He tried again immediately, but this time it said the number was busy. “Has she blocked me or what?” Ronald snapped, gripping the phone tightly as anger coursed through him. He felt a mix of betrayal and concern; why wouldn’t she answer?
Did she think she could shut everyone out? He dialed her number repeatedly, each attempt met with silence or the dreaded busy signal. With every failed call, his anger morphed into despair.
“What if something happened to her?” he thought frantically. “What if she’s in trouble?” The thought sent a chill down his spine. He could picture her alone in that apartment with that man—vulnerable and confused.
Furious with himself for feeling so helpless, Ronald slammed the phone down on the table, the sound reverberating through the stillness of the room. “Why w
