Chapter 7 - The Smiling Facade
The next afternoon,
the hospital room was flooded with bright,
unforgiving sunlight.
I sat propped up against the stiff pillows,
practicing my fragile,
broken smile in the reflection of my water glass.
Right on schedule,
the door swung wide open,
and Daniel strolled in like a conquering king.
He was holding a designer gift bag,
his hair perfectly styled,
his smile radiant and fake.
"Hello, my beautiful wife,"
he chimed,
kissing my forehead with forced affection.
"I brought you something special to lift your spirits."
He pulled a soft,
cashmere shawl from the bag,
draping it carefully over the foot of the bed.
"Thank you, Daniel,"
I murmured,
keeping my voice soft,
submissive,
exactly how he liked it.
"You are always so thoughtful."
He beamed with pride,
taking his usual seat beside the bed,
crossing his legs elegantly.
"The doctor says you are healing nicely,
Elena,"
he announced,
as if he were reading a successful quarterly report.
"In fact,
they are discharging you tomorrow morning."
My heart skipped a painful beat,
panic rising in my throat despite my preparations.
"Tomorrow?"
I echoed,
feigning nervous hesitation.
"But I still need help changing the bandages,
and the pain is so intense."
Daniel reached out,
stroking my cheek with a patronizing,
infuriating gentleness.
"Don't worry your pretty little head about a thing,"
he cooed,
his eyes locking onto mine with a chilling intensity.
"My mother has graciously agreed to stay with us indefinitely,
just to act as your personal nurse."
I dug my fingernails into my thighs,
using the physical pain to hide my absolute terror.
Returning to that house,
with the woman who tried to burn me alive,
was a nightmare I wasn't sure I could survive.
"That is so kind of Vivian,"
I lied,
forcing the corners of my mouth to lift into a grateful smile.
"I am so lucky to have such a supportive family."
Daniel chuckled,
a dark,
satisfied sound that echoed in the quiet room.
"Yes, you are,
Elena,"
he agreed,
checking his expensive watch.
"Without us,
you would be completely lost."
He stood up,
buttoning his suit jacket with crisp,
precise movements.
"I have to get back to the office,
darling,
a very important merger is happening this week.
But I will be here bright and early tomorrow to take you home."
"I'll be waiting,"
I whispered,
watching him walk out the door,
his Italian leather shoes clicking against the floor.
As soon as he was gone,
I pulled the burner phone from under my mattress.
My fingers flew across the screen,
typing a rapid,
desperate message to Marcus.
'They are taking me home tomorrow,
Vivian is going to be my nurse,
we need to move faster.'
The reply came almost instantly,
a single,
comforting line of text that anchored my racing heart.
'The trap is already set,
May you like
El,
just keep smiling.'
