Chapter 4 - THE MAN WHO THOUGHT HE OWNED ME
Diego stood frozen in the hospital room.
For the first time since I met him, he had no clever words.
No confident smile.
No excuse ready.
Only fear.
My father stood across from him, holding the remote control.
The screen behind him showed the exact moment Diego pushed me beneath the freezing water.
Again.
And again.
Every second.
Every movement.
Every cruel word.
Diego looked away.
“Alvin, you’re misunderstanding what happened.”
My father laughed quietly.
Not because it was funny.
Because he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Misunderstanding?”
He stepped closer.
“My pregnant daughter almost died, and you’re telling me I misunderstood?”
Diego swallowed.
“She was being dramatic.”
The room became silent.
Even the doctors stopped moving.
I stared at him from the hospital bed.
I couldn’t believe it.
After everything…
That was his defense.
My father’s expression changed.
“You pushed a pregnant woman into freezing water, and your excuse is that she was dramatic?”
Diego looked at me.
“Elena, tell him.”
I said nothing.
“Elena.”
Still nothing.
His voice became sharper.
“You know me. You know I would never hurt you.”
A bitter laugh escaped my lips.
“Diego…”
He looked at me.
“You already did.”
The words hit harder than any scream.
Because they were true.
The man I married was gone.
Or maybe he had never existed.
The doctor walked in.
“Mr. Sterling, we need to discuss your daughter’s condition.”
My father immediately turned away from Diego.
But before leaving, he looked back.
“You’re not leaving this hospital.”
Diego frowned.
“Are you threatening me?”
“No.”
My father stepped closer.
“I’m warning you.”
Then he walked out.
Diego stayed.
Watching me.
The room felt colder than the night outside.
“You’re really going to do this?”
I looked at him.
“Do what?”
“Destroy our marriage.”
I stared at him.
“You destroyed it when you chose to hurt me.”
His jaw tightened.
“You think your father can protect you forever?”
A chill ran through me.
Not because I was afraid.
Because I finally understood.
The man in front of me wasn’t sorry.
He was angry he got caught.
“Leave.”
He smiled slightly.
“You’ll regret this.”
The door closed.
But his threat stayed.
That night, while I was recovering, my father discovered something even worse.
The documents Diego wanted me to sign weren’t just about property.
They were part of a larger plan.
May you like
A plan that had started months before.
And Diego wasn’t working alone.
