Chapter 3

Zoey's POV

In our five years of marriage, this was the first time Justin had ever spoken to me so gently. But his sudden tenderness made me sick to my stomach. I didn't believe a single word of it.

Before I could even close my eyes and sleep, Lyra knocked on the door. "Justin, I don't feel well. Can you stay with me?"

Justin immediately pulled his hand away and got out of bed.

Then, as if suddenly remembering I was his wife, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I'll just go check on her. I'll be right back."

He didn't come back for the rest of the night.

The next morning, when I opened the bedroom door, I ran right into him coming out of Lyra's room. His pajamas were rumpled, and he looked satisfied.

Justin opened his mouth, trying to explain. "I—"

I was already numb inside. Before he could get another word out, I shot him a cold look and walked straight downstairs.

Fortunately, Lyra was too arrogant to bother hiding Tommy away like before. She put him in a first-floor playroom, while she moved into the bedroom right next to the master bedroom.

That gave me the chance to go into the playroom and talk to Tommy.

He was still shaken by what happened the day before. He didn't dare call me or say a single word. He just glanced at me with his wide eyes before lowering his head and going back to playing with his building blocks.

I took a seat beside him, handed him blocks, and helped him build a castle.

Now and then, Tommy would sneak a look at me from the corner of his eye. After a long while, he finally reached out and poked one of the blocks I'd placed crookedly.

"That one's wrong."

That was all it took to get him talking. I followed his instructions and helped him stack the blocks higher and higher.

Suddenly, Tommy looked up at me, his expression serious. "Are you my mom?"

I smiled. "Yes, I am."

Tommy nodded. After thinking for a moment, he tugged on my sleeve. "Mom, can you take me with you? The other mom keeps hitting me. I don't want to get hit anymore."

My nose stung, and tears threatened to spill. I pulled him into my arms. "Don't worry. I'll take you away! Don't be scared, Tommy. No one is ever going to hit you again while I'm here."

We barely had time to enjoy being together before the door was suddenly thrown open.

Justin stormed in, furious. "Zoey Hawkins! Why did you leak what happened between Lyra and me to the media?"

I stared at him in confusion. I had no idea what he was talking about.

Lyra came in behind him, crying so hard that her shoulders shook as she rushed over to accuse me.

"Zoey, why are you doing this to me? The internet is flooded with stories about Justin and me. Everyone's calling me a homewrecker and a slut. You're trying to destroy me! I can't take this anymore!"

The moment she finished speaking, two bodyguards grabbed me by the arms and dragged me out of the room.

"Zoey, it looks like you need to be taught a lesson again," Justin snapped. "Is this how you're trying to threaten me and take Tommy from me?"

The bodyguards roughly dragged me into the hallway.

Tommy stumbled after us, crying hysterically as he lunged forward and grabbed onto my legs.

"Let go of my mom! You're all bad people!"

Justin waved impatiently at the bodyguards, signaling for them to move faster. "Lock her in the basement for a few days. Keep a close eye on Tommy. Don't let him open the door again."

Tommy ran after the guards and screamed through his tears, "Let go of my mom! You bad people! Let go of my mom!"

I was thrown into the basement again, and the trapdoor above me was slammed shut.

Darkness swallowed me whole. My throat felt as though someone had their hands around it, and I slowly began to suffocate.

The ringing in my ears returned, along with the splitting headache. Convulsions wracked my body. I kept coming to, only to black out again.

This time, no one was coming to save me.