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Shit! That’s not how I planned to tell her, but I’m not known for sugarcoating things.

“Tell me everything.”

I was expecting tears, so it surprises me when Zoe’s face looks serene instead. This is definitely not the woman I was with in Spain, but it’s fascinating all the same.

At our meeting and later at the hospital, I assumed she would need to be taken care of, perhaps based on what happened in the past. Now, it only takes me two seconds to understand that no, Zoe is sensitive and maybe has been through a lot more shit in her young life than most people, but she’s not a fragile little flower.

I get up and sit on the chair opposite her because the desire to touch her is too much, but the timing is not right. “I’ll tell you everything, but first, tell me how you’re feeling.”

“I have no pain, just the wound on the hand that bothers me a little.”

“From what I’ve gathered from the doctors, you both passed out inside where the fire was burning. A beam fell and hit your agent in the head.”

“So, it’s serious? ”

“I think any blow to the head calls for care.”

Again, no tears, but the uninjured hand clenches into a fist. “It was Mike . . . my ex-husband.”

I try not to show any surprise at the confirmation. Zoe has no idea, but I already know everything about him. “How sure are you?”

“Bia told me. I went out to buy something. My hair was hidden, and I was wearing baggy clothes and a mask because my mother asked me to.”

“ Mask ?”

“Yes. The nurse told me that we are locked up here because of the virus. Mom told me that my Dad predicted this months ago. He’s a Virgo with a Capricorn rising,” she says as if that makes any sense to me, “so he’s always prepared for the worst.”

“You shouldn’t have left the house alone so late.”

“I don’t usually do that, but I had a craving,” she says, her cheeks flushing. “Maybe I shouldn’t say this because you’re my new employer, but the truth is, I was treating myself to a tub of ice cream.”

“Because of the meeting? Did that make you anxious?”

“That too, but mostly because of what had happened that last week. As I told you, I filed for divorce. I’d already started the divorce process with a lawyer.”

“I want to know about that later.”

She doesn’t respond, and I don’t insist.

“So, tell me more about the night of the fire. You’ll have to give a statement to the police, but I have spoken to my lawyers, and they will arrange it through a video call.”

“Is the spread of this virus really that serious?”

“It was worse than anyone could’ve imagined. Many infected people didn’t realize they had the virus, so it spread quickly. Research facilities around the world are in a race against time to manufacture a vaccine. Now, let’s go back to the night of the fire.”

“I went out for about half an hour. It took me longer than I intended because I couldn’t find the flavor I wanted . . . God, that seems so futile now, next to what happened.”

“Continue.”

“I stayed there longer than I intended. When I got back, the glow in the sky told me right away that something was wrong. I called 911 and ran into my parents’ house. They were already coming out onto the front porch, and Dad was struggling to carry my mother in his arms. Ann, the nurse, followed close behind, but there was no sign of Bia.”

I try to swallow down the tension and hatred I’ve been holding back for days because I don’t want her to know I have plans for that bastard Mike.

“I got into the house. It was very hot, and there was fire everywhere. Bia was screaming that it was Mike and that she had trapped him in the bedroom. As I understand it, he confused the two of us because I left the house in my friend’s car, wearing oversized clothes. Now she’s in a coma because of me.”

“No, Zoe, you couldn’t have foreseen that. How could you? Unless . . . wait. Had he threatened you before?”

“No. Not threatened,” she says, looking uncomfortable.

“So no one could have suspected that he would go to that extreme. I found out he had been snooping around.”

“He was?”

“Yes. There was a van near your parents’ house. If he hadn’t attacked then, he would have done it when you were all asleep.” I feel my jaw tighten at the possibility. The anger that seizes me is immense.

“My God!” She covers her face with her hands, and the sight of the wound makes me angry. Lockdown or not, I’m going after the bastard.

“You shouldn’t have entered the house, Zoe.”

“Bia couldn’t reach the exit from the hallway. How could I leave her there, alone? I did what I saw in a movie: I wrapped a blanket around my body and walked through the fire. I protected both of us and we were just about to leave when the beam fell, I think. But I didn’t realize it had hit her head.”

“You said your ex-husband didn’t make threats before,” I repeat, trying to understand what drove that jerk to go this far. But the word ex-husband scratches my throat like acid.

“Yes. What you saw on my face, the beating I took, was the first time it happened. That was the night I told him that our marriage was over.”

Hearing her say that makes a lot of confused emotions escalate inside me .

She is single, or at least, she no longer considers herself married.

But she was married.

Somehow, what happened between us wasn’t strong enough because she replaced me while I was stuck in time.

I get up and walk to the window, turning away from her. “It wasn’t your fault. Neither the aggression nor the fire. It wasn’t something that could have been predicted.”

“But after he assaulted me, I should have stayed in a hotel. I ended up putting my family at risk.”

“Rehashing the past doesn’t change anything,” I say, turning back to face her. That applies to both of us, of course. And I’m not just referring to the recent past.

I think she understands that because she opens her mouth, but before she says anything, I continue.

“As for your friend, her life is not at risk, but unfortunately, she cannot be moved from the hospital. The biggest concern now is the virus. But as soon as the doctors clear her, I’ll arrange for you to meet.”

“You mean bring her here?”

“Or I can arrange a residence for you two. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to stay with your parents on account of Macy’s health, but the final decision is yours.”

“I thought no one could leave . . . I mean, I thought we’d stay here.”

“I can’t stop my life. You are not a prisoner, but you have no deadline to leave. I only ask that if you are to leave again, this time, let me know face-to-face.”