Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Dexter tightened his jaw, clearly taken aback by my request.
23)
“Afraid?” I smiled, rinsing my mouth. “You’ve already tried to kill me, yet now you’re scared to let me meet this woman? After all these years of marriage, let’s not pretend anymore.”
Dexter snapped, “I don’t have an affair.”
I thought, “This man… is completely impenetrable. I shrugged nonchalantly. “Fine, suit yourself.”
But then he quickly changed the topic. “How about posting something on your social media, clarifying that today was just a joke and I’m perfectly fine?”
“I won’t,” I said firmly, brushing past him. I deliberately nudged his arm with my shoulder. “If you’re so upset, why don’t you take it out on me here in the hospital? After all, you’ve almost killed me once already.”
Dexter gritted his teeth. “Sylvia!”
I casually sat down on the edge of the bed. “If you want me to clear things up, fine. You post something too, and I’ll write the caption.”
He stared at me, skeptical. “What are you going to write?”
“Nothing special. Just something to reassure everyone watching from the sidelines that we’re still fine, that our family is stable,” I sneered. “One post in exchange for another–what’s the harm?”
Dexter hesitated, then took out his phone. “You tell me what to write, and I’ll post it.”
“If that’s the deal, I have one more condition.”
“Don’t push it!”
“If you don’t agree, fine. My reputation’s already ruined, and I have nothing left to lose. Do whatever you want.”
Seeing that I was lying down, pretending to be ready to sleep, Dexter started to panic. “Alright, what’s the other condition?” “You stay in the hospital with me until I’m discharged. And every single night, you stay by my side,” I said.
Dexter fell silent. “You still have feelings for me. Why make it so difficult…”
At that moment, I wanted to puke. But I wasn’t about to explain myself to Dexter. “Just tell me if you agree or not.”
“Fine. I agree,” he muttered, clearly frustrated.
I nodded, motioning for him to come closer. We took a picture together, then I had him post it on his social media, no privacy settings–everyone was to see it.
Below the picture, I had him write, [Spending every night with my wife. Happy to keep my promises. Good man.] After he posted it, I checked everything again, then told him to leave the phone on the bedside table and not touch it. I wanted that post to stay up all night so that everyone who needed to see it could.
As the night went on, the room was quiet, except for Dexter and the caregiver. Even with another person in the room, the fear in my chest didn’t ease.
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I forced myself to close my eyes and try to sleep, reminding myself that the sooner I rested, the sooner I could leave the hospital. Dexter kept his word, staying by my side just as I’d told him to.
The rumors about me were still spreading, and I knew I needed to find a way to clear my name.
For the next seven or eight days, Dexter stayed the night at the hospital every night. Then, one evening, just as I finally drifted off to sleep, I heard a sound under the bed.
Dexter was lying on the folding bed next to mine. Even the slightest movement from him made a faint noise. He assumed I was asleep. Getting up, he quietly walked over to my side and gently nudged me.
“Sylvia, Sylvia…” he said.
I squinted, slowly opening my eyes. His face was now right in front of mine, and his gaze was filled with cold, detached contempt. It sent a chill down my spine. This was his true face when he looked at me.
I pretended to be asleep, lying completely still. After a while, Dexter nudged me again, but when I didn’t respond, he seemed to relax and left. I quietly opened my eyes and followed him out.
Dexter had picked the perfect time. The caregiver had just gone out to buy a late–night snack, giving us a thirty–minute window. And since I had been pretending to sleep, no one would know he had slipped out.
The hospital corridor was eerily quiet at this late hour. The stillness made my heart race a little faster. I kept my distance, careful not to get too close, afraid he might notice me.
I saw Dexter take the elevator down. The display on the elevator stopped at the first floor, so I quickly followed. By the time I reached the ground floor, Dexter had already disappeared.
There was a small garden next to the hospital building. I carefully made my way around, taking a side path.
Just as I was nearing the deeper part of the garden, I spotted two figures on a bench in the distance. It was Dexter and that
woman.
I froze with excitement. Behind the bench was a flowerbed where I could hide. They wouldn’t be able to see me from there. I pulled out my phone and started recording, crouching down as quietly as I could.
As soon as I settled into position, Dexter spoke up, “Why did you come all the way out here, so late? Don’t you know I’d be worried?”
“Who told you to stay with that old woman?” The woman’s voice was sweet but whiny. “Why does she get you to stay overnight? What’s so special about her? You’re my husband!”
“Yes, yes, Leah is the best. I’m yours and only yours,” Dexter said, his tone full of indulgence.
I nearly gagged. If he loved her so much, if he spoiled her like that, and still didn’t want to divorce me… Then it was clear- Dexter was scum, through and through. He hadn’t drained me dry yet, so he wasn’t willing to let me go.
I heard the sound of them kissing, and goosebumps prickled my skin. The woman was moaning, completely ignoring the fact that they were in a hospital.
Finally, after their kiss, Dexter spoke again, “We were unlucky this time. We couldn’t finish her off, but we can’t try again. If the police get involved, we’re done for.”
“Fine, I’ll listen to you,” the woman said.
“Good girl.” Dexter laughed. “You’ve put up with so much for me all these years. Once I’m free, I’ll make sure you and our
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baby have the warmest, happiest home.”
“I trust you, Dexter, the woman said.
My vision blurred. It wasn’t because I was sad–it was rage.
They kissed again, and the disgusting sounds almost made me lose it. I quickly switched my camera on, trying to angle the phone so I could capture a shot of them kissing, even if it was just a glimpse.
Suddenly, my legs went numb from crouching, and I lost my balance, crashing onto the ground.
“Who’s there?” Dexter shouted, suddenly standing up.
I froze, my hands trembling uncontrollably.
At that moment, a voice rang out from nearby, “You two, this is a hospital. If you can’t control yourselves, maybe you should go rent a room. You can do a lot more there.”
It was Jeremy. I thought, “Wait, isn’t it his voice that has saved me that day?‘
Dexter didn’t recognize him, but he gave an awkward laugh. “Sorry about that.”
In the dim light, I could just make out a flicker of a cigarette–a small spark of light. I hadn’t expected Jeremy to be a smoker. That surprised me.
“If you’re sorry, then hurry up and leave. You’re causing a disturbance,” Jeremy said sharply.
“Your manners are terrible…” The woman named Leah couldn’t hold back anymore.
Dexter was much calmer. He grabbed her by the arm. “Let’s go. Stop shouting. Do you want to attract even more attention?”
The immediate danger passed, and I let out a breath of relief. But as I tried to stand up, I realized I couldn’t move.
I thought, ‘What now? I have to get back to the room before Dexter returns!‘
In a panic, I saw a large hand appear in front of me. Jeremy was standing there, his eyes intense. “I don’t want to carry a married woman, but this is the best I can do for you.”
I was left speechless. Grabbing his hand, I finally managed to stand up, but a sharp pain shot through my back and hips, making it impossible to walk.
Jeremy sighed and quickly had a stretcher brought over. He had me taken to the emergency room.
It wasn’t serious–just a flare–up of an old injury from crouching for too long. After I had a bit of rest, Jeremy helped me back to my hospital room.
Meanwhile, Dexter was frantically looking for me. When I returned, he immediately confronted me. “Where the hell have you been? Why are you running around at this hour instead of resting?”
I was about to speak when Jeremy handed him a form. “You’re the family member, right? Please sign this. The patient had a sudden health issue and had to be rushed to the ER. Why wasn’t the family member who was supposed to stay with her here
at the time?”
