Chapter 6

Polina's POV

The night I returned from the rehabilitation center, Ethan unexpectedly ate dinner at home.

I sat across from him, quietly cutting my steak.

This peacefulness pleased Ethan greatly.

He poured me a glass of red wine, his tone like rewarding an obedient pet.

"There's a charity auction gala tomorrow night. You'll attend as my date. The rumors outside haven't been good lately. We need to make an appearance to dispel the gossip about your mental instability."

If this were before, I would have thrown the wine glass in his face.

But now I only set down my knife and fork and nodded. "Okay."

Ethan looked at me with some surprise, then walked over and patted my head.

"Good girl. As long as you stay this sensible, Lily won't hold your previous misunderstandings against you."

The next evening, the banquet hall was resplendent.

I wore the dress Ethan had chosen, sitting quietly in a corner.

Even when people around me pointed and whispered, calling me a lunatic who'd just finished psychiatric treatment, I didn't even raise an eyelid.

Until Nina walked over with a glass of red wine.

She was Lily's friend and still held a grudge about the broken necklace incident.

"If it isn't Polina? I heard you just finished psychiatric treatment?"

Nina deliberately raised her voice, drawing everyone's attention. "Why so quiet? Did the electroshock therapy make you stupid? Or have you forgotten who the real master of this circle is?"

Seeing I wouldn't respond, a flash of malice crossed Nina's eyes.

She pretended to walk past, then flicked her wrist.

A glass of red wine splashed directly onto my dress, running down my thighs.

"Oops, my hand slipped."

Nina covered her mouth, laughing without sincerity, waiting for me to lose it.

"Polina won't be angry, will she? You're a mental patient now. If you go crazy and hit someone in public, they'll have to take you back for more treatment."

She wanted to provoke me, to watch me make a scene in front of everyone.

But I only looked down at the wine stain on my dress, my face showing no emotion.

I didn't even furrow my brow.

"It's fine."

I picked up a napkin from nearby and wiped the wine that had splattered on the back of my hand, my tone as calm as discussing the weather.

"It's just a dress. When it's dirty, you throw it away."

Just like some people and things that had become dirty.

Nina froze, making herself look like a clown.

Ethan, who'd been observing from a distance, walked over.

He saw this scene, but he didn't blame Nina. Instead, he seemed satisfied with my reaction.

He put his arm around my shoulder, saying quietly, "Go change. Well done."

He thought it was calmness after treatment.

Only I knew it was numbness after my heart died.

Where he couldn't see, my nails had dug deep into my palm, but I felt no pain.

I could feel the countdown ticking away in my mind.

Late at night, Ethan went to shower.

From the hidden compartment of an old stuffed animal no one noticed, I retrieved the backup phone I'd hidden earlier.

It was my only escape route.

The screen lit up. An email from the Swiss neuroscience center lay there quietly.

"Miss White, your surgery appointment is confirmed. Please be sure to arrive in Zurich on time."