Henry howled in pain, his gri on Billy instantly loosening. I seized the opportunity, yanking our son from his grasp and pulling him safely against my chest. My hand gently stroked Billy’s back as he continued to cough, tears streaming down
is flushed face.
“It’s okay, baby,” I whispered, my voice shaking with anger and ear. “Mommy’s got you. You’re safe now.”
Henry stared at his bleeding arm in disbelief before his gaze lifted to me, eyes blazing with fury. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you a dog? Every time we fight, you bite!”
Blood dripped from the fresh wound onto the polished floor, adding to his previous injury that hadn’t yet healed.
“What’s wrong with me?” I spat back, still cradling Billy protectively. “You just held your son upside down until he couldn’t breathe! What kind of monster does that to a child?”
“I was teaching him discipline!” Henry insisted, pressing his hand against the wound to stop the bleeding. “Something you’ve clearly failed to do!”
“Discipline?” I laughed bitterly. “This isn’t discipline. This is abuse. And if you ever–ever–lay another finger on him like that again, I swear I will kill you.”
The murderous intent in my voice must have registered, because Henry actually took a step back. Something flashed in his eyes–not just anger, but genuine surprise. Perhaps he was finally seeing the real me, not the docile, accommodating woman he’d married.
“You’ve changed,” he said quietly. “The woman I married would never-
“The woman you married was a fool,” I interrupted. “She let you walk all over her for five years. She’s gone now.”
Henry stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke, his voice eerily calm. “Bandage this
for me.”
I blinked, thrown by the sudden change in subject. “What?”
“My arm,” he clarified, gesturing to the bite mark. “It needs to be cleaned and bandaged. Come upstairs.”
I almost laughed at the absurdity of his request. “You think I’m going to help you after what you just did?”
His eyes narrowed dangerously. “If you don’t, I’ll press charges for assault. Imagine spending a few days in jail while your son waits outside with no one to-”
The hatred in my eyes stopped him from continuing.
“You wouldn’t dare,” I whispered my voice trembling with anger
Henry didn’t respond, but something in his face had changed. Behind the anger, I glimpsed confusion, maybe even hurt.
Was he actually wondering what had happened to the woman who had loved him unconditionally for years?
Without another word, he turned and headed upstairs, clearly expecting me to follow.
1
Chapter 115.
I looked down at Billy, who had finally stopped coughing but was still trembling against my chest.
“Sweetie, are you okay?” I asked softly, brushing tear–streaked hair from his forehead.
He nodded weakly. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to make Dad so mad.”
“This isn’t your fault,” I assured him, kissing the top of his head “None of this is your fault.”
As I comforted my son, a chilling realization washed over me.
People who once loved each other couldn’t simply live as acquaintances in the same city. The familiarity bred either renewed affection or festering hatred–there was no possibility of peaceful coexistence.
Perhaps leaving New York entirely was my only option now.
After settling Billy, I reluctantly followed Henry upstairs. As I mechanically treated his injury, I stared at his face, remembering how just days ago, this same man had rushed to my rescue, heroically confronting Thomas when he tried to force himself on me.
I wondered if Henry’s concern for me was possession or love?
Henry watched my face intently as I worked, his uninjured hand lifting slightly as if to touch my cheek. I immediately pulled back, blocking his advance.
“Don’t,” I warned.
His hand dropped, and we continued in silence, I deeply realized that the gap between us was wider than ever before.
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