"You have two days to prepare yourself for this performance that you… no, no… we have to do in front of the media."
Discussing something with his secretary, Damon started to leave but turned back to me.
"Will you stay there in that house, or will you come to our home tonight?"
That's not my home—it's his house. My home is where my family lives. I wanted to say this aloud, but the words got stuck in my throat. Who knows what he would do if I dared.
"I'll go to my parents' home," I said hesitantly, careful not to irritate him further.
"Okay, my driver will drop you there."
Jack cut in immediately.
"We have our own car. We don't need your charity."
Damon chuckled.
"Who's even talking to you? I'm saying that to my wife."
With that, he left the room.
The moment he was gone, my tears—barely held back until now—spilled down my cheeks. Mia came to hug me, and I sobbed hard in her arms.
I knew that except in matters of Noah, I'd always been the strongest person in my family and among my friends. But when it came to him, I was weak. I wanted to be cared for. And now, I was broken.
That evening, I was discharged. Mia helped me into the car Damon had arranged, insisting on coming with me. Jack drove separately behind us.
The moment I stepped inside my home, my mother rose from the couch and raised her hand to slap me.
But Mia was quick—she caught my mother's hand mid-air.
"Mrs. Williams! Are you insane? What are you doing? Can't you see her condition?"
"Because of her, today we were in trouble—at the edge of death!" my mom shouted, her voice trembling with rage.
"Stella has always liked you more than me, and I know that," she continued bitterly. "But do you have any idea how scared Stella is right now? Go see her yourself in her room!"
I clenched my fists. Yes, Stella is sensitive, too young for all this trauma. But if you know she's scared, shouldn't you be by her side instead of yelling at me?
"Mom, if you know she's scared, then you should be with her right now, not here yelling at me."
I turned to my dad, hoping for support. "Dad? At least you…?"
Without waiting for his response, Mia and I hurried to Stella's room. She was trembling under her blanket.
"Stella… Stella, are you okay?" I whispered, gently caressing her head through the fabric.
"Emily… is that… really you?" her small, cracking voice came from under the covers.
"Yes, Stella, it's me. Your sister Emily. And Mia's here too. We're here, don't be scared anymore."
I forced myself not to show any hurt. I didn't want her to see my pain. This was all my fault.
"I'm sorry, Stella. Because of me, you suffered so much today. Forgive me." Tears slipped from my eyes.
Slowly, Stella peeked out from under her blanket, then got up and hugged me tightly.
"It's not your fault, Emily. It's the situation you're in. I'm just afraid… because of you, you know? Don't be sad anymore, okay? I'm alright," she said, her sweet, childlike voice melting my heart.
She kissed my cheek, then hugged me again.
For the first time in days, I smiled. This—this tiny moment—is the only good thing that has happened.
"Awww… only because of Stella do I miss having a sister of my own," Mia said softly, joining our embrace.
The three of us hugged tightly, as if we wouldn't get another chance.
I tucked Stella back into bed, worried that Mom's tantrums would disturb her again. As Mia and I returned to my room, Mom's sharp voice pierced the air.
"Seriously, Jack? She's married now?"
"Mom, for God's sake… you know the circumstances. He threatened her—with our entire family, with Mia!" Jack shouted back.
"I don't know anything, Jack. She can't live in this house anymore," my mom declared coldly.
"No one's going anywhere. Liz, stop this nonsense," my father finally spoke.
But my mother only grew harsher. "No, Barry. Only one of us will live in this house. Either me, or her."
Silence. My father had no answer left.
"Mom, please… she just came back from the hospital. At least give her time to recover!" Jack tried again.
But I couldn't fight anymore. I was too tired.
"Stop it, everybody. I'll go, Mom. Don't act like this anymore, please. At least for Stella, you have to be nice. She's just a child."
Jack turned emotional.
"Where will you go, Emily? You're not going anywhere, you hear me?"
Mia stepped forward. "She can stay with me. I live alone—I'll have good company, and she'll have a safe place."
I smiled weakly through my tears. "At least till I find a new job and buy a new house. I've saved enough money for that, you know."
The truth was, I didn't want to leave. I was scared. I wanted to run to my room and cry until there were no tears left. But Mom wasn't giving me the chance. My head dropped, and I cried silently.
Then a sharp, commanding voice filled the room.
"No one is going anywhere. No one is going to be homeless today."
We all turned. Damon Roy stood in the doorway.
"Now, Emily is my wife. And I want my wife to come with me—to our home," he declared, glaring at my mother with a look that could devour her alive if she dared speak further.
Then his gaze shifted to me, hard and possessive—the authority of a husband.
I don't care about your authority. I'm only in this situation because of you.
But I couldn't refuse him. I wouldn't risk my family's safety again.
I turned to go upstairs to pack, only for my mother to sneer.
"Where are you going? The door is this way," she said, pointing.
"I'm going to pack the things that belong to me," I replied.
Damon intervened.
"There's no need for those things. My assistant will arrange everything in the morning. You just come home."
His house is not my home. This is my home—the one I'm standing in right now.
I looked at him, pleading silently for time.
"Fine… go. But I'll come with you," he said firmly.
"Yeah, whatever you like," I muttered, heading upstairs with him following close behind.
In my room, I grabbed a suitcase and began packing—clothes, nightwear, the photo of me and my grandfather. My eyes lingered on a book Mia had gifted me on my first birthday together. I smiled faintly at the memory.
I added Jack's first-salary phone, even though it no longer worked—it was precious. I packed Stella's wooden handmade house labeled Emily Williams Residence.
Lost in memories, I forgot Damon was still there. When I looked up, he was leaning on the doorframe, arms crossed, one foot resting casually. He was smiling. But this smile looked different… almost genuine.
Then Stella entered. She froze when she saw Damon, then boldly tugged at his suit.
He turned and faced her. She extended her tiny hand.
"Hello, I'm Stella. Emily's sister. And you?"
I gave Damon a look—behave. He extended his hand.
"Hi. I'm Damon Roy. Your sister's… husband."
He chuckled, but Stella's innocent eyes turned to me, realizing the truth.
"Will you keep her happy?" she asked, making my eyes sting with tears.
"Yes, I'll keep her very happy," he said smoothly. But I knew the truth. She didn't.
"Will you show me your room?" he asked, and she nodded eagerly.
Hand in hand, they went to her room. I followed nervously.
He sat her on the bed, knelt before her.
"Are you crying? Your eyes are swollen."
She nodded.
"Then tell me why you're crying?" he asked gently, with a pout.
"Mom said Emily isn't my sister. That they adopted her. But I don't care. I love her," Stella sobbed.
Poor girl. Sensitive, innocent. She's crying because Mom told her I'm not her sister? Not because of this devil's actions this morning?
"I think she's better with you," Stella said, pointing her pinky finger at Damon. "Promise me you'll make her happy."
He hooked his pinky with hers. "I promise."
Then, unexpectedly, he whispered, "I'm sorry."
Stella blinked. "Why are you sorry?"
"Just remembered someone asking me the same thing once—'Will you keep her happy?'" He chuckled, but I caught the tears glistening in his eyes.
"Who?" Stella asked.
"It's a secret. Just like ours," he said softly, then stood and left.
Back in my room, I finished packing. I reached for my bag, but Damon stopped me.
"Leave that here. I'll send someone to pick it up."
I agreed and followed him downstairs.
Everyone was in the living room. I hugged Jack and Mia goodbye. My father said softly, "Be safe, wherever you are." My mother turned her back to me.
Stella rushed down. "Goodbye, Emily!"
Damon crouched and asked her, "Will you come with us?"
Her face lit up, but I quickly shook my head. She needed Mom.
"No," she said, smiling bravely. "But I'll call you daily to check on my sister."
"Or you can come over anytime. Just call, and my driver will pick you up," Damon replied warmly.
"Deal!" Stella grinned.
We said our goodbyes. Damon and I got into the car. As the engine started, I looked at my home one last time.
Will I ever see it again?
For fifteen minutes, silence filled the car. Then I finally spoke.
"Thanks… for being good with Stella."
He only nodded, his eyes lost in deep thought.