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She shoved me hard.
"What the HELL! Emma Wilson! Just because you're his wife doesn't give you the right! You're almost divorced! How DARE you hit him!"
After five years of playing the obedient wife, Adrian looked completely stunned.
Rage quickly took over.
"Are you out of your mind?!" he yelled.
"I apologized! What else do you want? Do you get off on making everyone miserable?!"
He still thought this was about me being jealous of Chloe.
What I used to think was confidence now just looked like arrogance.
"I have one question." My voice trembled, barely a whisper.
"Why did you marry me? Because I couldn't feel pain? To be your personal lab rat?"
His anger vanished, replaced by pure shock.
He stammered, "N-No! Emma, listen—at first…yeah, maybe the idea crossed my mind... but then I genuinely fell in love with you! You have to believe me!"
A bitter laugh escaped me.
I couldn't take any more.
I turned to leave.
"Emma! Wait!" He tried to grab me again.
His hand never reached me.
Benjamin Cole stepped between us.
"Adrian. Given your current... situation... making a scene isn’t helping anyone."
"This is between my wife and me—none of your damn business!" Adrian snarled, almost spitting the words.
"Benjamin Cole! We were classmates! Is this how you pay me back? By poisoning my marriage?"
"Our advisor rejected your proposal because patients who can’t feel pain can’t give feedback. Injuries go unnoticed. It's unethical. Dangerous." Benjamin's tone was ice cold.
"You know nothing!" Adrian exploded. "She's my wife! I know what I'm doing! I would never hurt her!"
"Then did you know," Benjamin shot back, his gaze sharp, "that when your wife was rushed in here bleeding out, that cut was millimeters from her brachial artery? Two more minutes, Adrian. Two minutes, and she wouldn't be standing here."
The rest faded as I walked away.
Later that day, Adrian blew up my phone.
Long texts.
Paragraphs.
Basically, yes, he'd initially interested because of my condition, but he truly loved me now.
He promised to cut things off with Chloe.
Swore he’d never let me get hurt again.
Begged for another chance.
I didn't reply.
He started sending gifts to my office.
Sometimes roses.
Other things he'd once promised but never delivered.
In the past, any little gift would have had me posting thankful messages online.
He never acknowledged them.
He'd come home and call me pathetic—embarrassing him in front of his students.
Every time I posted a gift, Chloe would immediately post something similar or better.
Hinting that mine were leftovers.
This time was no different.
But I didn't get angry.
I just deleted her contact.
Within minutes, a text came from an unknown number.
[Emma Wilson, why did you block me? Who do you think you are? You're nothing compared to me! You think you can compete for Adrian?]
She didn't even call him 'Professor' anymore.
I replied coldly, [Then tell your 'Adrian' to sign the damn divorce papers.]
I blocked the number.
Adrian called immediately, "Emma, ignore Chloe! Those gifts? I picked every single one myself! They’re unique! Nothing to do with her! Please don't misunderstand!"
"I'm not misunderstanding," I said flatly.
"I threw everything out. Stop sending things."
Hes tumbled over his words.
"You didn't like them? That's okay, I can—"
"Send. Nothing." I cut him off.
"If you really regret it, sign the divorce agreement."
Silence hung between us.
Just as I was about to hang up, he spoke, voice thick.
"I... I don't want a divorce."
