Where the Heat receded
處暑 [2] / [7]
“That’s none of my business. I don't want anyone to interfere while I give my testimony."
“You can’t do this.”
Alexander almost shuddered with anger. She was obviously trying to use him by weaponizing the one piece of leverage she had over him, the nasty secret that he could never reveal to Cynthia.
“Yes, I can,”
Violet continued, calmly.
"I will tell the police and the press that you abandoned me despite my desperate pleas, even though I came to you right after I was victimized, seeking help. All because I'm your ex.
I’ll tell them this too. You slept with me after you promised to help me, but you violated the promise.”
He peeped outside. Cynthia didn’t notice he disappeared. He frowned. This was absurd, disgusting.
“Just do what you’ve promised me if you don’t want to see a calamity which would cause your undoing,”
Violet said in a persuasive tone.
Alexander hung up the phone. It was almost 8 p.m. This time should have been time spent with Cynthia, not Violet.
He approached Cynthia. She was neatly plating roasted vegetables onto a dish.
“Honey, I might have to go to the office.”
“Now? Why?”
she stared at him with surprise.
“Violet wants to testify now.”
That was all he could say. She still stared at him, adding,
“Tell her to come to the office on our workday.”
“She said she made up her mind to report. With difficulty,”
he hated himself for lying to her.
“OK, We can meet her together.”
“She doesn’t want anybody but me. I will go alone. Let me finish this.”
Cynthia’s expression looked confused,
“When can you come back?”
He knew Cynthia asked this to make sure he was coming back, even though she already knew that questioning victims demanded a lot of time.
“I will come back as soon as it's finished,”
he said.
“Eat something before you go,”
she gestured towards the steak, which looked seared to perfection.
“I’d better hurry, she is already waiting for me in front of the office.”
He couldn’t look Cynthia straight in the eyes. He left Cynthia and the meal they prepared together behind. The door slammed shut violently by the wind. He almost went back, but let it go.
