Chapter 1

The pills tasted bitter, a final, unwelcome sensation.

My fingers fumbled with the empty bottle.

Darkness.

Then, a strange lightness. I was floating, looking down at myself on the expensive hotel suite' s carpet.

Sarah Miller, dead.

The charity gala music still drifted from downstairs, a sick counterpoint.

I saw Ethan, my husband, charming the crowd, Jessie Vance on his arm.

He' d just told me my pain was an embarrassment, that Jessie was his future.

My attempt to expose Jessie' s high school bullying, the anonymous blog, he' d twisted it, made me look insane.

He' d had me committed once before for that. This time, I chose my own exit.

My spirit, unseen, unheard, stayed. Tethered.

Three years passed.

Three years of watching Ethan flaunt Jessie, my replacement, my tormentor.

Jessie needed something.

"Ethan, darling," her voice, like poisoned honey, "that foundation board position? The philanthropic initiative proposal is due."

She pouted. "It' s so complex. Remember Sarah? She had a knack for that sort of thing."

A beat of silence. Ethan' s face tightened.

"Don't mention her," he snapped.

But Jessie persisted, stroking his arm. "It's just, this is so important, and I'm swamped. If only..."

Ethan sighed, annoyed but clearly wanting to please her.

He picked up his phone.

"I know where she might be," he muttered, mostly to himself.

He dialed a number I knew too well. The state psychiatric facility. The place he' d sent me after the blog incident.

"Director Thompson," Ethan' s voice was clipped, impatient. "I need information on a former patient. Sarah Miller."

I drifted closer, a cold dread I no longer physically felt, yet it echoed in my essence.

The director' s voice, oily, obsequious. "Mr. Hayes. Of course. Let me check."

A pause. I knew Director Thompson. Jessie' s money lined his pockets.

"Ah, yes. Sarah Miller. She was discharged, let' s see... two and a half years ago, sir."

"Discharged? To where?" Ethan demanded.

"Our records are a bit vague on aftercare for... certain patients. But there' s a note here. Left with an unknown man."

An unknown man. Infidelity implied.

Ethan' s knuckles whitened on his phone.

"Thank you, Director," he said, his voice dangerously calm. He hung up.

Jessie watched him, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips.

"Unknown man?" she cooed. "Well, well. After all you did for her."

Ethan' s eyes were ice. "She wouldn't dare."