Chapter 2

Grace POV:

The next morning, his anniversary gift arrived. It was a small, exquisitely wrapped box, placed on my bedside table before I even opened my eyes. I knew what it was without looking, because I'd read the messages. I knew which corner of hell it had crawled from.

Kiara: Don' t forget the special ingredient. She deserves a taste of her own medicine.

Cole: Already done. A little something to upset her delicate constitution. Just enough to be inconvenient, not enough to be traced.

My stomach churned, a primal wave of nausea hitting me before I even sat up.

Cole, annoyingly cheerful, entered the room, carrying a silver tray with coffee and a croissant. "My love, you're awake! Happy anniversary, again." He gestured to the box. "Go on, open it."

I stared at the box, then at the croissant on the tray. It was a beautiful, flaky pastry, dusted with powdered sugar. But I knew. I knew the "special ingredient" they' d mentioned for her.

He watched me, his smile unwavering, eyes alight with a cruel anticipation. My gut twisted.

"I... I'm not feeling well, Cole," I managed, my voice thin. "I think I'll skip breakfast."

His smile tightened, a barely perceptible flicker of annoyance. "Nonsense. It's our anniversary. I made this especially for you." He picked up the croissant, breaking off a piece. "Come on, just a bite. It's divine." He held it to my lips.

His eyes, usually so captivating, were cold, devoid of any genuine warmth. He wasn't asking. He was commanding. This wasn't affection; it was a test, a performance for his own twisted amusement. He expected me to resist, to make a scene, to be the "difficult wife." But I wouldn't. Not anymore. I had a plan.

I opened my mouth and let him feed me. The pastry was rich, buttery, innocent on the tongue. But as I chewed, a faint, bitter aftertaste bloomed, subtle yet unmistakable. It was there. The "special ingredient." A slow-acting poison, designed to cause discomfort, not death. Just as they'd planned.

"Delicious," I declared, forcing a bright smile. "You outdid yourself, darling."

He beamed, satisfied. He thought he'd won. He thought he had me fooled. "I knew you'd love it. I'll just be in my study. Don't push yourself, my love." He turned and left, whistling.

The moment the door clicked shut, I bolted for the bathroom. My stomach convulsed, emptying its contents with violent force. The bitter taste, the bile, the shaking. It wasn't just a prank. It was a violation. A deliberate act of malice, designed to remind me of their power.

A searing cramp tore through my abdomen. Then another. And another. This wasn't just a little discomfort. This was agony. Did they miscalculate? Or was this part of a new, unforeseen escalation?

Hours later, the world blurred. The pain consumed me. I heard Cole' s frantic voice, then the wail of sirens. White lights, muffled voices. I remember his hand, cool and smooth, on my forehead. He was playing the worried husband to perfection.

"Acute gastritis," the doctor said, his voice distant. "Something you ate, perhaps? Your stomach lining is severely irritated."

Cole squeezed my hand. "My poor Grace. I'll take care of you."

I drifted in and out of consciousness. At one point, I stirred, my eyes half-open. Cole was beside my bed, leaning over his phone, his face illuminated by the screen. He thought I was asleep.

A green bubble. "Comedy Hour."

Kiara: How's the drama queen? Still milking it?

Cole: Fully committed. IV drip, the works. The doctor thinks it's a bad croissant. Imagine that.

Arlan: Excellent. This draws sympathy. But don't let it distract from the main objective. We need her out of the picture soon.

My heart, already a block of ice, splintered into a million frozen shards. This wasn't just about humiliation anymore. There was a "main objective." They wanted me "out of the picture."

My breath caught in my throat. I wanted to scream, to rage, to tear him limb from limb. But I couldn't. I had to be strong. I had to survive.

Cole glanced up, and I instantly squeezed my eyes shut, pretending to be asleep. He stayed for a while longer, a silent, watchful sentinel. A perfect husband.

When I woke again, the room was empty. A small note was on the nightstand. "Had to run to a vital meeting. Back soon. Love, Cole."

He wasn't at a meeting. He was with them. Celebrating. Planning.

A strange calm descended. No anger. No sorrow. Only a vast, echoing emptiness. The love, the hope, the dreams-they were all gone, consumed by the bitter aftertaste of a poisoned croissant. All that remained was the plan. My plan.

I looked out the hospital window at the sprawling city. A bitter laugh escaped my lips, a dry, rasping sound. One last tear traced a path down my temple, disappearing into my pillow. It was the last tear I would shed for the woman I once was.