Chapter 9
He froze mid–step.
But Stella conveniently “fainted” against his shoulder: “Dominic… my head hurts so badly…”
Dominic immediately shifted his attention away, dismissing what he’d just heard as his imagination, and anxiously tightened his embrace: “I’ll take you to the hospital right away!”
He strode away, never looking back.
Emma watched his retreating figure and suddenly smiled. As she smiled, tears mixed with blood rolled down her
face.
If only he had turned around just once… Just once, and he would have seen that the person he’d tortured half to
death was the one he once cherished above all else.
But he didn’t. His eyes were completely filled with Stella.
When Emma next regained consciousness, she found herself dumped on the floor of their mansion.
Soaked through, every bone feeling crushed.
She struggled to stand, each movement tearing at the wounds on her back.
Her fingers had swollen grotesquely, the broken bones creating a sickening purple–blue discoloration.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket.
With trembling hands, she pulled it out to find two messages.
The first was from Dominic:
[Baby, I was wrong earlier and shouldn’t have lost my temper with you. I just didn’t want you making a mistake. I’ll be at the hospital with Stella for a few days and won’t be coming home. Once she’s better, I’ll come back to you.]
Emma stared at the screen, suddenly laughing through her tears.
How absurd.
He had nearly beaten her to death, yet could casually call her “baby.”
He hadn’t even noticed she was missing.
The second message was her identity cancellation confirmation:
20:27
Just a Stand In?! My Billionaire Hubby’s OTHER Wife…
6.29%
Chapter 9
[Ms. Hayes, your application for identity information cancellation and name change has been approved, effective immediately.]
Emma clutched the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white.
She could finally leave!
She forced herself to stand, changed into clean clothes, and picked up her already–packed suitcase.
Everything in this house that belonged to her, she was taking.
Except for two things-
First, the necklace Dominic had given her when she turned eighteen.
The pendant contained a micro–surveillance device. When he’d given it to her, he’d said: “Emma, I need to know what you’re doing every moment.”
Back then, she’d found it sweet.
But now it seemed grotesque.
He probably hadn’t checked it in ages.
After all, if he did, he would see-
That it was HIM who repeatedly pushed her into that swimming pool!
That it was HIM who struck her ninety–nine times with an iron rod!
That it was HIM who crushed her finger bones beneath his heel!
Second, the love letters he’d written while courting her.
A thick stack of yellowed papers still bearing the traces of his youthful handwriting:
[Emma, I saw you in that white dress today and my heart was racing so hard I thought I might actually die.]
[Emma, can we get married after graduation? I can’t wait another day.]
[Emma, I’ll love you forever, only you.]
Emma gently traced the handwriting, suddenly remembering when he’d pressed her against the wall at eighteen, red–eyed, saying: “Emma, I can’t live without you.”
Those promises that once kept her awake at night with happiness now seemed utterly absurd.
Emma placed the necklace and letters on the coffee table, then turned to leave without hesitation.
20.27
Just a Stand–In?! My Billionaire Hubby’s OTHER Wife…
6.5%
Chapter 9
Before exiting, she tossed her phone into the trash can, burying all her past along with it.
From this day forward, the Emma who would cry for Dominic Chase no longer existed in this world.
20:27
