1#01

1

It was the dead of night, and I was finishing my fifth consecutive shift at the hospital when a neighbor's call left me utterly stunned.

She berated me, "Dr. Scott, could you and your spouse keep it down during your intimate moments? My kids still reside in our home."

"This racket has been ongoing for five nights straight!" She persisted, "When I knock, you both pretend to be absent. Is this deliberate?"

Then she added, "Your wife is immobile, yet you're still intimate? Are you some kind of monster?"

My hand, which had been penning medical notes, suddenly halted, and a chill ran through my body.

Five nights? I hadn't set foot in my house for five days!

——

The moment my colleague arrived for the handover, I hastily changed into my regular attire and rushed home. En route, I repeatedly called my wife, Jill Ackmand, but she didn't pick up.

Even more peculiarly, our usually dependable housekeeper, Margaret Lockwood, was also unreachable.

An overwhelming sense of dread consumed me, and I unconsciously pressed harder on the accelerator.

Jill and I had always shared a deep, affectionate bond. She would never be unfaithful. Besides, her paralysis from the waist down made such actions impossible.

However, Margaret was a different story. Jill had mentioned her taking personal calls from a romantic interest during work hours, repeatedly ignoring my advice.

I had long contemplated replacing her but hadn't found a suitable candidate.

How dare she bring a man into my residence?

The more I pondered, the more furious I became. I sped home at 128 kilometers per hour. When I arrived, my hands shook so violently that it took three attempts to input the correct door code.

The house was engulfed in darkness, save for the sound of labored breathing.

"Jill? Margaret?" I called out repeatedly, receiving no response.

A sense of foreboding settled in my chest as I fumbled for the light switch. To my shock, I found Jill sprawled on the floor! Margaret was nowhere in sight.

Jill's face and hair were damp, and her wrists bore red marks.

Fury overtook me, nearly driving me to madness. How could Margaret abduct Jill for her own selfish desires? This was beyond unacceptable!

Jill raised her head, her tear-filled eyes meeting mine.

"Darling, why are you home?" Her voice was raspy, breaking my heart. How long had she been weeping?

I gently lifted her and placed her on the bed, holding her close while stroking her hair.

"I'm so sorry, my love. I should have come back sooner. You've endured so much..." I said.

Then I added, "If the neighbors hadn't informed me, I would have remained oblivious to the situation here!"

Upon hearing this, Jill tensed up. She pulled away from my embrace.

"What... what did the neighbors say?" she inquired.

Her anxious gaze intensified my heartache.

"Dearest, Margaret has been bringing a man here for five days. Has she been holding you captive like this the entire time? Why didn't you alert me earlier? Did she threaten you?" I asked.

Jill exhaled in relief and leaned back into my arms.

"Honey, you're so occupied saving lives at the hospital. I didn't want to burden you..." she said.

She continued, "Moreover, the man she brought is tall, strong, and intimidating. I feared something terrible might happen if you confronted him..."

As I listened to her quiet sobs, my self-blame intensified.

My wife had endured such hardship alone at home to avoid disrupting my work.

Simultaneously, my resentment towards Margaret grew stronger.

I reached for my phone to dial 911, but before I could press call, Jill snatched it away.

She gripped my hand tightly, looking at me imploringly. "Hubby, please don't. If you call the police, everyone will know..."

Seeing her pleading expression made me even more uncomfortable.

Jill's lower body paralysis had persisted for years, and despite specialized treatments and rehabilitation sessions under my supervision, her condition showed no improvement.

To cover her costly treatments, I had to work relentlessly, leaving less time to spend with her.

I had watched her become increasingly withdrawn and sensitive. To avoid judgmental stares, she had refused to venture outside for months, even declining hospital check-ups.

I felt utterly useless, unable to earn enough or improve her condition.

Suddenly, a loud noise erupted downstairs, followed by a car alarm and angry shouts from several men outside. I instinctively moved towards the window, but Jill grabbed my hand and pulled me back.

"Don't go," she whispered, burying her face in my chest. "I'm frightened. Just stay here with me."

I immediately returned to her side, enveloping her in my arms. Nothing mattered more than Jill.

I embraced her as we lay on the bed. Jill tilted her head up and kissed me softly.

Time passed, and eventually, she fell asleep in my arms.

Quietly, I slipped out of bed and into the bathroom, filling a basin with cold water. I submerged myself in it.