The days after my discovery became a silent war.
I smiled for the children. I let Alexander hold me at night. I even let him make love to me — slow and careful because of the pregnancy — while hiding the growing horror in my heart. But inside, I was planning my escape.
The rose-gold collar, once a symbol of love, now felt like a tracking device. Every time it touched my skin, I remembered my mother’s terrified voice begging for my life.
Alexander knew something had changed. He watched me all the time. His gray eyes were sharp and hard. He canceled more meetings, stayed closer to the villa, and made sure I was never really alone.
One afternoon, while the children napped, he found me in the garden. I sat on a bench, staring at the ocean with one hand on my belly.
“You’re still thinking
