SHE HAS TO PAY

ETHAN'S POINT OF VIEW

Fuck! The slap still burned my cheeks. I hadn't expected someone as soft as Lexi to have such strong hands, hands strong enough to make my cheeks hurt this much.

I stood there, my fingers grazing my cheek where her palm had struck, the heat lingering like I've been branded with a branding iron.

The echo of her threat—"I’ll cut your hands off"—played in my head on a loop, each syllable sharper than the last.

I should’ve been furious. I should’ve fucking stormed after her, and demanded her to take the words back, and reminded her who the hell I was.

But all I felt was... weakness. It was as if my legs had suddenly forgotten how to move, how to walk and all I did was stand there like a statue.

The elevator doors had long since closed behind me, sealing me in this sterile hallway, the silence pressing in like a weight.

All of a sudden— Brrrring. Brrrring. The shrill sound of my phone shattered the quiet.

I didn’t move. I didn't even blink. Not when my mind was occupied with the image of Lexi's face, the hatred in her eyes, the disgust. Everything.

Therefore, I let the phone ring to the end. Whoever it was could wait for heaven's sake.

I sighed in relief when the call stopped and everywhere was back to its normal silence.

But not long after, the phone dinged again. I gritted my teeth in anger. “Leave the fuck alone.” I yelled, even though I didn't know who was at the end of the phone. Yet, I didn't bother to check it out. I let it ring to the end.

I really didn't want to be disturbed by any stupid calls right now. Not when I was still contemplating on going after Lexi or not. I don't care if my father was right inside the house.

All I wanted to do was to go in there and claim her in his presence, to remind her who she belonged to and of course it was me. She fucking belonged to me, not my father and I'll make sure she realises that soon.

I let the call ring to the end, then….. Ding.

A text came up.

I exhaled through my nose before finally sliding my phone out of my pocket to see who it was, who sent the text.

The screen lit up again and I realised that it was Margaret, my wife.

Of course, she'll be the only one who would dare call me like some maniac who lost her senses in an accident.

My thumb hovered over the notification, hesitating. The last thing I wanted right now was to hear her voice—that sharp, demanding tone that always seemed to find new ways to grate on my nerves. I still can't believe that I was able to put up with her ass all these while.

It still comes as a surprise to me that I was able to endure her. She was way different from Lexi. Heck, there was a stark contrast between her and Lexi. But at the end of the day, I realised that I brought this upon myself. If I hadn't been so drunk that night after Lexi was sent to jail, I wouldn't have slept with her and she wouldn't have gotten pregnant and had my child. And I wouldn't be here, tied to her in this shitty excuse of a marriage.

I was about to place the phone back in my pants, but then the message preview appeared:

"Pick up your fucking phone, Ethan. Or are you too busy chasing after that bitch to care about your own daughter?"

My stomach dropped.

Daughter. Lily. What's wrong with her? Before I could process it, the phone rang again. Margaret’s name flashed across the screen, relentless.

This time, I answered without hesitation. I needed to know what was wrong with my daughter. Even though I didn't like Margaret, it doesn't mean that I should hate my daughter. She didn't ask to be born after all.

Therefore she can't suffer for her mother's crimes.

"What?" My voice came out rougher than I intended.

Margaret didn’t bother with greetings. "Where the hell have you been?" Her words were like a sharp blade, each one honed to cut deep through me. "I’ve been calling you for twenty minutes!"

I clenched my jaw. "I was busy."

"Busy?" A bitter laugh. "Let me guess—Lexi? You are going after her again, am I right?”

The sound of her name on Margaret’s lips sent a spike of irritation through me. And even though she was right, I was never going to admit to her. "What do you want, Margaret?"

There was a pause at the end of the phone, but then, she continued almost immediately.

"It’s your daughter."

Two words. That’s all it took for the world to tilt.

My grip on the phone tightened. "What about her? Is she in danger?”

"Worse than that, Ethan. Your daughter is in the hospital fighting for her damn life."

The hallway blurred.

Hospital.

No. What could be the problem this time around?

"What happened?" The question tore out of me in a raw tune.

Margaret’s voice dropped, venomous. "Lexi happened. That bitch is responsible for what happened to my daughter and I swear I'll never forgive her. I don't care if she goes to prison again.”

My heart paused as I heard her words and I found myself wondering; what could that bitch have done to my daughter? First it was her mother, and now it was my daughter?

Even though I don't know what she did yet I'll never forgive her if anything happens to my child. Never.

"What?"

"Lexi pushed her," Margaret spat. "Down the stairs. Lily’s—she’s fighting for her life right now, Ethan. And it’s her fault."

The words didn’t make sense.

Lexi wouldn’t do such a thing. She wouldn’t cause harm to someone, at least not a two years old child who hasn't done anything to deserve it.

She won't hurt a child. At least not my child. She isn't that heartless, right?

"You are lying, Margaret.” I breathed out. “It's obvious that you hate Lexi and you want her to go back to prison again. You are simply defaming her.”

Margaret let out a sharp scoff "Oh, really? You think I’d make this up? You think I’d lie about our daughter being hurt?"

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t bring myself to answer. Because deep down, I knew Lexi. I knew she wasn’t cruel. I knew that she would never hurt a two years old girl.

But then Margaret hissed, "Come home. Watch the footage yourself if you don’t believe me."

If she was pointing out the footage, it meant that it was proof. What if she was right?

Did Lexi really hurt my daughter? Don't tell me that I just supported her, I just took sides with her…..

My blood ran cold as I thought about the possibility of her hurting my daughter, who had done nothing to deserve what she did to her.

The call ended before I could respond. I stood there, phone clutched in my hand, my pulse roaring in my ears.

Lexi.

Lexi did this. She hurt my daughter. She fucking hurt my daughter. And now she has to pay for what she did.

I turned and walked back into the house. All I needed was vengeance.