The woman in the warehouse.

I did not sleep after watching Varek drag those files into the Final Release folder. The image of my own face frozen in orgasm on his screen stayed behind my eyes long after I returned to my room. Every time I closed them I saw the calm satisfaction on his face. He had ordered the nights that made me feel alive again. He had filmed them. He was preparing to use them to erase me.

The next afternoon he announced he needed to check family storage at an old warehouse near the river. He asked me to help him into the car the way I always did. I folded the wheelchair. I buckled the seatbelt. I kept my expression empty while hate and fear twisted together under my ribs.

I followed him.

I waited until his driver turned the first corner, then took my own car and stayed far enough back to remain unseen. The warehouse sat alone at the edge of the industrial lots, surrounded by chain-link fencing and empty loading bays. I parked two streets away and walked the rest of the distance with my phone already set to record. The side door was unlocked. I slipped inside and stayed in the shadows behind a stack of wooden crates.

Varek was already out of the wheelchair. He stood tall and straight, shoulders relaxed, the performance of weakness completely gone. A woman walked out of the back office and straight into his arms. Selene. Dark hair. Soft mouth. She looked younger than me and completely at ease against him. He kissed her the way a man kisses someone he has been waiting for. Hands in her hair. Mouth open and sure. She melted into him without hesitation.

I started recording.

When they finally broke apart he kept his hands on her waist. “It is almost done. A few more videos and I can release everything. The family will turn on her overnight. No one will question the transfer after that.”

Selene rested her head against his chest. “She still has no idea?”

“None. She thinks Kael and Draven care about her. She opens her legs for them every time they walk into the room. It is almost too easy.” He gave a quiet laugh. “I watch the footage every night. She looks so grateful for every orgasm. Pathetic.”

Selene smiled. “And the money?”

“It will be ours. The house. The accounts. Everything that was tied to her name. Our daughter will never want for anything.” He kissed the top of her head. “Just a little longer. I need enough material that no one can defend her.”

They talked for another twenty minutes. Dates. Timing. The moment he would “discover” the videos and play the heartbroken husband in front of the family. I recorded every word. My hands stayed steady even while my stomach turned cold. When they finally left I waited until the sound of the car faded before I moved. I checked the files three times on the walk back to my car. Everything was there. Clear. Damning.

Halfway home the screen of my phone went black. Dead battery. No charger in the glove box. I pulled over and tried not to panic. The street was quiet except for a black sedan that slowed beside me. The window rolled down. Talil Rook, the young driver who worked for the family, leaned out.

“Mrs. Ashbourne? You all right? Car trouble?”

I forced a small smile. “Phone died. I was about to call for a ride.”

“I am headed back to the house anyway. Hop in. I will take you.”

Refusing would have looked strange. I locked my car and climbed into the passenger seat. Talil drove in silence for a few minutes. I could feel him glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

“You look shaken,” he said quietly. “Something happen?”

“Just tired.”

He nodded but did not look convinced. The rest of the drive passed in uncomfortable quiet. When we reached the house I thanked him and went inside as quickly as I could without running. I plugged the phone in the second I reached my room and watched the battery percentage climb. The recordings were still there. Safe.

Downstairs I heard Talil’s voice. He had not left yet. I cracked my door open and listened.

His phone rang. He answered on the second ring.

“Yes, sir.”

A pause.

“No, I did not see anyone following you. Roads were clear.”

Another pause. Longer this time.

“She was on the side of the road with a dead phone. I gave her a ride back. That is all.”

Silence.

Then Talil’s voice dropped. “Yes, sir. I will keep an eye on her.”

He ended the call. Footsteps moved toward the front door. The house went quiet again.

I sat on the edge of my bed with the phone in my hands and the new recordings glowing on the screen. Varek and Selene. The kiss. The plans. The way he laughed about me. And now Talil had orders to watch me too. The walls of the house felt closer than they had that morning.