Chapter 10 - Broken Silence
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Three hours later, I was resting in a private room at St. Jude Hospital. The doctor had given me medication to stop the uterine contractions caused by the trauma, ordering strict bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy.
The room was quiet, save for the hum of the IV monitor.
A knock sounded at the door.
Ben walked in quietly. He had taken off his judicial robe, wearing a simple navy suit with the tie loosened. He looked tired, older than I remembered, but the warmth in his eyes was identical to the brother who used to help me with my geometry homework.
"Hey, Lyd," he said softly, standing at the foot of the bed.
"Hey," I murmured, tears immediately welling in my eyes.
He pulled up a chair and sat down, resting his elbows on his knees. For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The four years of silence hung heavy between us.
"I thought you hated me," I whispered, wiping a tear from my cheek. "After I got married... Adrian said you told him I was foolish and naive."
Ben’s jaw tightened. "Lydia, I called you every single week for a year after your wedding. I came to your house twice. The security guard at your gate told me you had filed a restraining inquiry against me."
I stared at him in shock. "I never did that!"
"I know that now," Ben said softly. "Adrian manufactured everything. He created a wall around you so thick that even when you were hurting, you thought no one cared."
"I was so stupid, Ben," I sobbed, covering my face with my hands. "I let him take everything. My job, my confidence, my mother’s memory... everything."
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Ben reached out and gently pulled my hands away from my face, holding them securely in his own.
"You weren't stupid, Lydia. You were manipulated by a professional sociopath," Ben said fiercely. "But that ends today. You have your home back. You have legal representation. And you have me."
