Chapter 5
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“Aurelle!”
His voice dripped with barely contained anger.
“You‘ re disabled now. Without me, who else will be there for you?”
“If you don’t come back, I really won’t want you anymore.”
His threats were nothing new. Every time I pushed back, he resorted to this familiar tactic.
In the past, I might have caved in, but not this time.
“Oh, fine then. Don’t want me.”
The words hung in the air, leaving Ruslan struggling to maintain control.
His voice cracked with disbelief.
“Aurelle, do you even know what you‘ re
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saying?”
“I know exactly what I’m saying. My paralysis is already cured. But even if I
were still paralyzed, I’d never stay by your side.
The silence on the other end of the line was deafening.
Ruslan was frozen, unable to process my words.
After what seemed like an eternity, he stammered, “Aurelle… you‘ ve really recovered? You can stand again?”
“Well… that‘ s… that‘ s great news!”
I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound sharp in the quiet.
“Great? You‘ re actually happy for me?”
Before I could finish speaking, Ruslan quickly cut me off.
“Of course. Who else but me would
genuinely want the best for you?”
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His words were sweet, but I felt a chill spread through me.
“Ruslan, if I didn’t know about all the vile things you‘ ve done, I might have actually believed you. Honestly, it’s a
wonder you haven’t won an Oscar for that. performance.”
The silence on the other end of the line stretched as his hand, still gripping the phone, began to tremble. But he managed to keep his composure.
“Aurelle, I don‘ t understand what you’re talking about.”
“Really? Let me break it down for you.
“You put hundreds of hidden cameras in the house to watch me. You planted tracking software on my phone. And worst. of all, you fed me chronic neurotoxins to keep my legs from healing…”
The more I spoke, the colder my voice. became each word cutting through the silence.
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With every accusation, I could almost feel his hand quivering.
When I finished, the silence was thick and suffocating.
Finally, he spoke, his voice heavy with defensiveness and a touch of grievance.
“That’s not true, Aurelle. Listen to me, it’s not like that. I did all of that because I love you! I love you so much that I
couldn’t control myself. I wanted to keep you by my side forever.”
“I was so afraid, afraid those men outside. would see you, take you away from me. You‘ re so incredible, but if you were paralyzed, they wouldn’t care about
you…
Before he could finish, I cut him off.
“Are you sure it’s because you love me, or is it because you were terrified I’d uncover your affair with Thea? So, you crippled me first to make sure I couldn’t walk away from you?”
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My words hung in the air, leaving Ruslan speechless for a moment.
“Aurelle, so you already know about me and Thea?”
I didn’t bother to confirm or deny.
The silence between us spoke volumes. Sensing my unspoken words, he quickly stumbled over his next ones.
“It’s all my fault. I was blinded by lust. I made a terrible mistake. But honestly, aren’t all powerful men like this? Compared to others in my circle, I‘ m
practically clean. If it bothers you, I‘ 11 change.”
His voice became more pleading.
“Aurelle, I’ll change for you. Just come back, and I’ll do whatever you want.”
I replied, my voice ice–cold, “No.”
Ruslan’s composure cracked, and for a brief moment, I could hear the desperation in his voice.
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“Then what will it take for you to forgive me?”
His words struck a chord, reminding me of the child he was so obsessed with.
“If you sever all ties with Thea and refuse to acknowledge the child she’s carrying, then I’ll forgive you. I’ll come back.”
