Chapter 3

My heart went completely numb.

I didn't have the strength to block him anymore. Slowly, my arms fell to my sides.

A smile finally broke across his face.

He nodded in approval.

"That's my girl. That's the supportive girlfriend I know."

"I'll bring you some pastries when I get back tomorrow morning."

With that,

He left without a second thought.

The door clicked shut.

Leaving me in the suffocating, pitch-black silence of the apartment.

I felt like I was back in that dark, cold alley years ago.

All the traumatic memories rushed back like a tidal wave.

Anxiety crawled through my veins.

Right then,

There was a sudden, violent pounding on the door.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

I crept up and looked through the peephole.

I was met with the menacing, drunken glare of a man.

"Open the damn door, you little brat! Your father already sold you to me to pay off his debts! You're going to be mine sooner or later!"

"Just you wait!"

The terror of past abuse suffocated me.

My body went cold, and my hand instinctively flew to my phone to call Liam.

But his words echoed in my head, over and over.

"You need to learn to be independent. You can't rely on me for everything."

Slowly, I lowered my phone.

I bit my lip so hard it bled, refusing to make a single sound.

I didn't sleep a wink that night.

As the morning light crept through the blinds,

I dragged my exhausted body into the living room, trying to pour a glass of water to soothe the tightening in my chest.

But the moment I looked up, I froze.

There was a strange woman sitting on my couch.

She wore a cute white skirt and had a bright, radiant smile.

She stood up and greeted me warmly.

"Hi, I'm Chloe Miller, Liam's secretary."

So this was the Chloe he was always talking about. The one who constantly needed his protection.

Before I could even process this,

Liam walked out of our master bedroom, speaking in a casual, matter-of-fact tone.

"Chloe is going to live with us from now on. It's closer to the office, so her commute will be easier."

Years ago,

He had brought a battered, broken version of me to this exact apartment for the exact same reason.

Back then, this place was my only sanctuary.

We lived together, fell into a routine, and eventually fell in love.

But now, he was bringing another woman into our home using the same excuse.

How was I supposed to feel okay with this?

Seeing my eyes well up with tears,

Liam quickly brought a pastry to my mouth, trying to feed me.

"Don't be silly, are you seriously jealous of my employee?"

"Trust me, you're the only one I love."

He raised three fingers, swearing to God.

But his vow felt so cheap, so utterly meaningless.

"Elena, I heard you struggle with depression," Chloe said, putting on a show of deep concern. "But don't worry, I studied psychology. Liam and I will help you heal."

Her eyes, however, were dripping with pure provocation.

After she moved in,

Everything changed.

The cabinet that used to be mine,

Was now stuffed with her dresses and skincare products.

My antidepressants were pushed into a dusty corner, barely having any space left.

To "cure" me,

The two of them put all the knives back in the kitchen drawers right in front of me.

They even unlocked all the safety latches on the balcony windows.

"Chloe said that locking you away only makes you feel more insane."

"Elena, start living like a normal person. You can do this."

Nighttime was even worse.

In the past, even a soft sigh from me would wake Liam up to comfort me.

Now, when I woke up screaming from nightmares, covered in cold sweat,

He didn't even flinch.

He wouldn't even look at me.

"Chloe said you need to face your fears. Running away won't solve anything."

But after a month of this "treatment,"

My condition only got worse.