Chapter 2

"Of course it was legit. I picked it myself," Clara broke the silence, her tone unwavering. "That psychiatric hospital sends me her monthly psych evaluations. There's never been anything wrong."

"Eric, you're not actually buying this, are you?" She glanced at him, his resolve starting to crack. "Have you forgotten how batshit crazy she used to be? Setting fires, poisoning people—she's done it all. How could someone like that suddenly come back all docile and obedient?"

Her voice rose. "I think her acting skills just leveled up! Hurting herself like that? She's calculating as hell."

"I'd bet my entire future on it—she's faking!"

"Your future?" Eric snorted, ruffling her hair. "What man would want you?"

"Get your eyes checked if you're that blind," she shot back, playfully punching his shoulder. "Meanwhile, you somehow managed to land a wife."

"Too bad Helen's a pain in the ass. I bet she's gearing up for another revenge plot against me."

"She wouldn't dare." He took her words to heart, his gaze turning cold as ice when it landed on me. "From now on, you do whatever Clara says. No more targeting her like you used to. Understand?"

Memories flooded back.

The night I hemorrhaged from an ectopic pregnancy, he'd said over the phone, "Just hang in there. I'm at her birthday party."

My late mother's pearl necklace—the moment Clara said she liked it, he insisted I give it to her. Because she was the friend who once took a bottle to the face for him.

Our wedding anniversary. I'd finally scored a reservation at an upscale restaurant. The second we sat down, Clara just happened to show up. He spent the entire evening playing video games with her, never looking at me once.

I'd argued. I'd thrown tantrums. I'd smashed things.

The more it happened, the more fed up he became—until Clara mentioned she knew a place that could "fix" me.

"When women don't listen, they need discipline. I can pull some strings and get her into a psychiatric facility. She'll come out behaving."

He agreed.

When I refused, he said, "Forgot your mom's buried in the Harrison family plot? Say no, and I'll have her ashes dug up and scattered."

I had no choice.

But after I got out, I only became more erratic. So he had Clara send me back again and again, to different facilities each time.

Until the eighth time, when I finally learned to obey.

Just like now.

I nodded obediently.

After that, Clara's tests grew more and more extreme.

On a stormy night, she sent me out to buy batteries for her gaming console. I walked over ten miles before finding a store that was open, then delivered them to her intact.

She'd dump rice mixed with dirt onto the floor and make me eat it. I'd pick up the grains one by one, chewing slowly, then lick the floor clean.

Even when she deliberately gave me a massive bouquet of lilies, I only thanked her calmly and accepted them without question.

Not until I went into anaphylactic shock and was rushed to the ER did she finally lose patience.

She pointed toward the pool outside the window. "You're so obedient, right? If you've got the guts, jump in."

Her voice was resolute. "Let's see if you can keep up the act!"

I pulled out my IV, slowly made my way to the window.

I glanced back at Eric. He just stood there, arms crossed.

When I lifted one leg over the sill, he looked like he wanted to say something—but in the end, he turned away.

I couldn't tell if he was waiting for me to slip up, or if he simply didn't care.

Either way, he clearly didn't remember I was terrified of water.

I turned back, trembling as I lifted my other leg, squeezed my eyes shut, and jumped.

Water splashed. In an instant, I sank to the bottom.