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Chapter 3
Because I hadn’t been answering calls.
I had just finished nursing our daughter at the postnatal center and was
about to put her to sleep when the door suddenly flew open.
It was my mother–in–law, Victoria.
She rushed in, her voice trembling:
a
“Freya, why haven’t you been answering your phone? William’s at the
embassy, practically losing his mind!”
“Come home with me right now. Bring Eric’s passport and documents-
we have to get to the embassy immediately and confirm what’s
happening.”
William was my father–in–law.
I didn’t respond right away. I calmly said six digits: “2-1-0-6-3-0.”
She froze.
I carefully tucked the blanket around my daughter before slowly
explaining, “That’s the code to the front door. If you need his
documents, you can get them yourself.”
Victoria’s hands trembled.
“Freya, how can you be so cold? Eric is in a war zone–his life’s in
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danger.”
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“He sent a group message asking for help. He’s been shot in the leg and is hiding in a stranger’s home, trying to dodge gunfire!”
“I know you just had surgery and need time to recover, but this is an
emergency. Can’t you just come with me to the embassy, just once?”
She was shaking all over, looking like she might break down at any
second.
I still spoke calmly. “I knew he was injured. Before he sent out that mass
message, he had already sent me several desperate pleas for help. I
didn’t reply.”
Victoria staggered, nearly losing her balance.
I looked at her, and I won’t deny I wavered a little inside.
After all, for the past seven years, she had treated me well. During the
years I was without a mother, she had filled that void.
But all of that had already been destroyed–by Eric himself.
I took a USB drive from the nightstand and handed it to her.
“This is a recording of the conversation between me and Eric that night.
Watch it first, then we’ll talk.”
Victoria took it with trembling hands. When the video ended, she
collapsed to the floor. Her lips quivered for a long time before she
finally managed to speak.
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“Freya… you have to believe me. Nothing ever happened between Eric
and Aria.”
I still couldn’t harden my heart completely. Even though the pain from
my C–section was still sharp, I forced myself to get out of bed and
helped her up.
Just like that day when Eric left–I had already gone into labor, my
water had broken–but I still softened and handed him his passport
and bank card.
I said gently, “I know nothing physical happened between him and Aria.
But the fact that he was willing to leave his wife and unborn child
behind to fly into a war zone for her–that says everything about his
choice.”
“He was willing to let my daughter be born without her father. He was
willing to let me face the surgery alone. A man like that should be held
accountable for his decisions.”
As I spoke, Victoria’s face grew paler and paler. In the end, she didn’t
argue further.
Maybe even she couldn’t find a reason to convince me.
She finally gave up and stood up, her body trembling. “You… get some
rest. I’ll leave now.”
She walked out the door looking like she’d aged ten years in an instant,
stumbling as she went.
Although I truly felt sorry for her, I still called out before she could
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leave completely.
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“Victoria, let me know sometime this week when you and William can
move out of that apartment.”
They had been living in a property I had fully paid for, ever since I got
married.
Victoria turned back, exhaustion written all over her face.
“Do you really have to rush this? Can’t you wait a little?”
I shook my head.
“Did Eric wait? When he left, he didn’t even take me–whose water had
already broken–to the hospital first. He just flew out of the country.”
“I just want all the marital property matters settled before he comes
back.”
