Part 3Putting My Wife on Trial

"Steve," Leo said, his voice earnest and desperate. "I woke up and my classmates told me what happened. That you and Dr. Hayes are fighting because of me." He looked me straight in the eye. "I swear on my life, there is nothing between me and Dr. Hayes but a professional, student-teacher relationship. I have never had a single improper thought about her!"

He glanced down at the burn scars on his arms and gave a bitter smile. "But you don't have to worry anymore, Steve. My parents heard about my accident. They don't want me in research anymore. They're flying in from overseas the day after tomorrow to take me abroad to study something else."

I opened my mouth, but swallowed the words that were about to come out.

The director and the assistant, who had followed me in, looked immensely relieved. They had expected a shouting match and had come to intervene. They never imagined it would be resolved so peacefully.

The director shot me a disapproving look. "Well, Mr. Hayes. You got what you wanted. Can we assume this nonsense is over now?"

The assistant added quickly, "That was all you were worried about, right? It's settled. So you can stop this talk about divorce."

Just as he finished speaking, Elena, ignoring a nurse's protests, burst into the room. Her face lit up when she saw me.

"Steve! I heard you came to see me."

Seeing the joy on her face, I shattered her hope without a second thought.

"See you?" I scoffed. "I came to get my divorce."

Her smile froze, and her face went chalk-white. The assistant, his own face turning purple with rage, steadied her and yelled at me, "I can't take this anymore! How far are you going to push this?!"

The director stood by, watching Elena, waiting for her to finally snap. After all this, even he, a stranger, was at his limit. Surely she would be furious.

But her reaction shocked everyone.

Elena pushed the assistant away and staggered forward, her voice raw. "Steve, as long as you don't divorce me, I'll do anything you ask!"

The room fell silent. Ignoring the stares, she tried to find common ground, her voice gentle. "Steve, what's that you're holding?"

I laughed, a harsh, broken sound. Then I turned and ran. I ran for the stairwell, for the roof.

Standing on the edge of the twenty-story building, I looked down at Elena as she followed, her face a mask of terror.

My heart hardened. I screamed, my voice tearing from my throat, "Elena, if you don't agree to this divorce, I'll jump from here right now!"