Chapter 9 - Midnight at the Door
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I decided to return to my parents' house over the weekend. The moment I stepped through the front door, my mother pulled me into a embrace so tight I could barely breathe. My father stood in the hallway, his hands clenched tightly in his pockets, his jaw set in a hard line.
"Look at you," my mother cried softly, touching my face. "You look exhausted. Did those monsters even feed you?"
"I'm okay, Mom," I managed to say. "I'm safe now."
That night, dinner was quiet and comforting. But around midnight, the peace was shattered by the sharp crunch of tires on the gravel driveway outside.
A loud knock echoed through the house.
My father stood up instantly, moving toward the front door. I followed him into the foyer, my heart leaping into my throat. Through the decorative glass panel, I saw Caleb standing on the porch holding a massive bouquet of white roses.
"Marina!" Caleb called out, his voice thick with unearned emotion. "I know you're in there! Please, open the door! Don't let your parents poison your mind against your husband!"
My father threw the door open before I could stop him. "Get off my property, Caleb."
Caleb held up the roses, offering a tragic, practiced smile. "Mr. Miller, please. This is a misunderstanding between a husband and his wife. I love her."
"My daughter is not a piece of property you misplaced," my father said, his voice deadly quiet. "You lied to her, you exploited her, and your mother humiliated her. If you take one step closer, I will call the police."
Caleb’s smile vanished instantly, replaced by a sneer. "She's my wife! She belongs with me!"
"Leave. Now."
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Caleb glared past my father, his eyes locking onto mine in the dimly lit hallway. He dropped the roses onto the porch floor and stomped on them with his dress shoe, crushing the white petals into the wood.
"You're going to regret this, Marina!" he yelled before turning and walking back to his car.
