Chapter 2

The next day, Martin sent over a bouquet of white roses.

He said, "You used to love these most."

I nodded.

The truth was, I hadn't loved them for a long time.

After my first miscarriage, Bella had come to my room holding white roses, saying she wanted to apologize to me on Martin's behalf.

I threw the flowers in the trash.

When she bent to pick them up, a thorn cut the back of her hand.

Martin walked in and saw her crouched on the floor, crying.

That was the first time he said it in front of an outsider. "Anna, can you not act like a lunatic?"

After that, white roses became my nightmare.

Just the sight of them and I couldn't breathe.

But now they sat there, the scent drifting over in waves, and all I felt was a little stifled.

Martin sat down at the edge of the bed and set a treatment consent form in front of me.

"You've been doing well these past few days. A few more and you can go home."

Bella pushed the door open, a thermal container in her hand.

"Anna, I made you some porridge."

Martin stood and took it from her. "You're pregnant. You shouldn't be doing this."

Bella lowered her head and smiled. "I want to make it up to Anna."

She lifted a spoon to my mouth.

I didn't open it.

Martin frowned. "She made it for you."

I took the bowl and had a sip.

The porridge was sweet.

Cloyingly sweet.

It made me think of the first time I said there was something wrong with the medicine she gave me, and that had been because of a bowl of porridge that tasted off, too, right after the pills.

I went to check the kitchen cameras. The footage had been deleted.

I took the pill bottle to Martin. He was with Bella, having her try on a dress.

Bella ducked behind him.

I hurled the bottle at the mirror. Broken glass scattered across the floor.

Martin pulled Bella into his arms, and the look in his eyes went cold, bit by bit.

"Anna, no one is trying to hurt you."

But after that day, I stopped sleeping. Night after night, only sleeping pills got me through.

Bella asked softly, "Is it good?"

I set the bowl down. "It's good."

She looked at me, and she seemed a little disappointed too.

Martin suddenly reached out and touched my face.

"So obedient today?"

I didn't pull away.

His fingers stayed against the side of my face for a long time.

"Anna." He lowered his voice. "Behave, and it's not as if I can't be good to you."

The words were like sugar, and like a knife.

Before, all he had to do was call me that and my eyes would sting.

Now I only noticed that his fingertips were a little cold.

Bella suddenly produced a small box.

"Oh, right, Anna, here. This is yours."

She opened it. Inside was a ring.

My engagement ring.

The one that had vanished after my miscarriage.

Back then I turned the whole bedroom over, knelt on the floor reaching under the bed, crying, asking everyone if they'd seen it.

No one admitted to anything.

Martin said I was out of control after the birth, determined to turn the whole house upside down.

Now the ring had turned up in Bella's hands.

Her explanation came quickly.

"A maid packed it into my luggage by accident. I only found it yesterday."

I took the ring.

Two extra letters were engraved on the inner band.

Not mine.

I placed the ring back in her palm.

"It's yours now."

Bella's eyes flickered with panic. "Anna, that's not what I meant."

Martin's voice went low. "Who engraved that?"

Bella bit her lip. "I don't know."

For the first time, Martin didn't rush to comfort her.

He stared at the ring, something burning under his eyes.

If it had been the old days, I would have used the moment to cry, to ask him whether he believed me.

But now I only pulled the blanket higher, my attention on that window that hadn't been shut properly.

Martin suddenly looked at me.

"Anna, you're not angry?"

I closed my eyes. "I'm a little tired."

The room fell strangely quiet.

A long while later, I heard him tell the nurse, "Don't increase her dosage today."

I didn't open my eyes.

The truth was, more or less, it didn't seem to make any difference.