Chapter 4

The morning the driver took me to Lakeview Manor, he watched me in the rearview mirror with something that looked like pity.

Cara was waiting in a silk robe, barefoot on my mother's rug, tilting her head at me with a sweet smile.

"Ellie, thanks for all your help."

"Of course."

I kept my eyes down.

Her demands were endless.

She wanted her morning smoothie made fresh by hand. She couldn't stand water spots on the floor. When she and Liam were together at night, I had to stand outside the master bedroom door, holding a glass of warm water.

I did all of it.

Liam came every night.

He'd sprawl on the couch, watching me get bossed around in every direction, a satisfied smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

He was enjoying every second of my humiliation.

One afternoon, Cara sent me up to the second-floor terrace to clean.

I had barely gotten up there when she followed me, resting one hand lightly on her lower stomach.

"Ellie. I'm pregnant."

My steps faltered. My heart felt like it had been struck with something heavy.

"Liam is so happy about it."

She stroked her still-flat belly.

"He said this is our first child together. He's going to give this baby everything."

She moved closer, dropping her voice low.

"But Ellie --- with you still living in this house, I just can't feel at ease. You're still his wife. What if you get jealous of me and the baby and do something terrible?"

I looked at her carefully.

"What are you getting at?"

"I mean---"

Without warning, she grabbed my wrist.

"Ah! Don't push me! Ellie, let go! Help! My baby! Someone help me!"

Screaming, she yanked on my hand and threw herself backward --- pitching toward the staircase landing.

It happened in a flash.

I could see the gleam of triumph in the very back of her eyes even as she fell.

“Thud.”

The heavy sound of a body rolling down stairs, tangled with a woman's agonized cries, filled the entire house.

I stood frozen on the landing, my fingertips ice-cold.

The next second, rapid footsteps pounded up from below.

Liam took the stairs almost at a run.

Cara lay crumpled at the bottom of the staircase, curled in on herself, a deep red stain spreading slowly beneath her.

"Cara!"

Liam's face turned ashen. He rushed over and gathered her in his arms, his voice cracking.

"Are you okay? I'm here --- I've got you!"

Cara leaned into his chest, her eyes fluttering open weakly, tears pouring down her face.

She raised a trembling hand and pointed up at me.

"Liam --- she pushed me. She hates me. She hates our baby---"

Liam looked up at me.

The hatred in his eyes could have cut me to pieces.

"It wasn't me---"

My denial was thin and useless.

He didn't even let me finish. He shoved to his feet, clamped his hand around my wrist, and started dragging me toward the small door behind the staircase.

"Liam, listen to me!"

I struggled, being hauled toward the basement entrance --- the one place in this house I'd been terrified of since I was a little girl.

When I was young, I'd been trapped in there. I'd developed severe claustrophobia because of it.

Liam knew that.

"No! Liam! You know I can't go in there!"

I fought against him, my voice shaking.

He stopped. He turned and looked at me, his eyes cold and flat.

"That's exactly why it's a punishment."

The door swung open. Stale, damp air rushed out, along with a faint scratching sound.

Mice.

Every muscle in my body locked up. My blood ran cold.

Liam shoved me in.

Darkness swallowed everything.

“Bang.”

The door slammed shut.

"Let me out! Liam! Please!"

I pounded on the door and screamed.

Silence on the other side.

Just the dark, and the sound of scratching getting closer.

The claustrophobia hit like a wave.

The air felt like it was being sucked out of the room. The walls seemed to press in.

I couldn't breathe. My chest was caving in.

I curled against the door, trembling violently.

Cold sweat soaked through my clothes.

In the dark, every tiny sound was amplified.

I squeezed my eyes shut. Tears ran down my face.

"Mom..."

My voice came out ragged and small.

"Mom, I'm scared..."

No answer.

Liam wasn't coming.

He wanted me to suffer here --- for Cara, for the baby.

My body grew colder and colder. My thoughts began to blur.

In the haze, I thought I heard the lock turning.

Was it Liam?

I tried to push myself up off the floor, but I had no strength left.

Just before everything went dark, I thought I saw the door crack open.

But I couldn't make out anything anymore.

And just before I lost consciousness entirely, I saw a familiar figure rushing toward me through the dark.