Chapter 17

Henry opened the door slowly. Michelle was already awake, still tied like he had left her before leaving the house. He untied the ropes.

Michelle whimpered after her stomach grumbled. She was very hungry. She had only one meal yesterday morning. 

Michelle grabbed the hand that he offered, and allowed herself to be lifted by him onto her feet. Her legs trembled underneath her. Henry held her closer so she couldn't fall. After being tied like an animal for a day, walking was definitely an impossible task for Michelle. 

Henry lifted her bridal style, he carried her into the bathroom and sat her into the bathtub like a baby. He undressed her. She shivered more when the cold water poured on her head.  Henry let the water pour on her for few minutes before applying disinfectants. Gently, as if she was a baby, he scrubbed her. 

Henry always tried to control himself, but he didn't know what was it that always made him hit the woman he loved so dearly. Other guys had ways of disciplining their wives without assault them,  but him, he was just rare. Even though he would brutalise Michelle for being stubborn, he loved her dearly. 

He opened the shower for water to wash the soap off, wiped her skin, and, like he had taken her into the bathroom, he took her back into the room where he dressed her. Henry changed the sheets and tucked her back in bed. 

"I'll go get you breakfast now, OK?" He kissed her forehead before going into the kitchen. Michelle nodded.

Henry put the kettle on the stove, he stood by the stove as the water was getting ready, contemplating. 

Henry held his head when a sharp pain ran in his head. He held his head with one hand, whimpering. He walked out of the kitchen to get himself his medicine that was kept in his room. 

Henry stood still for few seconds when he opened the door and saw the bed was empty. He rushed to the bathroom, scanned quickly. It was empty. He darted around the room, but there wasn't a sign of her. 

The headache was replaced with anger when he realised that Michelle wasn't in the room. 

She had escaped. 

Again. 

Henry couldn't think of what he would do to Michelle when she is found.  Stunning her would not make him regret. She was motherfucking ungrateful.  After treating her like a queen, it didn't even pass half of an hour,  she was doing the exact same thing that made him hurt her. 

Michelle liked pain. 

Quickly, he ran out of the room. He stumbled at the last stair at the bottom. "Mich—" Henry was about to yell her name out when he saw her standing at the door with a man casually dressed. The veins that had been forming on his head and neck deformed. "Chris?" The name was called after a stunning moment in a very low tone. 

"Henry," Chris said, grinning. He walked past Michelle into the house. They did the manly hug and handshake. "You've really changed, bro."

"Just like you have," Henry said, hugging Chris, grinning. He shared a glance with Michelle as she closed the door. "How long have it been?" Henry asked, withdrawing from the embrace; he held his chin as he thought.  "Six years? Five years?"

"Seven," Chris retorted. 

"How did you find me?" Henry asked, leading Chris to the living room.  

"Who in Monrovia doesn't know Henry Perkins? If nobody does, the clubs and bars do," Chris said. "Your wife?" Chris gestured at Michelle who was making her way upstairs. 

"Sorry for my manners," Henry apologised. He held Michelle shoulder and brought her to where Chris was seated. "Chris, meet my lovely wife, Michelle. Michelle, Chris," he introduced them to each other, kissing Michelle's cheek. They shook hands. 

"Nice meeting you, Michelle," Chris stated. "I'm sorry for what those burglars did to you," he said, staring at her bruised face. "It's a good thing you're alive."

Burglars? 

She stared at Henry as Chris spoke, using the eye language to bring him on track. Chris noticed her, he stared at both of them. 

Michelle didn't like other people knowing about her marital affairs— not even her family— so she always lied. Once upon the time, her father wanted to sue Henry for woman abuse, but she denied it right in front the judge. Since then, her family hadn't interfere again.

Maybe they already knew what happened. That was why nobody cared to call her to ask why she wasn't able to attend the wedding.  Just like she had told them, they were minding their business. 

"Yeah, it's a good thing she's still alive. Just look at what they did to her. How heartless," Henry complained. 

How heartless. 

Michelle couldn't believe Henry was this hypocritical.  She was gradually knowing few things that she didn't know about him before. What else he had in store for her?

"I hope those heartless burglars don't go unpunished the next time they do this to me," Michelle said, glaring at Henry. 

There was a brief silence that was broken by Michelle who excused herself. She couldn't bear looking at Henry's horrible face. It pained her to know that he didn't really give a fuck about her. Denying it right in her face was the evidence.