The Toxic Husband's Perspective

Present Day

It was a quiet afternoon at St. Mary's Hospital, a renowned medical facility in Aurora Heights known for its state-of-the-art care. The rain had stopped, leaving the city streets glistening under the overcast sky. Inside, the sterile corridors were filled with the soft hum of medical equipment and the occasional murmur of conversation.

Emma Turner lay in a hospital bed, her face swollen and bandaged. Her best friend, Laura Bennett, stood outside the room, speaking with Dr. Steven Hayes, the attending physician.

"Your friend will be discharged later today," said Dr. Hayes, glancing at the chart. "She fractured her nose, but she will be fine in a few weeks."

"Thank you so much," Laura replied, her voice tinged with relief.

Dr. Hayes hesitated, then asked, "If you don't mind me asking, what happened?"

"It was a slight home accident," Laura lied smoothly, not meeting his eyes.

"I see," said Dr. Hayes, though his expression suggested he wasn't entirely convinced. "And Mr. Turner? I understand he's the CEO of Turner Pharmaceuticals?"

"Yes, that's right," Laura said, a note of bitterness in her voice. "He's... busy."

With a nod, Dr. Hayes left, and Laura entered Emma's room. She sat down beside the bed, taking Emma's hand in hers.

"How are you feeling?" Laura asked gently.

"Sore," Emma admitted, her voice weak. "But I'll be okay."

"Emma, you can't keep doing this to yourself," Laura said, her voice firm. "You shouldn't subject yourself to this... domestic violence."

Emma looked away, her eyes filling with tears. "It's not that simple, Laura. You know it isn't."

Before Laura could respond, the door opened, and James and Sophia walked in. Sophia rushed to her mother's side, her eyes wide with concern.

"Mom, why does Dad have to be so wicked?" Sophia asked, her voice breaking. "Why does he hurt you?"

Emma forced a smile, trying to reassure her daughter. "It's... it's complicated, sweetie. Your dad loves us in his own way."

Sophia frowned, clearly not convinced. "Has he always been like this since you've known him?"

Emma sighed deeply, unable to find the words to explain. The room fell silent, the tension thick in the air.

---

Later that same day, David Turner was at The Golden Leaf, an upscale café in the heart of Aurora Heights. He sat at a corner table, his expression stern as he slid a cheque across the table to a young woman seated opposite him.

"Here's $5,000," he said coldly. "I want you to abort the pregnancy. You're not pinning this on me just because I'm a rich man."

The young woman, her face pale and eyes downcast, took the check with trembling hands. "I... I understand," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

David leaned in, his eyes narrowing. "You're nothing but a slut trying to take advantage of me. This is your one chance. Take the money and disappear."

With a shaky nod, the woman stood up and left quietly, the cheque clutched tightly in her hand.

---

Flashback: 23 years ago

David Turner couldn't get Emma Collins out of his mind. It was like a spark had ignited something within him. He threw himself into his studies at Westbridge University, attending classes and reading his books,but thoughts of her constantly lingered at the edges of his mind.

One evening, as he walked back to his dormitory, he heard raised voices coming from a nearby alley. Curious and cautious, he approached and saw two men harassing a young woman.

"Come on, sweetheart, don't be like that," one of the men sneered, cornering the girl against the wall. She had long blonde hair, a slender build, and bright blue eyes that were now filled with fear.

"Leave me alone," she said, her voice shaking. "I just want to go home."

The other man laughed, blocking her path. "We can take you home. Come with us, and we'll show you a good time."

"Leave her alone," David said, his voice low and threatening.

The men turned to face him, smirking. "And what are you gonna do about it?" one of them sneered.

David stepped forward, his tall, muscular frame imposing. "I said, leave her alone."

The men sized him up, realizing that they were no match for him. One of them swung a punch, but David easily dodged it and retaliated with a powerful shove that sent the man sprawling. The second man hesitated, then lunged at David, who caught his arm and twisted it, forcing him to the ground.

"Get lost," David growled, his eyes blazing with anger.

The men scrambled to their feet and fled, leaving the young woman standing there, shaken but unharmed.

"Thank you," she said, her voice trembling. "I didn't know what to do."

David recognized her immediately. "You're one of the girls who was with Emma the other day, right?"

She nodded. "Yes, my name is Laura Bennett. Emma is my best friend."

Laura had a delicate beauty, with long blonde hair that cascaded down her back in gentle waves, and striking blue eyes that seemed to hold a depth of emotion. She was petite, with a graceful demeanor that made her appear almost fragile, though her eyes showed a strength and determination that belied her appearance.

David smiled, feeling a strange sense of destiny. "I'm David Turner. It's nice to meet you, Laura."

Laura looked at him curiously. "Do you know Emma? How do you know her name?"

David paused, then deflected. "I just heard someone mention it. What are you studying?"

"Pharmacy," Laura replied, surprising David.

"Really? That's my course too," he said, impressed. "So, Emma is in the same department as us?"

Laura nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yes, she is."

David felt his heart race at the thought. "Well, it's good to know. Maybe I'll see you both around," David said.

Laura smiled and replied. "Alright thank you so much."

With that, they parted ways, but David couldn't shake the feeling that meeting Laura and Emma was the beginning of something significant.