CHAPTER 3

ZARIA

I had waited a full two weeks before daring to use the parcel I received at Richard’s birthday party. I couldn’t act immediately, Renzo would have noticed. Any tiny change in my behavior or any shift in routine, could trigger his suspicion. And if he suspected even for a second… escape would become impossible.

So for two long, exhausting weeks, I played the perfect wife.

I smiled when he looked at me.

I laughed at the right moments.

“Ma’am,” May, the housekeeper's daughter, called out to me. “The water is hot enough now.”

Blinking back into reality, I glanced at the whistling kettle. “Thank you May.”

During these two weeks, I have built a routine, one that Renzo appreciated a little too much. I started making him tea every night, something to help him sleep better and calm his mind.

The timing was perfect.

After the birthday party, he developed a cough from his nonstop smoking. The tea seemed to help, so he relied on it.

He didn’t know that I was relying on it too for a completely different reason.

“Should I take the tea upstairs myself?” She asked, “he’ll be less suspicious if I take it to him myself.”

May, the housekeeper’s daughter had already coordinated everything with me. She was only doing this because I promised her something in return: enough money to get her through college.

She needed a way out.

So did I.

“No, I’ll do it myself and you need to leave before the camera reveals that you knew about everything and chose to keep quiet.”

“Shit,” May cursed under her breath, “how did I forget about that? I’ll take my leave now.”

As soon as she scurried away, I pulled out the small bottle of sleeping pills that had been slipped to me at Richard’s birthday. The same bottle I had hidden beneath my clothes for two weeks. Unscrewing the cap, I tipped it over the teacup and poured in more than enough pills to knock him out for hours. Maybe longer.

I didn’t care about the cameras.

By the time anyone reviewed the footage, I would already be halfway across the country.

My fingers trembled violently as I reached for a spoon and stirred the tea, my heart beating so fast it felt like it was trying to break free from my ribcage.

“Take a deep breath, Zaria,” I whispered to myself, placing a shaky hand over my chest. “You can do this. You’re doing this for yourself and for your baby.”

“Zaria?”

I almost jumped. Actually, my soul almost flew out of my body. Pure reflex kept me from flinching visibly. Slowly, I turned around, careful not to spill the cup of tea still in my hands.

Renzo stood there, watching me closely.

Too closely.

“What were you thinking about?” he asked, his eyes moving from the cup of tea to my face. It squinted slightly, almost going unnoticed. “What’s going on with you?”

Thankfully, my hands didn’t shake when I handed him the cup.

“I remembered I was supposed to meet a friend earlier today, and I forgot.” I lied.

Renzo lifted one eyebrow slowly, the way he always did when he doubted something.

“A friend?” His gaze dropped to the cup for a moment, as if the answer might be written on the porcelain, before locking back on my face. “You don’t have friends, Zaria.”

I’m starting to wonder why.

Every woman I ever tried to connect with disappeared without warning, moving to another city, another country, or suddenly cutting me off with no explanation.

Almost like someone scared them away.

“I made a new friend,” I continued in the lies.

His head tilted to the side.

“Online,” I added quickly, because somehow that excuse felt safer, and why the heck are we even talking about friends?! “You advised not to be in my shell so much.”

He blinked slowly, his face scrunching. “What?”

“What are you doing downstairs, anyway?” I blurted out, changing the topic. “I told you to wait upstairs while I made your tea.”

He ignored my question completely.

“You were going to meet a friend you met online?” He demanded, the muscle in his jaw twitching. “Are you being serious?”

“I planned on going with Hawk, so I don’t think there would’ve been any problem.” I pressed the cup into his hand and stepped past him, heading toward the stairs. “Let’s not talk about things that didn’t happen, okay?”

His footsteps followed me almost instantly.

“Hawk or not,” he growled behind me, “I don’t want you meeting strangers or bringing them into our circle.”

I didn’t bother hiding my irritation.

“The women in your circle are obnoxious,” I hissed, “and I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t want me getting close to the men.”

He grabbed my elbow suddenly, stopping me in my tracks. His grip wasn’t painful, but it was firm enough to remind me that resistance was pointless.

“You will not meet any online friend, Zaria,” he growled. “This is not up for debate and,” he pinched the edge of his nose, “bring up being around any male again Zaria. I fucking dare you.”

I held his gaze, forcing myself to breathe evenly. Then I exhaled and nodded. “Fine. I won’t.”

“You won’t what? Visit your so-called friend or bring up another male.”

“Both.”

Satisfied, he nodded, then suddenly reached out and cupped my cheek in his hand.

“If you ever want to step out,” he said softly, “tell me. I’ll take you out.”

I pursed my lips. “You’re always busy.”

He blinked slowly and took a sip of the tea in his hand. “Pick a date,” he said, “tell me ahead of time, and I’ll make arrangements.”

“Tomorrow?”

His brow twitched slightly. I could see the silent protest flashing in his eyes, but he didn’t say anything.

“Too busy tomorrow? We can—” 

“Tomorrow is fine,” he cut me off, finally nodding and taking another sip of tea. “I’ll clear my schedule.”

A small smile tugged at my lips. “Thank you.”

Turning, I continued up the stairs. When I reached our bedroom, I headed straight to the shower.

It took me longer than usual to step out and when I finally did, Renzo was already fast asleep.

I was dressed in the staff outfit I had picked up from May, and quietly walked over to the bed to tap his cheek. “Renzo?”

No movement. Not even a twitch.

I lifted his hand in an attempt to get any reaction and let it drop. Still nothing.

I quickly grabbed my phone and texted May.

HEAD TO THE PATIO NOW. MAKE SURE TO WEAR THE NIGHTDRESS I GAVE YOU, AND DON’T FORGET A WINE GLASS.

The nightdress was a replica of one I owned. The plan was simple: if the security saw her through the glass wearing my dress and holding a wine glass, they would think it was me. That way, no one would question the staff clocking out for the day.

I waited a full second, just long enough to be sure Renzo wouldn’t suddenly wake up before slipping out of the room.

At the back entrance, I swiped May’s access card. The scanner beeped softly, and the staff parking lot door slid open. No alarms.

Good.

I hurried across the dim lot and got into the taxi already waiting for me. The driver didn’t ask questions. May had made sure of that. We pulled away from the mansion, and only then did I let myself breathe a little.

He drove me to a nearby hotel where May had brought a bag stuffed with some of my valuables, essentials, and a stack of cash I had been secretly putting aside for weeks.

“Reservation under Zaria Dominico.” I breathed out.

“One minute ma’am.” She replied, typing away on the computer. The more she took a lot of time, the more tense I got.

“Can you hurry the fuck up!” I snapped, “I don’t have all day.”

Shocked by my tone, she quickly handed me the key to my room, muttering an apology.

Inside the hotel room, the reality of what I was doing finally dawned on me:

I was running.

Running from a man who never loved me.

Running from a life built on lies.

I changed out of the staff uniform into proper clothes and grabbed the two massive suitcases waiting for me. Then I booked another taxi and slipped out of the hotel.

Halfway through the ride, when we reached a dark tunnel, I tapped the driver’s seat.

“Pull over.”

He glanced at me through the rear-view mirror. “It’s dark in here ma’am and this isn’t your destination.”

“Well, I’m telling you to pull over.”

He pulled the car to a stop and I quickly stepped out. “My suitcases.”

Scoffing, he brought them out from the trunk and I paid him for his services. As soon as the car drove off, I changed outfits again, my hands trembling slightly as I hurried. Then I ordered yet another taxi and switched vehicles, leaving no trail.

The new driver took me straight to the airport.

My escape plan had to be perfect because Renzo had eyes everywhere, and he didn’t tolerate betrayal. But I was prepared. 

I had spent days secretly booking ten different flights to different countries. I even paid several women, professionals who claimed they’d done this a million times to dress like me, board the flights, and pull Renzo’s men in every possible direction.

Each one sent me a photo right before boarding, confirming their role in the illusion.

Three hours later, I was finally on my own plane, headed to Brazil. A place I was sure Renzo would never think to look, especially not with the fake identity I boarded under.

It wasn’t until the plane lifted off, leaving the ground, the city, the mansion, and Renzo’s world behind that I finally exhaled a long, shaky breath of relief.