The sound of the front door slamming open jolted me from my shock. I'd been staring at those sketches of Camille for what felt like hours, unable to process the magnitude of Reed's betrayal.
"Elina!" Reed's voice thundered through the penthouse. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
I turned slowly, my legs trembling beneath me. Reed stood in the doorway, his face contorted with rage—an expression I'd never seen before. His usual mask of cold indifference had cracked, revealing something far more dangerous underneath.
"I—I found it open," I stammered. "The power surge must have triggered something—"
"You had no right!" He crossed the room in three long strides, grabbing my arm with bruising force. "This is private. This is mine!"
His fingers dug into my flesh as he dragged me toward the door. I stumbled, catching one last glimpse of Camille's face smiling down from the walls.
"Reed, please," I begged. "We need to talk about this. About her."
"There's nothing to discuss." He shoved me into the hallway, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You've invaded something that doesn't concern you."
I watched in horror as he pressed his palm against a biometric scanner beside the door. The light flashed red.
"Access denied," a mechanical voice announced.
Reed's jaw clenched. He pressed his palm again. "Reset security protocol. Authorization Harper-Reed-alpha-nine-seven."
The light turned green. Inside the room, I could hear mechanical locks engaging.
"Reed," I pleaded, "don't do this."
He turned to me, his eyes cold. "Give me your phone."
"What? No—"
"Now, Elina." He held out his hand. "Or I'll have security search you."
I reluctantly handed it over, watching as he powered it off and slipped it into his pocket.
"And your credit cards." His voice brooked no argument.
"Reed, this is insane—"
"Your. Credit. Cards." Each word fell like a hammer blow.
I reached for my wallet, fingers shaking as I extracted the plastic rectangles that represented my financial independence.
He took them without a word, then pulled out his own phone. "James? Yes, it's Mr. Harper. I need to inform you that Mrs. Harper won't be leaving the building without my escort for the foreseeable future. No, that's correct. She's... unwell."
The doorman's muffled agreement came through the speaker. Reed's eyes never left mine.
"Thank you. That will be all."
---
Two days passed like a strange dream. I wandered our penthouse like a ghost, touching surfaces that no longer felt real. The city sprawled beyond our windows, millions of people going about their lives while I remained trapped in this gilded cage.
I stood at the living room window, watching rain streak down the glass. The Manhattan skyline blurred into watercolor smudges of gray and steel.
"Mom," I whispered, fingering the silver pendant that hung around my neck—a small horse my mother had given me before she died. "I don't know what to do."
The phone rang. I lunged for it, only to hear Reed's voice on the other end.
"Pick up, Elina."
"Reed," I said, relief flooding through me. "Please, we need to talk—"
"Did you need something?" His tone was clipped, professional.
"I need to call home. My parents—"
"Your parents are fine. I spoke with your father yesterday."
Of course he had. Maintaining appearances was everything to the Harpers.
"I miss them," I said, my voice breaking.
There was a pause. For one wild moment, I thought I heard something like regret in his breath.
"Take care of yourself, Elina." The line went dead.
I sank to the floor, clutching my knees to my chest. Then I remembered—the burner phone I'd kept from my charity work with at-risk teens. It was still charged, tucked beneath the lining of my jewelry box.
With trembling fingers, I typed out a message to Ezra:
"I need to come home. It's a lie. All of it."
---
"Smile, darling." Reed's fingers dug into my waist as he guided me into the Harper family dining room. "Everyone's watching."
I forced my lips upward, though my stomach churned with dread. The long mahogany table gleamed under crystal chandeliers, surrounded by the Harper clan in their finery.
"Elina, you look pale," Camille observed, her concern as false as her smile. "Perhaps you should have something to drink before dinner."
She signaled a waiter who appeared with a tray of cocktails. "This will help steady your nerves."
I took the glass reluctantly, the amber liquid burning my throat as I sipped.
"Much better," Camille purred, watching me over the rim of her wine glass.
The first course arrived—a delicate soup served in china bowls. I lifted my spoon, but my hand felt strangely heavy. The room tilted slightly as I brought the spoon to my lips.
"Is something wrong, dear?" Camille's voice seemed distant.
I tried to answer, but my tongue felt thick. "I—I'm not sure..."
The spoon slipped from my fingers, clattering against fine china. Soup splashed across the tablecloth.
"Oh dear," Camille said, her eyes wide with mock concern. "Perhaps Elina should lie down?"
Reed's face darkened as he looked at me. "I apologize for my wife's behavior," he said stiffly. "She's been... unstable lately. Drinking too much."
Camille's lips curved into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "We all have our vices, don't we?"
