Sex Addiction ✔

16

Emily's POV.

I walk into the hotel room, take off my coat, feed Natalie formula, and change her diaper.

The hotel window is double-glazed, and outside, the heavy snow and strong wind create a muffled thud against the window.

Through the snowy fog, I see the airport in the distance shrouded in darkness. I draw the curtains and turn on the TV. The news is reporting the blizzard, which caused jams and power outages in half the city.

I take a shower and go to bed, holding Natalie and trying to sleep, but she starts crying.

Natalie isn't a high-need baby. Before she was born, I read posts from new moms online who said their babies slept during the day and cried at night, or had to be held to sleep, waking up as soon as they were put down.

I was terrified. But after Natalie was born, I found she was very easygoing, falling asleep in seconds and sleeping through the night undisturbed.

What's going on today? I check her diaper; it's dry. I examine her clothes; there are no uncomfortable seams or fabrics.

I pick up my phone to search for reasons and find that she might not be used to the bed.

I left in a hurry and didn't bring the crib she's used since birth.

I sigh and stack all the pillows and cushions in the hotel to form four walls like her crib, then put her inside.

"Mommy's here, don't cry, don't cry," I whisper to her.

When she finally quiets down and closes her eyes, I'm sweating.

I lie down, staring blankly at the ceiling.

The doorbell rings the next moment.

Startled, I don't want to answer, so I press the do-not-disturb button. But then there's knocking.

I huddle on the bed, hoping the person outside gets the hint and leaves.

But the knocking stops, and the room phone rings.

I freeze for a few seconds, then pick up the phone and hang up immediately.

Feeling uneasy and unsafe, I take the sleeping Natalie to the bathroom, lock the door, and sit on the chair by the door, listening intently.

My instincts are right.

Five minutes later, I hear the room door beep.

Someone has entered.

I hear Cayden talking with a woman, but can't make out the words. After a while, the talking stops.

Someone is definitely in the room.

Holding Natalie, I stare blankly at my reflection in the mirror. What did I do wrong? I just wanted a daughter and a peaceful life. But since Cayden arrived in Helsinki, I've been living in fear every second.

Has he turned into that demon again?

I close my eyes.

Someone starts knocking on the bathroom door, then pushes it. Realizing it's locked, they knock again.

Then I hear Cayden's voice, "The room service said you weren't here, I was worried, so I came to check."

I don't respond.

Cayden pauses and continues, "I sincerely want to apologize. Don't worry, I'm clear-headed now. I won't hurt you. "

"I've always had a prejudice against you... No, actually, against assistants. I don't know if you've seen the rumors about our family online, but most are true. My dad's secretary married into our family like that."