The Wife He Tried to Erase

lia

t. The rain started, a steady drumming against the glass, mirroring the dull ache in my head. Each drop felt like a

rooms, the place that had once been our sanctuary now felt like a gilded cage. The emotional and physical trauma of the night finally caught up

ver leave you, Adelia," he whispered, holding my hand tightly. "We'll build our own family. A home where you'll always be safe." His words, once a comfort, now felt like venom. The dream shi

ut the memories of his promise, juxtaposed with the brutal reality, were far more

it be? I dragged myself to the door, my legs wobbling. Through the peephole, I saw her. Be

partment, a look of proprietorial satisfaction on her face. "Hello, darling," she said, her voice dripping with f

he living room. She pulled out her phone, tapping at the screen. "Oh,

ent of ultimate humiliation.

ned. The shame from the gallery rushed back,

used, my dear. 'Postpartum Reality' is trending. And you

hands trembled, my vision blurring. "He... he

smile widening. She scrolled through her ph

es I thought were just for Griffith. The ones I thought were safe with him. My breath caught in

lunging for the ph

g the phone to the floor. At that exact moment, the front door swung open. Griffith

ce laced with tenderness. Then he turned to me, his

. "What about what you've done? Thes

on hardened. "It's art, Adelia. High art. You wouldn't understand. And Be

ut like poison. "You gave her my private photos? To

his eyes. "It's all part of the performan

The slap echoed through the silent apartment. His head

rious. "You are a monster, Griffith Wyatt! A despicable, heartles

eadly cold. He grabbed my arm, his fingers digging into my flesh.

recover, he grabbed my arm again, dragging me towards a small, dark closet in the hallway. My child

You know I can't... I can't breathe i

respect, Adelia. This will teach you to control your 'low-class' ou

anic seized me. My heart hammered against my ribs, a trapped bird desperate to escape. I clawe

kness pressed in, a physical weight. My childhood fear, long dormant, roared to life. I was ten again, trapped, alone. Griffith.

, calming my childish fears. "I'll always be here, Adelia. I'll ne

slipped away, a wave of na

riffith stood by my bed, his face pale. But his eyes weren't on me. T

Beryl?" he asked

little shaken, darling. Her h

h. "Adelia, you really need to control yourself.

roat dry. "She displayed my naked p

ng irrational. And the ph

d by this cruel stranger. A profound calm settled over me. My love for him,

Reality' has been a massive success. The gallery is extending the exhibit. And look a

ned my head away, refusing to acknowledge him, r

ok at me!"

igh. "Fine. Be stubborn. But don't think this chan

racing paths down my temples. I wa

the cold hospital floor. I needed to go somewhere I felt safe. Somewhere I h

bered running through these halls, finding solace in the kind arms of Mrs. Albright, th

d. Then, her gaze dropped to my stomach, then back up to my face. Her eyes hardened. "Ad

I pleaded, my voice cracking. "I

are plastered all over the internet. You've brought shame upon yourself, and shame upon this institution

I did

e you contaminating the children here. You're a disgrace.

gone. And it was all because of him. The man who promised me a family had stripped me of ever