenly grabbing Emily’s hands. Her grip was desperate, clammy. “Understand, I’m pregnant with his child.”
“Congrats,” Emily smirked, though the word tasted like ash. Children were a sore subject. Married to James for three years, she’d dreamed of kids. But he was adamantly against it, preaching that they needed to live for themselves, get stable, build savings. Emily had listened and agreed, proud of his responsible approach to parenthood. After the accident, kids were the last thing on her mind.
“Congratulations,” she forced out again, pulling her hands away.
“If only,” Lauren’s eyes welled up. “We can’t be together because of you.”
“What do you mean?” Emily looked at her, stunned. This she hadn’t expected.
“Emily, stop blackmailing James,” Lauren begged, a tear sliding down her cheek. “We’re having a child soon, and he needs to be there.”
“Who’s stopping you?” Emily stared at her. “I just packed my bags. I’m done.”
“You!” Lauren broke down crying. “You’re keeping James by your side. Yes, he wronged you, but that’s no reason to blackmail him. I want my child to grow up in a full family with a mom and dad.”
“Go ahead!” Emily shrugged. “But why on earth do you think I’m blackmailing him?”
“He told me,” Lauren said, sniffing and wiping her face. “He said you threaten to hurt yourself if he leaves. He wants a child, but you can’t give him one.”
“What nonsense?” Emily muttered, her jaw dropping.
“Yes,” Lauren continued, ignoring her shock. “James said you’re infertile. Understand, my man doesn’t trust you. He keeps documents and things at my place so you won’t find them and destroy them in a rage.”
Emily looked at Lauren thoughtfully. He keeps documents at her place? What if the dashcam was at Lauren’s apartment? Now she needed an excuse to get there. But first, she had to shatter this woman’s delusions.
“Lauren, I’m telling you seriously,” Emily said, her voice firm and level. “I am not holding James. I am not infertile, and I have never threatened suicide. If he wanted to leave, he could have walked out the door any day.”
“I don’t believe you,” Lauren shouted, shaking her head. “He wouldn’t lie about that!”
“Emily, you okay?” Sarah approached rapidly, seeing Lauren’s near-hysteria and stepping between them.
“Lauren’s pregnant with James’s kid, and apparently, James is lying that I’m infertile and threatening suicide if he leaves,” Emily explained chaotically, throwing her hands up.
“What a jerk,” Sarah cursed, running out of polite words for her friend’s husband.
“By the way, does James know you’re pregnant?” Emily asked suddenly.
“No, I was going to surprise him today,” Lauren replied, wiping her eyes with a tissue Sarah handed her. “But he went to the retreat with his mom. I begged him to stay, but he said he couldn’t because his mom spent so much on the vouchers.”
“His mom?” the friends asked in unison, exchanging glances. Lauren didn’t notice their surprise. She was convinced James was unhappy in his marriage, trapped by a manipulative, unstable wife.
“Lauren, I’m sorry, but James is lying to you,” Sarah said gently.
“I don’t believe you,” Lauren repeated mechanically.
Emily looked at this beautiful, miserable woman and understood her. Just days ago, she’d blindly loved and trusted James, too. It was like looking in a mirror from the past.
“Listen, I’ve got an idea,” Kevin approached, having overheard the last part. “Let’s go to James at the retreat.”
“Why?” Sarah was surprised.
“Lauren, can you tell James you’re pregnant while we watch?” Kevin looked at her. He saw her face change, tears giving way to a hopeful smile.
“I’m in,” Lauren said, pleased. “He’ll be so happy.”
“But first, we need to discuss the details,” Kevin said thoughtfully.
Lauren looked at him curiously. What was he on about? Surely James would be thrilled to learn he’d be a father. Whatever his wife said, the fertility issue was with Emily. She was just trying to smear James to push Lauren away.