I was furious, pounding my fists against the back of his hand.
"Donald, let go of me!"
The bedroom door swung open instantly.
Ivy's smile vanished the second she stepped out. Her gaze dropped to the red marks on Donald's hand, and her eyes turned cold as a blade.
"This daughter-in-law of mine is full of tricks. Just throw her in the trunk."
Clarence Henson stumbled out of his room, woken by the commotion. He looked at me struggling and his expression soured with irritation.
"Dad, can you just cover Mom's mouth? She's so loud I can't sleep."
"It's not like we're sending you to die. You're just going to the countryside for a while. Why are you screaming like a pig at slaughter?"
Those merciless words from my own son.
My heart went cold. Dead cold.
Donald studied my expression with satisfaction, then stuffed a towel into my mouth.
"See? Even your son is on my side."
"Be a good girl and go live out there. I'll come get you when it's time."
They shoved me into the trunk.
The engine rumbled to life.
The stench of gasoline and cheap leather invaded my nose. Every bump in the road sent a jolt of pain through my chest. I bit down on the tip of my tongue to keep from blacking out.
The car hadn't gone far yet. I had to save myself now.
When they tied my wrists, I'd kept my hands spread apart on purpose. Once I relaxed, the gap in the binding was wide enough to work with.
Donald had taught me that trick.
Shortly after our engagement, I'd been kidnapped by a deranged delivery driver. The man was jealous of my happy life and wanted to send Donald and me to hell together. Donald noticed something was wrong in time and managed to fight back.
He'd held me afterward, tears streaming down his face. "From now on, I'll come home and cook for you. No more delivery orders. I'll never let anything put you in danger again."
Everyone envied me for having a husband like that.
He'd also taught me how to escape if I was ever restrained. This was one of those techniques.
I never imagined the first time I'd use it would be against him.
I slipped free and fled into the darkness. My heart hammered with fear and exertion, each beat a stab of pain. One of my shoes flew off somewhere along the way, and by the time I couldn't run anymore, the sole of my bare foot had been scraped raw.
The men sent to catch me were closing in again.
Just as despair was about to swallow me whole, a pair of hands appeared from behind and clamped over my mouth.
"Sheila!"
Inside Eugenia Fox's cramped rental apartment, I sat clutching a cup of hot water, trying to steady my breathing.
Eugenia listened to everything I told her, and her face twisted with rage.
"That bastard. How dare he?"
"Don't worry, Sheila. I won't let him find you. I promise."
Maybe it was the relief of finally feeling safe. The moment I finished the water, exhaustion crashed over me like a wave. I slumped against the couch and fell asleep.
Through the fog of unconsciousness, I heard voices. Familiar ones.
"I sold out my own best friend for this. Ten thousand isn't asking too much, is it?"
"Come on, Mr. Henson. You're a big-shot CEO now. Don't be cheap."
My body felt like lead, but I forced my eyes open a sliver. Through the narrow gap, I saw the woman I'd trusted with my life making a deal with Donald.
Every time she said "best friend," it cut through me like a knife.
I spotted my phone on the floor, just within reach.
I grabbed it and shoved it into my bra.
The deal was done.
Donald scooped me up. He noticed the tears still wet on my lashes and reached out, gently brushing them away.
The gesture was tender.
I swallowed the urge to flinch and kept my body limp, feigning sleep.
Eugenia walked toward us. Just as she got close, her ankle twisted and she crashed hard to the ground.
Donald's reflexes were instant. He dropped me and rushed to her side.
The back of my skull cracked against the floor. My consciousness faded to the sound of his voice, soft and worried, murmuring over Cecily.
