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Amelia faked a nervous look. “This… this is right. She’s not just your wife -she’s also my teacher. How could I hit her?”
“Then let the bodyguard handle it,” Edgar replied softly, though what he said was anything but kind. “That way, it won’t cause you any problems.”
Stephanie’s eyes widened in disbelief. She stared at the man who once swore he’d protect her. “Edgar, do you even hear yourself right now?”
He didn’t even glance at her. Instead, he motioned to the bodyguard behind him. “Go ahead.
Two tall bodyguards stepped forward and shoved Stephanie against the
wall.
Smack!
The first blow made her ears ring like crazy.
Her mind drifted to a stormy night years ago Edgar had stood between her and the people who were bullying her, shouting, “If anyone touches her, I’ll make sure they regret it for life!”
Smack!
The second slap snapped her back. Blood spilled from her mouth, streaking her pale lips.
Through her blurred vision, she saw Edgar covering Amelia’s eyes like he didn’t want her to see it. He even whispered something that made Amelia giggle and lightly smack his chest.
***
ز
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By the time the tenth slap landed, Stephanie felt nothing. She slumped to the ground, with the students‘ suppressed gasps ringing in her ears.
In her blurred vision, she saw Edgar turn to Amelia with a gentle smile. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to eat your favorite seafood.”
Whispers spread through the corridor. “Poor Ms. Sanchez…”
“How could Mr. Ferguson do this?”
“That girl is so disgusting. It’s obvious that she slapped herself!”
Stephanie gripped the wall to pull herself up.
Her cheeks burned, and walking felt like knives were slicing into her.
But the physical pain didn’t compare to what she felt inside, like someone had ripped open her chest.
She used to think that even if Edgar stopped loving her, he’d at least remember everything they’d been through.
But for Amelia, he let someone slap her in public ten times.
The wind stung her face as she left the campus. She winced and gasped in pain.
When she got home, she stood in front of the mirror, staring at her pitiful reflection. Her face was puffy, and dried blood clung to the corners of her lips.
She let out a sudden laugh. As she laughed, tears streamed down her face.
It took Stephanie three days to recover enough to show her face on campus again.
As soon as she walked into the office, her department head called out to her. “Stephanie, Amelia didn’t show up for several of her midterms. Since
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you’re her class teacher, please follow up.”
Stephanie pulled up Amelia’s Instagram.
The latest post was a photo from an auction, with a huge diamond necklace around her neck. The caption read, “Mr. Ferguson says this necklace was made for me.”
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Scrolling through, Stephanie saw them in luxury spots–speedboat rides, fancy restaurants, horse ranches, and so on.
She gave Amelia a call.
“Hello?” Amelia answered, cheerful as ever. “Oh, hi, Ms. Sanchez!”
“You missed a few exams,” Stephanie said in a flat tone. “The department head asked me to check on you.”
“Oh, that!” Amelia giggled. “It’s just some tests, right? You’re close with the department head. Can’t you just enter a score for me?”
She paused, then added with pride, “If that’s a problem, I’ll have Mr. Ferguson donate a few buildings. I’m sure they’ll let it slide.”
In the background, Edgar’s voice came through the phone. “Having fun?”
“Yes!” Amelia replied sweetly, then turned her attention back to Stephanie. “If that’s all, don’t bother us while we’re out enjoying ourselves.”
Beep. The call ended.
સાચી માને ધ
P
Stephanie set the phone down with a bitter smile. She didn’t follow up afterward.
When she returned home in the evening, she saw Edgar in the front yard teaching Amelia how to drive.
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“Keep the wheel steady. Don’t be nervous,” he said, leaning in close. “I’m right here.”
The scene made Stephanie’s chest ache.
He used to say the same thing to her when she learned to drive.
Back then, she nearly crashed into a barrier. Edgar had just laughed, pinched her cheek, and told her, “What are you scared of? I’m right here.”
Now, he was saying those words to someone else.
“Go ahead. Give it a try.” Edgar stepped back.
Amelia hesitated. “What if I hit someone?”
“It’s fine,” Edgar said, brushing her hair. “I’m here.”
That was when Amelia hit the gas–and suddenly veered straight toward Stephanie.
Bang!
Stephanie was knocked off her feet and hit the ground hard.
Blood pooled beneath her, turning the concrete red.
Through the pain, she saw Edgar running–but not to her.
He wrapped his arms around the shaken Amelia. “Are you hurt? That must’ve scared you.”
Stephanie lay motionless in her blood, her vision going dark.
***
When she regained consciousness, she was in a hospital bed.
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“You’re finally awake.” Edgar stood beside her like nothing had happened. “The doctor said you cracked a few ribs. Don’t go to college for now. Just rest.”
Stephanie tried to speak, but the pain was so bad that she couldn’t get the words out. Her eyes filled with tears as she stared at him.
‘Amelia didn’t mean to,” Edgar said. “She just started learning and got
nervous.”
“She… did it… on purpose…” Stephanie forced the words out, her voice strained with pain. “I… wasn’t even… close to her…”
Edgar’s expression hardened. A flicker of annoyance crossed his face. “What do you want then?”
