Chapter 3

I don't even remember how I managed to change my clothes.

My fingers wouldn't stop shaking, and it took me three tries just to zip up my dress.

When I walked out of the bedroom, Julian was already sitting on the couch.

Seeing me, he smiled. "Ready? Let me walk you down to the car."

"No need!" the words spilled out of my mouth.

He blinked, looking surprised.

Realizing I had overreacted, I quickly added, "Don't you have to meet your client soon? I can walk down myself."

"I've got time." He stood up, walked over, and naturally wrapped his arm around my waist. "I’ll walk you to the garage."

His arm was warm and strong, just like it had been every day for the past five years.

But right now, it felt like a snake wrapping itself around my body.

We were the only two people in the elevator.

The mirrored walls reflected our reflection—he was half a head taller than me, looking down at me with gentle, loving eyes.

Just like he did every time we went out.

But today, I didn't dare to look into his eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"N-Nothing."

"Your hands are so cold." He took my hand and frowned. "Did you skip breakfast again?"

"No, I ate. I finished everything you made."

"Good."

The elevator doors opened at the garage level.

He walked me to the car and pulled open the driver's side door.

I got in, and he leaned over to buckle my seatbelt for me.

He had done this for five years, always meticulous and gentle.

But today, his hand lingered on the seatbelt buckle for a second.

Very brief. Maybe just a second or two.

Then he stood back up and waved. "Drive safe. Let me know when you pick up Mom."

I nodded and started the engine.

In the rearview mirror, he stood in his spot, watching me back out, turn, and drive out of the garage.

Only when his figure completely disappeared did I dare to breathe heavily.

I pulled over just outside our residential complex.

The car sat idle.

I took out my phone and reopened the Reddit thread.

OP had updated again.

【8:47 AM. She’s out.】

【She’s driving the silver Toyota, license plate ending in 327. If you guys see her on the road, give her some space—not like she’ll need it for much longer anyway.】

【By the way, she seemed a little off just now. Maybe she noticed something? Doesn't matter, she’ll still go. She’s far too obedient.】

My hands were shaking violently.

"Too obedient."

That was what Julian always said to me.

"You're so obedient, Maya," he would say, running his fingers through my hair, his tone so affectionate as if it were my greatest virtue.

I didn't know what to do.

Call the police?

Tell them I saw a post on Reddit saying my husband is trying to kill me?

Would they even believe me?

Call a friend?

And say what? That I suspect my husband is trying to orchestrate a car crash to murder me?

Even to my own ears, it sounded completely insane.

I looked at the post again.

【9:12 AM. One hour left.】

One hour.

In one hour, if I drove onto that bridge—

I slammed my foot on the gas and turned into a narrow side alley.

This road did not lead to the train station.

I parked by the curb of a random street and dialed the school again.

"Miss Chloe, it's me."

"Maya? Is everything okay?"

"I just wanted to ask... did Lily eat her lunch today?"

"Yes, she did. She just finished. Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing. I just... suddenly missed her."

"Haha, that's totally normal for a mom. Dismissal is at 4:20 PM. Don't be late!"

4:20 PM.

4:20 PM.

The post said she would crash on her way to pick up the kid.

But my pickup was in the afternoon.

If I didn't go pick up my mother-in-law—

My phone rang.

It was Julian.

I stared at his name flashing on the screen. I took three deep breaths before sliding to answer.

"Hey."

"Did you pick up Mom yet?" His voice was as gentle as ever.

"Not yet, traffic is a bit backed up."

"Oh, then drive slowly, no rush. By the way, Maya—"

"Yeah?"

"Did you forget something in your purse?"

I froze. "What do you mean?"

"The ring in your bag. The one I gave you. I just saw it sitting on the couch."

The ring.

I instinctively reached into my bag.

It was empty.

The ring engraved with the word "Substitute"—the one I had found in the car this morning and tossed into my bag.

When I was changing my clothes, it must have slipped out.

"Oh, yes, that's mine," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"That's a relief." He chuckled. "I thought you picked up someone else's. It's a nice ring. The engraving is quite interesting."

The engraving.

"Substitute."

How did he know what was engraved on it?

I had never told him.

I hadn't even had the chance to.

"Maya?" his voice came through the line. "Are you still there?"

"Yeah."

"Good," he said. "Be careful on the road. Drive slowly when you cross the bridge, it's really windy today."

The bridge.

He knew I had to cross the bridge.

I had never told him his mother was taking the train.

He was the one who told me.

He was the one who sent me to pick her up.

"Maya?"

"I'm listening."

"Are you okay? Your voice sounds a bit strange."

"I'm fine," I said. "Just a little tired."

"Then go straight home after you get Mom. I’ll head home right after my client meeting. I'll make that lasagna tonight."

"Okay."

The call ended.

I gripped my phone, sitting in the car, watching the minutes tick away.

9:24 AM.

Thirty-six minutes left.

The silver Toyota sat quietly.

The brake lines had been tampered with.

They would fail the moment I got onto the bridge.

Ninety feet high.

I couldn't swim.

I closed my eyes, and my mind flooded with memories of the last five years.

The way he warmed up my milk.

The way he buckled my seatbelt.

The way he stayed up all night taking care of me when I was sick.

The way he sobbed until he passed out at my sister’s funeral.

My sister.

My eyes snapped open.

Three years ago, my twin sister, Serena, died in a car accident.

A rainy night.

Losing control on the highway.

The car plunged off the embankment.

Everyone, including me, thought it was a tragic accident.

But what if—

What if it wasn't?