Chapter 4 - The Outrageous Demand
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I looked down at the massive plaster casts encasing both of my legs, then back up at my husband’s unyielding face.
"Caleb, I can’t," I whispered, wincing as a sharp pain shot through my fractured ribs just from speaking.
"Don't start with the excuses, Rebecca," he warned, his eyes narrowing. "I talked to a guy at work. He said hospitals keep you longer just to milk your insurance. You're fine. You're just milking this so you don't have to come home and take care of your responsibilities."
"My legs are broken," I pleaded, tears of utter disbelief welling in my eyes. "My ribs are shattered. I literally cannot stand up."
He glanced dismissively at the heavy casts, as though they were simply theatrical props—part of a dramatic performance I had intentionally arranged to inconvenience him financially.
"The doctor said I need at least two more weeks of stationary care before I can even begin physical therapy," I tried to explain, my voice trembling.
"I don't care what some overpriced doctor says!" Caleb raised his voice, stepping closer to the side of the bed. "I am tired of paying these expenses. I am tired of paying for takeout because you aren't home to cook. Emma’s schedule is completely completely ruined. You are exaggerating your pain like you always do."
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The casts, the fractured ribs, the stitches, the heart monitor, and the detailed medical chart outside my door all told a completely different story. The evidence of my trauma was overwhelming and undeniable.
But this was exactly who Caleb was. He had always possessed a terrifying, masterful ability to twist reality. No matter what the situation was, he always found a way to make my pain feel like a deliberate insult directed at him.
