My chest ached like something had driven needles straight through it.
All those times—gasping under the weight of their family's "rules," begging him for help—
His response was always the same weary sigh.
"I got my leg broken standing up for you. And you can't handle this much?"
"Marriage is about sacrifice. You're being unfair to me."
And every time, I swallowed it down.
Molded myself into the perfect wealthy wife.
Looking back now, it was laughable.
Three days after losing the baby, I moved back to my old rental—the one from before the marriage.
Almost immediately, I sensed it.
Someone was following me.
When I went shopping, they followed.
When I ate, they watched.
Through my earpiece, my handler confirmed it.
"You've got a tail. Left rear, baseball cap. Movements are suspicious."
"Can't confirm identity yet."
"Stay alert."
I gave a small nod.
My phone buzzed with a new message.
"You haven't been home lately. Let's meet and talk about Chloe."
From Russ.
I agreed and headed to the location he'd specified.
But when I arrived, the person waiting wasn't Russ.
It was Chloe.