Chapter 17

I noticed that Laura was taking a long time to return to the table. I walked to the bathroom and knocked on the door, but Laura didn't answer. I entered the bathroom and found Laura unconscious on the floor, with Loren holding a knife in her hand. Laura was unconscious, with a bit of blood on her neck, and her dress had shoe marks.

"What have you done to her?" I ask, checking on Laura's condition.

"I haven't done anything yet, but I will eventually," she says, frustrated.

"Have they never taught you not to play with fire?" I said, angrily.

With my hand, I drew the dagger from my waist and pressed it against her neck.

"You wouldn't dare," she says, struggling to speak.

I smile; this woman must be crazy.

I lightly press the knife against her neck, and it cuts slightly because it's sharp.

"Don't underestimate it, it's a damn mistake."

I release her neck, wipe the blood off the knife, and put it away.

"Don't come near Laura again, or next time, this knife will go through your throat."

"You'll pay for this. You owe me. My son deserves justice."

"I won't repeat myself. If you touch her again, I won't be responsible for my actions. Leave now before I regret it," I say, shouting.

"You'll hear from me again."

I pick up Laura and take her home. The cut wasn't deep, which relieved me, as I was afraid that something worse had happened when I found her on the floor with her neck bleeding, and I feared I could lose her. Upon arriving home, I laid her on the bed, changed her clothes, put a warm pack on her stomach, and cleaned the blood from her neck. We would have a serious conversation when she woke up.

"How are you feeling?" I ask, concerned.

"My stomach hurts a little, and my neck too," she says, sadly.

"I owe you an explanation."

"What does your wife think of me?"

I look at Laura, surprised by the question.

"Is that what she told you? That she's my wife?" I ask, curious.

"And is that what bothers you? That psycho bitch put a knife to my throat, trying to kill me, and all you care about is what she said?" She nervously laughs at the situation.

"I didn't mean it like that," she says.

"Oh? Let me guess, you're married, you left your wife for an obsession with me when I was just a dreaming teenager. You were going to be a father, but due to a fight, you lost your child. How can you be so insensitive? A woman suffered for you, and cried for the loss of a baby, while you fantasized about having me by your side. You simply broke your wedding vows with someone you didn't even know, someone who didn't love you. Every day I'm more surprised by you," she says, disappointed.

"Please, listen to me. It's not how you think. I don't know what she told you, but things aren't that simple," I say.

"And how are they then? What can you say that changes the fact that you cheated on your wife? Even if you tell me anything, nothing will change that," she replies.

"I never loved Loren, and she always knew that. Our parents were friends, we've known each other since childhood. They wanted us to be together. We were young and agreed to get married, and in the beginning, we got along well because we knew each other since we were kids. However, that wasn't enough to sustain a marriage. She had a sick jealousy; I couldn't focus on my business without her thinking I was involved with another woman. Even though I didn't love her, I was never unfaithful, contrary to what you think, I take my family seriously."

"And how do you explain that you were sleeping with me?"

"Can I finish telling you, or are you going to interrupt and judge me before you know the whole story?"

"Apologies, Mr. Morgan, please, continue!" she teases.

"As I was saying, I never cheated on her. A year after we got married, I asked for a divorce, but she didn't accept and did everything to get pregnant."

"And she was so dangerous that you couldn't stay away from her? You didn't want to be married, but the sex was too good to let go of, is that it?" she says angrily.

"It wasn't like that. When I told her we were going to divorce, she attempted suicide. How could I just leave her at that moment? It was when she stopped taking her medication, and during a slip one night when we were together, she got pregnant. I wouldn't stop being a good father just because I didn't want to be her husband. One day, I was in the car with my parents and Nick – I remember Nick looking out of the car, unresponsive. I called him, but he didn't answer; he was disconnected. When he came to, he showed me a picture of you. How beautiful you were. After that day, I couldn't stop thinking about you; I was sure you would be mine one day."

Laura looks at me not knowing what to say as I continue to tell everything.

"After seeing you, I decided I couldn't live with someone I didn't love. I wouldn't stay with her out of pity or fear that she would kill herself. We found out she was pregnant, and I wanted to wait for the first three months to pass to reduce the risk of her losing the baby. I didn't want to cause stress that could endanger our child's life. One day, she overheard an argument between Nick and me because he found out I had asked for information about you. She heard everything and started arguing with me. I thought the fight was over, but she came after me, and when I looked back, she had fallen. I blame myself for that day, for her not being able to have children anymore, but I can't continue living with her because of it, and that's what she wants," I say, shaken.

"This is a lot for me to process. I need to be alone."

This woman won't leave me alone, and I don't want to live in the middle of all this madness. You did everything to enter my life, but you never asked if I wanted you to be part of it. You didn't even bother to try to enter naturally. Similarly, you think that everything you want has to be yours, no matter the cost, as if people were objects. I'm not a toy.

"Leave me alone, please. You said what you wanted," she says.

"Okay, I'll leave you alone."

I leave the room and let Laura be alone. It was too much for her to take in.