ログインEmma's hands trembled slightly as she dialed a number she hadn't called in weeks. The phone rang three times before Richard Hayes answered."Emma? It's late. Is everything alright?"Richard's voice carried the gentle concern of a father who had learned to expect bad news about his daughter but never stopped hoping for good."Uncle, there's something I need to talk to you about. About Alina."A pause. Then Richard's voice, suddenly alert. "What is it? Is Alina alright? We haven't heard from her in over a month. Every time I call, they say she's unavailable. Resting. Busy. Always an excuse."Emma closed her eyes. "That's why I'm calling. Uncle, I have to be honest with you. Alina is not alright."The silence on the other end was heavy."Tell me everything," Richard said quietly.Emma did. She told him everything she'd heard from Mrs. Helen through their exchanged messages. Junior's accident. The amnesia that made him forget Alina. The systematic isolation. The basement incident. Margare
A knock at the door.Alina closed the journal quickly. Slipped it into the desk drawer."Come in."A young maid entered. Not Mrs. Helen, but a different young maid than before."Mrs. Blackwood. Dinner is ready. Mrs. Margaret requests you join the family in the main dining room."Alina stared out the window, only then realizing that it was already dark outside. She stood up.After a few minutes of getting ready, Alina walked over to the mirror.Checked her appearance.Hair neat. Dress appropriate. Makeup covering the exhaustion.The perfect mask.She looked like Mrs. Blackwood.Presentable. Dignified. Emotionless."I'm ready.""This way, Ma'am."Alina followed the maid into the corridor.Toward the dining room where her family waited.The family that didn't want her.Behind her, the bedroom door closed.Without Aliana realizing it, thirty seconds later, the door opened again.Mr. Harris entered quietly. One of the security guards behind him carrying a small case.They moved efficiently
Morning light filtered through Margaret's sitting room windows as Mr. Harris delivered his report."Nothing unusual, Ma'am." He stood at attention, hands clasped behind his back. "Mrs. Alina Blackwood remains in her room most of the day. The signal jammer is functioning perfectly—no outgoing calls, no messages. Staff interactions are minimal and monitored."Margaret sat in her chair, fingers steepled, eyes calculating."Something feels off.""Sorry, Ma'am?""Something feels wrong." She stood, moved to the window. "People don't surrender this completely without planning something. I want cameras installed in her room."Mr. Harris's expression flickered. "Ma'am, that would require Mr. Daniel's authorization. Privacy laws—""I don't care about privacy laws." Margaret turned to face him. "This is my son’s house. My family. And I will protect it by any means necessary.""Mr. Daniel specifically instructed that Mrs. Alina be treated with appropriate dignity—""Daniel is blind to threats und
Two weeks passed.Alina became exactly what they wanted.Compliant. Silent. Present but invisible.She attended dinners when required, sitting at the far end of the table. Answered when spoken to with appropriate brevity. Smiled at the right moments during conversations she didn't care about.The perfect wife-shaped object.Daniel noticed the change. She could see it in the way he watched her sometimes. Uncertain. Like he'd broken something and wasn't sure how.But he never asked.Never pushed.Because asking would require facing what he'd done.And Daniel Blackwood was very good at not facing things."You seem better," he said one evening as they prepared for bed. "More settled."Alina didn't respond. Just continued brushing her hair with mechanical precision."Mother says you've been pleasant lately. Cooperative."Fifty strokes. The way her mother had taught her when she was young."Alina?""Yes, Daniel. I heard you.""I'm glad you're adjusting. I know it's been difficult but—""Is
Alina made it to the bathroom before the scream tore out of her.Raw. Animal. The sound of something dying.She collapsed against the tile floor, hands pressed over her mouth, trying to contain the violence of her grief.No one important.Five years of midnight fevers and bad dreams. Five years of first words and first steps. Five years of "Mama, look!" and "Mama, stay!" and "Mama, I love you."Reduced to "no one important."The sobs came in waves. Brutal. Uncontrollable.Her body shook with them until she couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't do anything except feel the agony of being erased.She'd known it was coming. Had watched it happen piece by piece. Junior's confusion. His discomfort. His gradual acceptance of Clarissa as the only mother he'd ever known.But hearing it—hearing him ask about her like she was a stranger, hearing Clarissa dismiss her so casually—It was different than knowing.It was final.Alina pressed her forehead to the cold tile and let herself shatter
Alina didn't sleep that night.She lay on the bed fully clothed, staring at the ceiling, replaying Daniel's words.'You're my wife. Forever. Get used to it.'Not love. Not choice. Not even duty.Just ownership.She was a Blackwood possession now. Like the mansion. Like the company. Like everything else Daniel refused to let go of even when it no longer served him.At some point after midnight, the door opened quietly.Daniel entered. Saw her awake."You should be sleeping," he said."Hard to sleep when you're a prisoner.""You're not a prisoner. You're my wife.""What's the difference?"Daniel loosened his tie, started undressing for bed. "A prisoner has no rights. No protection. You have both.""Protection from what? Your mother who locks me in basements? Clarissa who's stolen my son? You who won't let me leave?""Protection from what would happen if you left." Daniel sat on the edge of the bed. "Do you really think Mother would let you walk away quietly? That she wouldn't destroy yo







