Chapter 5
In the corner, I curled up and drifted off to sleep.
Dreams are full of the promises Frank once made, those sweet vows now gnawing at my heart like a viper.
"Ah!" A scream cut through the silence and I jerked awake.
Sally pales, covers her stomach, and looks at me in horror.
I rubbed my sore shoulders and just tried to get up.
But then she slipped and rolled straight down the stairs.
Bright red blood instantly stained the white floor in a shocking manner.
I panicked and got up without thinking, stumbling towards her.
"Sally!"
I reached out to help her up, but was pushed away hard by Frank, who rushed out.
"There was a thud, and my wrist hit the step hard.
The drilling pain made me black out.
"Ruth, if you want to fucking die, just say so, and I'm telling you, if anything happens to Sally and the baby, I'm going to make you pay for it!"
Frank's voice was cold and piercing, without a trace of warmth.
With Sally in his arms, he brushed past me and rushed out of the villa and towards the hospital.
I sat paralyzed on the floor, my eyes blurred with tears.
I didn't, I really didn't ...
Why? Why won't he believe me?
The sharp pain in my wrist made it almost impossible for me to breathe.
I struggled to my feet and limped down the road.
Despair and helplessness overwhelmed me like a tidal wave.
A black sedan pulls up in front of me and the window slowly lowers to reveal Nathan's worried face.
"Get in the car." He said only two words, not to be trifled with.
I shook my head, my voice hoarse, "No, I can ... do it myself."
He opened the car door straight away and dragged me into the car without a second thought.
Then with a kick of the gas, the car headed in the direction of the hospital.
I leaned back helplessly in my chair and let the tears flow freely.
At one time, I was the little princess who was held in the palm of my hand, and now, I've been reduced to this.
The pungent smell of disinfectant water fills my nose, pulling me back from the chaos.
"What's going on? What the hell have you been through? Why would the doctor say that the tendons in your wrist have ..."
Nathan's voice trembled with suppressed anger and heartache.
I close my eyes and the burning Leafshire sun, the rough twine, the desperate struggle, a scene etched in my mind like a brand.
"I'm fine ..."
I spoke feebly, my voice hoarse as a broken bellows.
"Ruth, what the hell is wrong with you?"
Nathan grabbed my shoulders with such force that he almost crushed my bones.
I cringed in pain, but stubbornly refused to shed a tear.
At one time, I was also a golden girl with ten fingers.
And now, it's being tortured to the point of being inhuman.
"You let her go!"
Frank's icy voice rang out from the doorway with undeniable authority.
He walked quickly to me and pulled me out of Nathan's arms as soon as he could, confining me tightly in his own.
"Frank, let go! You're hurting me!"
I struggled, but he held me tighter.
"Ruth, come home with me."
His voice was low and husky, but he couldn't hide the strength in his tone.
"Home? Is that home? That's hell!"
I snarled as the tears finally broke.
"Come home with me first, we'll talk about it at home, she's fine, I won't blame you!"
Frank's tone softened with a hint of supplication.
I sneered at how ironic the once sweet words now sounded.
"Frank, let's get a divorce."
I said the words calmly, in a firm tone, without a hint of hesitation.
Frank's body jerked and he looked at me incredulously.
"What did you say?"
"I say we get a divorce."
I looked straight at him and repeated it word for word.
"No way!"
Frank roars like an enraged lion.
"Ruth, who are you to say divorce, I ..."
"Enough!"
I interrupted him.
"Frank, from the moment you dropped me off in Leafshire, it was over between us."
I pushed him away as hard as I could and turned to leave without looking back.
Nathan looked at me worriedly, wanting to say something.
I shook my head at him, signaling that I was fine.
I'm getting out of here, out of this place that's scarred me.
I'm going to start over and live for myself.