5
To ensure I ‘recovered peacefully,‘ Liam confiscated my phone, wallet, and even my laptop.
My mom and Liam’s mom took turns, staying by my side every moment, just waiting for five days later to send me onto the plane for my ‘vacation!
“Anya, you need to eat well and get your strength back, so we can go to the Maldives.” Liam’s voice was gentle as he spoon–fed me a mouthful of porridge.
Every gentle word was a fatal blow!
I obediently finished the entire bowl of porridge, then immediately rushed to the bathroom to throw it all up.
That evening, Liam seemed to have urgent work, staying in the study very late.
Listening to Liam’s mom’s even breathing in the next room, I silently slipped into the seldom–used guest room.
1-11
In the guest room’s nightstand, there was an old, basic phone – one I had bought for my parents in case their phones had issues. It had barely been used, and they had long forgotten about it.
I held my breath, pressed the power button, and sent a text message to my childhood best friend and lawyer, Maya.
[Liam’s taking me to the Maldives. Help me.]
After successfully sending it, I quickly deleted the message and put the phone back in its original place.
After doing all that, I lay in bed, my heart pounding.
After the text was sent, the next two days passed peacefully.
I didn’t know if Maya had received the message, or what action she would take.
All I could do was continue to fake it, playing the role of a patient whose condition was stable and gradually recovering.
My compliance greatly pleased Liam.
The night before our departure, he was in an excellent mood. He even opened a bottle of red wine and had dinner with my
parents and me.
“Anya, look, you’re doing so well now.” He raised his wine glass, looking at me with deep affection: “When you come back, we’ll forget all the unpleasantness of the past and live a good life together.”
I looked at his hypocritical face, a cold dread in my heart.
After dinner, he called me to the study and took a file folder from the safe, handing it to me.
“Anya, this is a partial share transfer agreement for our company, and several beneficiary change forms for financial products.”
“I’ve thought it over. I’ve let you suffer too much in the past, and I want to compensate you with these.”
He coaxed me, his voice incredibly gentle: “Just sign these first. When we return from the Maldives, I’ll have the lawyers hardle the formalities. From now on, what’s mine is yours.”
How could he be so kind?
I opened the folder and quickly scanned the contents.
The assets listed were quite valuable, appearing to be a truly generous gift.
But I knew in my heart that he was asking me to sign only so that, in the event of an ‘accident, the existence of these documents would demonstrate our deep marital affection, thereby clearing him of any suspicion.
These signed documents would become a will that would make my death seem like a willing sacrifice for him.
I picked up the pen, my hand trembling slightly.
“What, you don’t want to?” The gentleness on Liam’s lips remained unchanged, but his eyes were filled with menace: “Anya, don’t
make this difficult for me.”
“You know, I have many ways to make you ‘voluntarily‘ sign.”
I glared at him, hatred swirling in my heart, and finally lowered my head, signing my name at the end of each document.
But on the very last stroke of my signature, I used my fingernail to lightly etch a tiny, almost imperceptible period beneath my
name.
This was my secret signal with Maya. Back in school, we had agreed that if we ever signed any document involuntarily, we
would leave this mark after our signature.
After signing, I handed the documents back to him.
He put the documents away with satisfaction, then leaned in, intending to embrace me.
I shuddered all over, pushing him away with all my might, my voice trembling: “Don’t touch me! You monster!”
Liam’s face instantly darkened. He gripped my shoulders tightly, warning gently: “Behave.”
“Theou behave, and your last days can be more comfortable. Otherwise… Anya, you wouldn’t want to experience the
consequences.” game has only just begun. Don’t be such a sore loser already.”
“Y
