CHAPTER FIVE

MISSING PERSONS [PART ONE]

May 18, 2021

LIZZIE

[Lizzette Cruz-Lucero | 26 ]

      "I already told you that I'm going to my grandparent's house. Why won't you listen?" I calmly said to my husband Grey on the other line.

He was already mad at me the moment I answered his call. Because of one shallow reason that I left our daughter in my parents' house. I truly don't understand, if I choose to leave Cassie with a babysitter he’ll still get mad at me.

"My point is, why do you need to leave Cassie behind if you can just let her come along with you!" I heard him scoff. "You know how much I dislike your family! What if something bad happens to Cassie in your parents' hands? Are you even thinking right? And one more thing, we've already talked about it, right? I told you not to go anywhere without me!" He yelled blatantly. I can feel his anger here in the taxi. I almost dropped my phone because of his loud voice and spiteful words. 

I want to yell back at him too. To tell him that if he’s truly concerned about our daughter's safety then why won't he bring him to his work instead?

But instead of giving him my words, I just took a deep breath and pacified myself even more. I know that I’ll never win this argument, I never do. If I give him my anger he’ll lose his mind and will start accusing me of such nonsense that he just made up. 

"But they’re my parents, Grey... don't you even trust our daughter to them?” I sighed, “And I already told you long before that I'm going to visit my grandparents soon, but you always disapprove. I have a family too, you must remember that I also have a life." I shouldn't have said that. I warned my head a thousand times to never talk back to him but my tongue betrayed me.

I nearly wanted to slap my face because of what I said. Grey is cranky and sensitive as ironic as it sounds. He doesn't listen to other's opinions about him. He also hates it whenever someone criticizes him when he does something wrong.

"You always have excuses! Just tell the goddamn truth that you'll just meet someone else!" He paused for a while as if realizing something, "Oh, tell me. Is this about the reunion with your stupid old friends?" I swallowed hard after hearing what he just said.

"Yeah, it's about it, isn't it? That's why you're so eager to go because you're gonna meet your ex again." He laughed mockingly at me, I clutched the hem of my cardigan. "That's why you didn't bring Cassie with you because you're planning to flirt with that man!I’ve been working my fingers to the bone while you're there planning to catch up with your ex. Fucking whore!" 

My tears fall continuously because of how he insulted me. The driver on the passenger seat glanced at me from the rear-view mirror because.. He didn't say anything and just continued driving and put his attention again on the road. I immediately grabbed my handkerchief in my bag and wiped my tears.

I badly want to tell him that he's wrong. That I just want to breathe again and see my friends. That I don't want to be forever locked up in his prison in what he always calls our home. But I can barely feel that.

I heaved a deep breath and balled my fist, concealing my emotions.

"Grey, why are you talking to me like that? I'm your wife... if you don't have any respect for our marriage and me as your wife, can you please at least try to respect me as a human instead?" I hiccuped and tried to catch my breath before speaking again, "Yes, you're right. It's about the reunion. I didn't ask for your permission anymore because I know how you will react. Look at you, even if I tried to reason with my grandparents there's no use." I sincerely said with a crack voice.

"Quit the drama, Lizzie. Once you come home, expect suitcases of your belongings outside my house. You won't have your luxury, a husband, and a daughter anymore!" He ended the call just before I could say a word.

I put my hand on my lip to prevent myself from bawling. Even though I know that he's not going to do what he said I still can't stop myself from feeling pain from his words. 

He won't do that, he already threatened me with those words before for how many times whenever I leave the house without him. But he never does anything he says. He always says admonishments whenever he gets angry at me then tries to frighten me with money because he thinks that all I want from him is his wealth. 

After this I know he'll apologize again to me and act sweet as if nothing happened. As if he wasn't the one who's cheating on our relationship.

Grey has an affair with his secretary, and until now I know that they're still together. But I never open it up with him even when there are lots of people we know, approach or message me about seeing them together all the time in public places. If I ever talk about his infidelity with him, he'll just try to manipulate me to convince me that I am the one who's cheating instead. Even with no evidence. It may sound confusing but he's good at manipulating people.

But I still love him.

I sighed and dried my tears again as I looked at the time on my phone. It was already 4 in the afternoon. We're traveling for almost two hours now because of traffic.

I never told my friends that I'm going to our reunion. I was just silent on our group chat because I was skeptical about the whole reunion plan. But after thinking several times I've decided to go and secretly sneaked out with my daughter after Grey went out for work. I then went to my parent's house and left our daughter there. I never thought that his maid who took care of him since he was a child saw us and probably told Grey. 

He looks down on me and my family because they're wealthy and we're not. He wasn't like that before, or maybe he was just hiding his real personality when we're still dating. After years of being together, he started to convince himself that all we need from him is money. But I never told my parents about it. And I never will.