Chapter 3

Early the next morning, I was rudely awakened by a barrage of phone calls from Nigel.

Groggy, I picked up the phone to hear his weak voice on the other end. "Julia, what the hell did you give me last night? Do you know I had to get my appendix removed because of you?"

Hearing he had an appendectomy, I pretended to be shocked.

"How did that happen? Is it serious?"

Nigel, infuriated by my nonchalance, snapped, "They had to cut into my abdomen for surgery. What do you think?"

"Oh, it's just a minor operation. Why are you so angry? After all, you wanted us to split costs. Getting back at you for my C-section scar isn't too much to ask, is it?"

My words made Nigel scream in rage.

Annoyed by his noise, I hung up and went back to sleep, cuddling my baby.

For the next few days, since Nigel was hospitalized, I took the baby and went back to my parents' house.

My mom, upon hearing what had transpired, wept with red eyes.

Upset that I hadn't been properly cared for, she immediately arranged for me to stay at a postpartum care center.

The very day I moved into the care center, Nigel started harassing me again.

He called incessantly, but I declined every call.

When he realized I wouldn't pick up, he began bombarding me with text messages.

[Julia, where the hell are you? Don't you know I'm getting discharged today?]

[Most wives take care of their sick husbands, but you just disappear. Do you even want this marriage anymore?]

[Julia, you better come back immediately. If you apologize and take good care of me, I'll let this hospital stint slide. Otherwise, you'll regret it.]