CHAPTER 18

~LYDIA

Why did I ever decide that I could trust Joey? Why? What made me believe him? What made him think that he was a good person? That he was a kind man who loved me and was good to me?

Why did I not listen to that small voice in my head that kept whispering that Joey might be feeding me lies?

Why did I not run when I first had that brief flash of memory where someone — probably him — had hit me?

Why did I stay?

I could not believe how stupid I was. How utterly, totally gullible.

I had already made up my mind to leave. I had packed a few clothes and the cell phone Joey got me. He said I had a car too, and that was the only reason why I went to the garage. It was to get into the car and drive off.

What I did not know was that the garage was where Joey decided to take Morgana to. And as if seeing them standing so close together wasn't enough, I had to see them kiss too.

Joey. My husband. The man who claimed to love me more than life itself, just locked lips with another woman.

My heart dropped into the pits of my stomach.

I turned my back on them immediately, unable to stand the sight of Morgana's smirk, or the guilt on Joey's face. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. But the ground did not open up. All I had was my legs, and I started to run.

Away from Joey and his lies. Away from Morgana and her greed.

I heard Joey as he cursed loudly, and from the footsteps that rushed after me, I instantly figured out that he was running after me.

I didn't wait though. He could rot in hell for all I cared.

"Lydia! Wait. Please. It's not what you think it is," he called after me, and I fought the urge to turn around and slap him.

Of course that was what he was going to say. What had I expected from him, really?

"I swear with my life, Lydia. Please. Wait. I can explain everything to you. That was a misunderstanding," he called out again, and I knew he had almost caught up to me.

Unable to stop myself, I yelled over my shoulders.

"Go to hell, Joey."

He wrapped his hand around my wrist and stopped me in my tracks.

"Lydia," he started to talk, but I interrupted him.

"Let me go," my voice was small. Quiet. Cold.

"Look at me, baby. Please," he insisted.

I ignored him, pretended as though he wasn't there.

He sighed and moved into my line of sight.

"How much did you hear?" he asked, and a bitter snort slipped past my lips.

Really? That was what he was worried about?

I yanked my wrist away from his grip and held his gaze.

"How much did I hear? What the hell, Joey? That's all you're worried about? You want to know how much I heard? Why? To spin another false narrative and feed it to me again?" I snapped, my chest heaving with anger.

I hated that there was tears in my eyes, but at least they weren't sliding down my face.

My husband ran a hand through his hair.

"No. No. If you had heard everything we talked about, then you would have known the truth of what happened. But you didn't. All you saw was the kiss. And I am saying this with all the atoms in my body, Lydia. That kiss wasn't real. It was a ploy on Morgana's end. She probably saw you standing there and did it. I swear. There's nothing between us," he stated.

His voice was so honest, so filled with sincerity that I almost wavered. That I almost believed him again. That I almost acted like a fool who had no free will of her own.

But then I remembered.

The blurry memory that assaulted me few days after we came back home from the hospital. How I had no idea if he was a woman beater or not.

How he had acted around Morgana the first time I saw her. Her speaking so intimately to him. I remembered how silent he had been, and how he wasn't particularly bothered about her presence and my reaction.

I remembered how he had dragged her off immediately he came in today, not even sparing me as much as a glance, and I knew.

My husband must be a lying, cheating, human beating bastard.

I spat on the ground before him.

"Fuck you, Joey. I may have lost my memory, but I am not stupid. I may be everything but I am not a fool. And I am done letting you lie to me like I am nothing but your puppet. You can have Morgana anytime you want, but I will not stick around and watch the both of you turn me into a fool. Don't you dare lay your hand on me again, Joey. Don't. You. Dare," I glowered at him.

And with my heart firmly set in stone, I turned around and started walking away from my husband.

This had to be the reason why I left him in the first place. I mean, which sane woman would stay and let her husband treat her like she was nothing but a placeholder? A trophy?

Tears stung my eyes and threaten to slid down my face. I let them, not bothering to hide how hurt I was.

I had nothing, but I was a grown woman. I could take care of myself without shackling myself to a man.

Joey and Morgana could have the life they both wanted. But I would not be a part of it.

With my sparse suitcase that contained my purse, the few money that I had, my cell phone and my credit card, I walked away from the cell in form of a large house that my husband had put me in.

I would not be subjected to his games. Not again. Not anymore. No. If I had been able to stay away from him for three years without him finding me, then I could do it again.

And this time, not even a stroke of fate would bring us back together.