A message from an unknown number.
My heart beat faster.
It was Michael.
The message contained only one sentence:
Divorce him immediately.
This man is dangerous.
I gasped.
What are you talking about, Michael?
David is dangerous?
It can’t be.
He’s the perfect husband, always kind and caring.
But Michael’s face appeared before my eyes again — pale and frightened.
The bathroom door opened.
David was back.
I quickly hid my phone.
‘What’s wrong, Rachel? You don’t look well,’ he asked with concern.
‘No, I’m fine. Just tired,’ I lied.
My phone rang again.
Michael’s name appeared on the screen…
I hesitated.
‘Who is it?’ David asked.
‘A friend,’ I said, forcing a smile.
“It’s just girl talk.
I’ll just step out for a minute.”
David looked a little suspicious, but sat back down.
I hurried into the hallway and answered.
‘Rachel, listen to me calmly,’ Michael said in an anxious voice.
‘Michael, what are you talking about? What do you mean, “David is dangerous”?’
‘He…’ Michael began, but trailed off.
‘He approached you for revenge.’
‘What are you talking about? That doesn’t make sense.’
At that moment, the call was interrupted.
A few seconds later, an unknown number called.
It was Michael again.
“Rachel, he probably interrupted the last bell.
Listen to me.
What I’m about to tell you may be hard to believe, but it’s all true.
‘Tell me,’ I leaned against the wall, my body trembling.
‘David was my classmate in high school,’ Michael began, his voice shaking.
“And I… I did something terrible to him.
It’s the most shameful part of my past.
I bullied him.
Cruelly.
‘Bullied?’ I asked, my head spinning.
‘Every day,’ Michael’s voice sounded pained.
I beat him up, took his money, didn’t treat him like a human being.
I humiliated him in front of the whole class.
I was the worst.
After graduation, I regretted it all the time.
‘And how does that relate to David and me?’
‘Do you remember three years ago, when you were having a hard time in our marriage?’ Michael sighed deeply.
It’s no coincidence that David approached you at that time.
It was all planned.
He chose you when you were lonely and vulnerable.
‘That can’t be,’ I shook my head.
We met by chance.
‘It wasn’t a coincidence,’ Michael’s voice was full of confidence.
He had been watching me for years.
My life, my work, my marriage.
He knew everything.
He waited until you were at your most vulnerable, and then he made his move.
My head was spinning.
I couldn’t believe it.
‘And that photograph,’ Michael said.
“The one in the hotel with that woman.
It was fake.
I never cheated on you.
‘That’s a lie!’ I shouted.
I saw everything clearly!
“It was fake, Rachel.
David created it.
That woman was a colleague.
He put different photos together.
After the divorce, I hired a detective.
They found out that the photo was fake, but it was too late.
You were already with him.
I leaned my back against the wall, my legs shaking.
‘So… David… all this… revenge.’
‘Yes,’ Michael’s voice was full of pain.
Revenge for what I did to him at school.
He approached you to take everything away from me.
He used you to cause me suffering.
‘Used me?’ I whispered.
“His goal from the beginning was to take you away from me.
He didn’t love you.
He just used you as a tool.”
‘No,’ I cried.
David loves me! He was so kind throughout my pregnancy.
Our son was just born.
‘Rachel, think carefully,’ Michael pleaded.
Do you really think he loves you, or is he just using you to hurt me? He’s been planning this for years.
Marrying you, having a baby… it was all part of the plan.
‘The baby,’ I whispered, putting my hand on my stomach.
Our son.
‘That child is also a tool for his revenge,’ Michael’s voice was sad.
He will use your son to cause me even more pain.
‘That’s a lie!’ I said through my tears.
That’s impossible!
“Rachel, please seek help right now.
He’s dangerous.
If the truth comes out, there’s no telling what he’ll do.
I have proof, Rachel.
Everything.
Analysis of the fake photo, recordings of his stalking.
I’m going to the police right now.
‘Does David really… not love me?’ I asked, my voice trembling.
‘He doesn’t love you,’ Michael said bluntly.
All he loves is revenge.
You were just a tool to cause me pain.
My knees almost buckled.
I could barely stand.
‘Call the nurse right now,’ Michael insisted.
I’m going to the hospital with the police.
‘Okay,’ I replied, my voice trembling.
‘Rachel,’ Michael said.
I’m really sorry.
This is all my fault.
The call ended.
I stood frozen in the hallway, tears streaming down my face.
David didn’t love me.
It was all a lie from the start.
Three years of memories, marriage, pregnancy, our son… all tools of revenge.