Chapter 2

Feeling thirsty, I got up and went downstairs to get water.

But I saw Liam on the balcony, talking on the phone.

His voice wasn't loud, but I could hear clearly.

"Mm, tomorrow's auction—bid on whatever you want, don't worry about the price. Be good. I've been a bit busy lately, so I can't always be with you."

His tone was doting. That tone used to belong only to me, but not anymore.

I stood quietly behind him with my water glass, listening for a while.

Finding it uninteresting, I turned to leave.

But then I heard, "Ellie? When did you come down?"

He'd already hung up the phone.

"Just now..."

He wanted to explain, but I cut him off. "I was thirsty, just came down for water. Continue what you were doing, don't mind me."

He walked toward me, reaching out to grab me.

But I'd already turned and headed upstairs ahead of him.

At the staircase landing, I saw from the corner of my eye that his gaze followed me the entire time.

The next day at breakfast, Liam poured me a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

This was his habit.

Every time, I would drink the entire glass, and he would watch me with a gentle smile.

But this time, I didn't touch the orange juice. Instead, I poured myself a glass of warm water.

His smile froze on his face, but he said nothing.

Liam got up, grabbed his coat, and headed out. "I need to go out for a bit."

"Okay," I replied.

He stopped at the door and looked at me. "Nothing you want to ask?"

I paused for a moment.

Indeed, if this were before, I definitely would have interrogated him thoroughly.

Asked him what he was doing, how long he'd be gone, who he was with.

I didn't know when it started—when I became so insecure, so afraid of him leaving me.

Fortunately, not anymore.

I spoke, my tone flat. "No."

Liam stood there for a few seconds but ultimately said nothing.

After he left, I got up and went to my room to pack.

Actually, there wasn't much to bring.

The clothes I wore at the facility—I didn't want to take them. Seeing them would only remind me of those painful memories.

I put the photo of me with my mom and dad into my suitcase.

And a hardcover notebook—the "reflection journal" I was required to write at the facility.

I flipped through it. Each page was only allowed one sentence.

[Called him again today. 180th time. He only said to reflect.]

[Today's "correction" really hurt.]

[I miss Mom and Dad so much. No one loves me anymore. Now even he's bullying me.]

[It's my birthday today. No one remembers.]

[Haven't thought about him for three days now. The administrator says I'm almost normal.]

I closed the notebook and tossed it into the trash.

Liam returned quickly and wanted to take me to a party.

I was brought to a makeup room upstairs at the venue to touch up my makeup. The door was slightly ajar, and I could hear him talking with friends in the hallway outside.

"Liam, how are things with her?" It was Chase's voice.

Liam's voice was calm. "Fine."

"She seems much more obedient now—just sits there quietly. When she saw me, she didn't even react. I thought she was going to go crazy again."

Chase continued, "But seriously, hasn't Serena been getting a bit too showy lately? She bid on a sky-high diamond ring at the auction today without batting an eye. That's one thing, but she's been going around telling everyone you gave it to her."