Chapter 4 - THE NIGHT HER EX-HUSBAND RETURNED
Ethan Bennett called the next morning.
I hadn't heard his voice in six weeks.
“Lily.”
My stomach tightened.
“What do you want?”
He laughed softly.
“Is that how you greet your husband?”
“Ex-husband.”
Silence.
Then his voice hardened.
“Where's Noah?”
“With me.”
“Good.”
I swallowed.
“What do you want?”
He hesitated.
Then asked, “Does he still have that robot?”
My blood ran cold.
I looked toward the table.
The memory card lay inside a small envelope.
“Why?”
Ethan laughed.
“Just asking.”
I closed my eyes.
He continued.
“I'll come by tonight.”
“No.”
“Lily.”
I knew that tone.
The one he used before slamming doors.
Before calling me worthless.
Before telling me my body had become a burden after childbirth.
I swallowed.
“You can't come here without arranging it through the custody agreement.”
Silence.
Then he said, “You always were difficult.”
I stared at the wall.
He continued.
“And don't think some rich man is going to want you now.”
My eyes filled.
Ethan laughed.
“Not with those scars.”
The call ended.
I stood motionless.
Then I looked at the memory card.
May you like
And realized my ex-husband wasn't calling because he missed his son.
He was calling because he was afraid of what I might find.
