Chapter 7 – Three Minutes to the Time

Melissa’s POV

Everything about today feels like freedom.

You know that kind of day where your chest feels lighter even before the sun rises? That’s what this morning felt like because it's D-Day. The one I’ve been counting down to for three years. The day everything which includes pain, humiliation and fear will finally stop having a hold over me.

I stood before the mirror earlier, fixing the last strand of my hair, staring at a reflection that almost didn’t look like me anymore. I looked tired, sure, but I also saw something else in my eyes which was peace. The quiet kind that comes when you know you’ve already made up your mind and nothing can shake it.

But to think of it, Tony might hate me, but his mother had always been the only warmth to my soul in this marriage. And for that alone, I made myself a promise today that I would make sure the Morgan Group remained stable. Even if I walk away from it, it will still stand tall for the next ten years. With that, myconscience would be clear.

This morning, one of my team members stopped by before we headed to the venue. Her eyes were wet when she spoke.

“Melissa, thank you for everything,” she said, clutching my hand. “You made this happen. Without you, there would be no launch today. You pushed through everything and even him.”

Without saying who exactly, I knew that meant Tony, but she didn’t need to say it.

“I almost quit so many times because of his attitude,” she continued, “but I stayed because of you.”

Her words made me smile, even though it hurt somewhere deep, because I knew it was true. I had given everything I had for this project. All my nights, my mind and my sanity. And today, it was finally paying off.

When I got to the launch hall, the sight stopped me for a second. It was beautifully set up with silver and white drapes, rows of chairs filled with people dressed like they’d come to witness history and the cameras already waiting. The big screen at the front read “Morgan Group: Humanoid Prototype Launch.”

The energy in the room was electric as every whisper carried my name. Every curious look reminded me of what I’d built.

I stood still for a while, letting the moment sink in. This was it, you know my work and maybe, my freedom, right.

As I moved closer to the stage, I could hear people talking.

“Mellisa, you are truly the mother of those robots,” someone said with an easy laugh. “With this bot, the Morgan Group will dominate the global tech scene.”

I smiled, nodded politely.

Another voice joined in, lighter but teasing. “A fitting daughter-in-law for Mrs. Morgan. I hear she’s eager for you and Tony to start a family.”

Their laughter followed, harmless maybe, but it stung in a way I didn’t expect. A family with Tony? That was a dream that had died a long time ago and I never wish that it would happen ever again.

Still, I kept the smile on my face. “Thank you,” I murmured, though my chest tightened.

Then, before I could take a breath, that voice which felt sharp, mocking and yet familiar cut through the air like a blade.

“Family? With her?”

I didn’t even have to turn. I already knew that was Tony.

The sound of his voice alone could drain the color from the day.

He walked closer, smirking like this was all a joke. “Please! Spare me that. She isn’t even worthy of carrying my name, and you talk about children?”

The crowd went quiet for a heartbeat and right now I could feel every stare, every whisper growing heavy around us.

For a moment, I wanted to speak, let's say to defend myself, to tell him he wasn’t breaking me this time but then I caught sight of my wristwatch. It was exactly ten minutes to the expiration of the contract and in essence to the robot launch which brought everyone together in this place. But to me, it was more like ten more minutes of endurance and just then, I breathed out slowly and forced a little smirk.

Let him talk. Let him strut. He’ll regret every word in a few minutes.

“What’s funny?” he snapped, stepping closer.

I didn’t answer and at the same time, I didn’t even flinch. But he hated silence more than he hated me. Before I knew it, his hand swung directly to my cheeks and the slap cracked through the air while the hall went still.

My cheek burned and my ears rang. The embarrassment felt louder than the pain.

“Know your place, bitch!” he spat, the words slicing through the silence. “Don’t ever breathe too hard when I don’t ask you to. Let alone smile freely like that. I heard what they said about my mum but what made you think I’d ever want to have kids with you? Even if you were the last woman on earth.”

I could hear the shock ripple through the room in gasps, murmurs and the scrape of shoes shifting against the floor.

Inside, I told myself, ‘Three more minutes of this. Three minutes and I’m done.’

As if I’d want a child with you anyway, I thought, swallowing back tears. You are the biggest mistake I ever made. The moment this launch begins, I’m announcing our divorce and I’ll walk away.

He was still talking, chest puffed like a peacock in front of his crowd.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, stretching out his hands dramatically. “Morgan Group is a huge success. All thanks to my brilliant leadership.”

The audacity almost made me laugh.

“And as for her,” he said, pointing at me like I was some old furniture, “she’s just a parasite who climbed the ladder using our resources. And I put it to her that without us, she’s nothing.”

Some people from the audience couldn’t help themselves. “Isn’t she the one that built the robot?” The voice was male and I could bet that was definitely a client, because no staff would ever dare. “Bragging like that will only push her away. If I were you, I’d be kissing the ground she walks on.”

Another voice agreed faintly somewhere behind.

I caught a few heads nodding and others whispering. But none of it changed anything. They didn’t know that this marriage wasn’t by choice but it was what I saw as an obligation because nothing actually attracts me to such an arrogant and incompetent self acclaimed CEO in the real sense. But the good thing was that it will all end today.

The words of praise should’ve filled me with pride, but instead, fear pressed at my ribs. I knew too well what praise meant for me did to Tony—it triggered him. And once the beast in him woke, there was no reasoning left.

He moved closer again. His jaw was tight and eyes blazing. Then, suddenly, he shoved me hard. My body hit the floor, my knee scraping against the stage. The sound of it echoed in the mic. A few people gasped. Someone even tried to stand, but Tony’s glare froze them in place.

I pushed myself up, slow but steady. My hand hurt, my dress was a mess, but I stood tall anyway. I could feel the heat rising to my face although this time, not from shame, but from something sharper, quieter and maybe powerful.

“Look at her,” he scoffed. “Every bite she eats, every dress she wears, were all paid for by me. She’s just a dog I feed and she knows better than she would never dare to leave .”

I looked him dead in the eye. He didn’t know what I knew.

He didn’t know that in few more minutes, I’d be free and done with him, maybe the reality was far from him.

He leaned in close, his breath hot and heavy against my cheek. “So what, Melissa? You think you’re some kind of genius now? You’re nothing without me. Just my pet that I get to control whenever I please.”

His hand came up again, this time to grip my chin. His fingers pressed hard, tilting my face toward him. I could smell the arrogance on him—cheap cologne mixed with pride.

For a moment, I saw the reflection of us on the giant glass screen behind the stage with him towering and myself standing small but unbroken. With that, I almost smiled but I held it back.

Because I knew something he didn’t.

I glanced at my wristwatch. The second hand was ticking closer. Four minutes now.

My chest rose and fell slowly as I met his gaze again. “You should be careful, Tony,” I whispered just loud enough for him to hear. “You might choke on your own pride one day.”

His hand froze for a second, surprised that I dared to talk back. Then, as expected, he laughed in a bitter and mocking sound that made my skin crawl.

“Don’t try to act brave, sweetheart,” he sneered, brushing invisible dust off his suit. “You’re still mine until I say otherwise.”

Not for long, I thought, stealing one last glance at the clock behind him.

The wall clock ticked loudly in my head, every second stretching like a held breath. Three minutes left. Three minutes to freedom and at the same time, three minutes to end this farce.

I didn’t move and I didn’t speak. I just let the moment hang there between us, enjoying his arrogance, my silence, and the thin line between humiliation and victory.

If Isaac Newton was right about his third law—that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, then he had no idea how true that would be for me today.

Because when that clock strikes the exact time, I’ll show Tony Morgan what it means when a woman finally fights back.

His voice cut through the hum of murmurs in the hall like a blade drawn across glass.

“Oh yeah! Go ahead and tell them that you’re still mine until I say otherwise.”