The Other Woman(99)

‘He knows about James,’ she choked.

The blood rushed to my ears as she kept talking, and I couldn’t hear anything she said.

‘What?’ I cried, my breath catching in my throat.

‘They’ve had a fight,’ she said breathlessly. ‘I’m so sorry.’

My head was too full of panic to think straight.

I moved closer towards the door, my hands shaking as they grappled with the latch, unable to get a grip. I jumped back as a fist struck the other side, the low-grade wood barely withstanding the pounding.

‘Adam?’ I called out shakily.

‘Open the door,’ he yelled, so close now I could hear his breath.

‘No,’ I answered. ‘Not until you calm down.’

‘I swear to God, Emily, open this fucking door right now.’

‘Don’t let him in,’ warned Pammie again.

‘What have you done?’ I hissed down the phone, before throwing it onto the floor. I wouldn’t allow her lies to consume me. Us. I had to talk some sense into Adam.

‘You’re scaring me,’ I called through to him. ‘You’ll scare the baby.’

I heard him inhale and exhale slowly, deliberately.

‘Emily,’ he said, his tone suddenly measured. ‘Will you please open the door?’

I put the chain across. ‘Do you promise you’ll stay calm?’

‘Yes, I promise.’

As soon as I twisted the latch, the door took flight, the sheer force snapping the chain off its hinge. I fell to the floor as it swung towards me, my arms flailing helplessly against the power of Adam on the other side. He was looming over me and I knew then the terrible mistake I had made. I willed myself to get up, but my legs wouldn’t work. I stumbled, half crawling up the stairs, scrambling for the top, yet knowing that by doing so, I was blocking off any means of getting out. But I had to be what stood between Adam and Poppy. I couldn’t let him anywhere near her.

I made a grab for the top step, still on all fours, when he yanked my ankle, pulling me back down. My scalp felt like it was lifting off my skull as he picked me up by my hair. I had one arm up in the air, trying to unfurl his fist that was twisted deep into my hair, and the other reaching down to get some leverage on the stairs. My hip took the brunt, as it slammed against each unforgiving step as Adam dragged me up. I wanted to cry out, but I needed to stay quiet for Poppy. I didn’t know what Adam was capable of.

He hauled me along the landing. I tried to get to my feet but he was too strong, and the more I struggled, the more force he used.

‘Please,’ I cried out. ‘Please stop.’

He threw me into the living room and looked down on me. It was the first time I’d seen his face, his eyes bulging with fury, his features distorted by rage.

‘Please, will you just listen to me,’ I pleaded.

‘You whore,’ he spat, his breath reeking of alcohol. ‘Do you think you can make a fool out of me?’ Spittle was hanging from his mouth.

‘No, never. I never would.’

His hand flew down and struck me across the face, catching my browbone. My skin stung and I could feel a lump instantly form.

He paced up and down, clenching and unclenching his fists as I cowered in front of him.

‘It’s not what you think,’ I said. ‘Please, you have to believe me.’

‘I know exactly what it is. You’re fucking my brother.’ He threw his head back and gave an exaggerated laugh. ‘My fiancée, mother of my child, has been sneaking around, behind my back, to fuck my brother.’

‘I haven’t,’ I implored. ‘You’re being ridiculous.’

He stopped stock-still and stared straight at me with wild eyes. ‘Is she even my daughter?’ he bellowed. ‘Is Poppy even mine?’

I knelt at his feet. ‘Of course she is. You know she is. I’ve never been unfaithful to you. Please, you must know that.’

He crouched down beside me and clamped hold of my face. ‘So why is he so caught up with you then?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ I managed.

‘He’s just dragged me away from the girl I was with, and punched me in the face, because, apparently, I was disrespecting you.’

The tiny part of my heart that wasn’t already broken smashed into a million pieces. ‘You were with another girl?’ I asked, determined to keep my voice calm. ‘At our daughter’s christening?’

‘Yeah, and we were having a good time, a really good time.’

‘You bastard,’ I spat.

He looked at me and laughed. ‘Oh, you bought all that shit the last time?’

I didn’t say a word, just watched him as he kept laughing at me.

‘You did, didn’t you? Oh, that is fucking brilliant. But here, I’ll let you into a little secret . . .’ He leant in close, his breath hot on my cheek. ‘I’ve never been faithful to you. How could I? There’s nothing you do that turns me on. You leave me cold.’ He shuddered for effect. ‘Yet you’re so pathetically grateful every time I come near you.’

I spat at him, a big globule landing on his cheek.

His hand came from nowhere, hitting the side of my head, sending me sprawling backwards. It felt like my teeth were spilling out of my mouth one by one, like they do in my dreams, and I clamped my mouth shut in an effort to stop them.