Chapter 2

The days that followed, I was almost eerily cooperative.

Every document the lawyer brought, I signed without even looking.

Everything moved fast, paperwork, procedures, signatures. Like a machine finally set in motion.

I’d grown up in the countryside and wasn’t brought back into this family until I was sixteen.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith had always thought I wasn’t fit to be seen in public, not polished enough, not noble and decent.

Now, fine.

Once the last form was filed, I would disappear completely, exactly as they wanted.

Felix probably thought I was easy to coax.

Until one day, he noticed the house looked emptier.

"Where’s your stuff?" he asked.

I was packing the last small suitcase and didn’t even look up. "Didn’t you say the honeymoon would be a long trip? I’m getting rid of old things we won’t bring."

He believed me. He even seemed pleased.

That night, he took me to an expensive French restaurant.

But the moment we sat down, Serena walked right over.

"What a coincidence," she said with a smile, looking at Felix. "Mind if I join you?"

Through the entire meal, I barely tasted anything. I just wanted it to end.

When we left, the three of us waited for the elevator together.

The doors slid shut.

Then the cab jolted violently, and every light snapped off at once.

In the dark, I heard Serena gasp.

Almost at the same time, almost overlapping, I heard the whisper of fabric rubbing.

Felix didn’t hesitate. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, shielding her.

A few seconds later, the emergency light blinked on with a weak glow.

In that dim yellow, I saw Felix bent his head to soothe her. From start to finish, he never once turned to look at me.

Serena nestled into him and nodded, small and obedient.

From start to finish, no one looked at me.

I had claustrophobia. Felix knew that.

But now, the arms that should’ve been around me were holding someone else.

My back pressed against the ice-cold elevator wall, as if the chill could keep me conscious.

But the darkness felt thick, hungry, like it wanted to swallow me whole.

"Felix…" I tried to speak, but my voice came out like a mosquito’s buzz, drowned instantly by Serena’s soft sobbing and his gentle murmurs.

Minutes passed before rescue finally arrived.

But the opening they pried in the doors was only wide enough for one person to squeeze through.

"Get her out first!" Felix’s voice rang out immediately and decisively.

He carefully supported Serena by the waist, helping the staff outside pull her through.

All his attention followed her, worry etched openly across his face.

Once Serena was safely out, Felix climbed out after her without a second thought.

I heard him outside, issuing orders in a rush:

"Hurry! Serena’s been frightened. You, get a car ready, now. Call the best private hospital!"

"Um… there… there seems to be another young lady inside?" someone said hesitantly.

"Make sure Serena is safe first!" Felix cut in, impatient. "Elena’s fine. She’s brave."

Then there were more footsteps, more concerned voices, and the noise faded farther and farther away.

The elevator sank back into a dim, suffocating silence.

Only me.

I didn’t know how long it was, maybe twenty minutes, maybe an entire century, before the doors were finally forced open.

Felix and Serena were long gone.

A uniformed staff member handed me a bottle of water and said in a practiced tone, "Miss, are you alright? Do you need us to call you a car?"

I shook my head, took the water, and found my fingers trembling out of control.

That night, I sat alone in the empty apartment until morning.