Chapter 2 - Playing the Submissive Wife
I didn't flinch. I forced my expression to soften, letting a tear slip down my cheek. I had to play the victim to survive long enough to destroy them.
“I was just putting your phone on charger, Julian,” I whimpered, making my voice sound weak and broken. “I... I wanted to be a good wife. Why did you do that to me tonight? What did I do to deserve this?”
Julian laughed, a low, mocking sound that chilled me to the bone. He released my wrist and sat up, stretching.
“You existed, Elena. That’s what you did,” he said, leaning close enough that I could smell his expensive cologne mixed with Clara's suffocating perfume. “You have the money, but Clara has my heart. You’re just the key to the vault. For the next 365 days, you will play the quiet, obedient wife. You will smile for the cameras, you will attend the charity galas, and you will tolerate Clara. If you don't, those psychiatric papers will find their way to the press, and you’ll spend the rest of your life in a padded room.”
“I understand,” I whispered, lowering my head to hide the fierce spark of vengeance in my eyes. “I won't cause any trouble.”
“Good girl,” he patting my cheek condescendingly. “Now, get on the floor. I don’t want you sharing this bed with me. You smell like defeat.”
I grabbed a pillow and a blanket, lying down on the cold hardwood floor. As Julian went back to sleep, I stared at the ceiling.
Day one of 365, I thought. Let the game begin.
The next morning, the media circus began. The headline of every major social media outlet praised our "fairytale wedding." Pictures of us smiling at the altar were everywhere.
At noon, Julian scheduled a mandatory family lunch at our new mansion. When I walked into the dining room, my heart stopped. Sitting at the table next to Julian was Vivian, my stepmother, and Clara, wearing a professional designer suit, looking like a high-powered executive.
“Ah, Elena! Come sit down, dear,” Vivian sneered, her eyes gleaming with malice. “We were just discussing the family business. Since Julian is now the CEO of your father's firm, we've decided to hire Clara as the Chief Financial Officer. Isn't that wonderful?”
They were moving their pieces into place, preparing to drain my father's company from the inside out.
“That’s wonderful,” I said, forcing a warm, compliant smile. I walked over and sat directly opposite Clara. “I’m sure Clara is highly qualified. In fact, I’d love to help her settle in. I can show her my father’s private archive room in the office tomorrow.”
Clara and Julian exchanged a surprised look. They expected me to scream, cry, or throw a tantrum. My compliance threw them off guard.
“That’s... very sweet of you, Elena,” Clara said, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“Of course,” I replied, taking a sip of my water. “We’re family now, aren't we?”
But beneath the table, I was holding my phone. I had secretly downloaded a spyware app onto Julian’s phone while he was in the shower that morning using a quick-cloning device I bought online. Suddenly, a notification vibrated in my palm. It was a live audio feed of Julian’s phone.
I put in a hidden wireless earbud under my hair.
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Julian’s phone was currently in his pocket, but he had just received a whispered call from someone outside the room. A raspy male voice spoke: “Julian, we have a problem. The autopsy report for Elena’s father... someone is trying to leak the real version. If they find out he didn't die of a heart attack, we're all going to prison.”
My breath hitched. My father didn't die of natural causes. They had murdered him.
