The man underneath.
Sophie looked almost relieved.
Maybe because he’d finally said it in front of witnesses.
“Move.”
“You’re my wife.”
“Not for much longer.”
“Sophie.”
She held up Anna’s letter.
“You told me she abandoned you.”
“She did.”
Sophie shook her head.
“She escaped you.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“And so will I.”
I opened my phone and dialed emergency services.
Daniel looked at the screen.
Then at his family.
His father finally spoke.
“Let them go.”
Daniel spun around.
“Dad.”
“I said let them go.”
Margaret whispered her husband’s name.
He ignored her.
Daniel moved aside.
Sophie walked through the door.
I followed.
She didn’t breathe properly until we were inside my locked car.
Then she folded over and sobbed.
I reached for her.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I should’ve noticed.”
“Nobody noticed.”
“I did tonight.”
She looked at me.
“That’s why I dropped the napkin.”
“What exactly did you mean by ‘Don’t leave alone’?”
A broken laugh escaped her.
“I meant don’t leave without me.”
I hugged her.
“You could’ve written that.”
“I was panicking.”
That made both of us laugh.
Then Sophie started crying again.
We drove away before Daniel could change his mind.
The next morning, Sophie called a lawyer.
