Chapter 7

"Enough!" Vincent's voice turned cold. "Do it."

I looked at him, the last shred of hope in my heart shattering.

Without another word, I left the master bedroom and returned to the kitchen to heat the milk again.

This time, I raised the temperature to 50 degrees Celsius, almost too hot to handle.

When I brought the milk back, Sophia took the cup, sipped, and immediately spat it out, the liquid spilling onto her expensive silk pajamas.

"It's scalding!" she shrieked, tears streaming down her face. "Vincent, my mouth's burned! She did this on purpose! She's trying to kill me!"

Vincent leapt up, grabbing a tissue to wipe her mouth, his eyes full of concern.

He turned to me, his voice laced with a fury I'd never heard before. "Elena, what are you trying to do?"

"I just followed your orders to make it warmer," I said flatly, my heart unmoved.

If he didn't believe me, there was no point in explaining.

"Elena!" Vincent's face darkened with rage. He stepped toward me, but Sophia grabbed his arm. "Vincent, don't be angry. I'm fine," she said softly, clinging to him. "Maybe Elena didn't mean it."

Her words dripped with false kindness, but the triumph in her eyes was unmistakable.

Vincent took a deep breath and looked at me. "From now on, you're done caring for Sophia. Paul will assign someone else. Stay in the guest room. Don't leave without my permission."

I laughed coldly to myself. Wasn't this what I wanted? No more facing their sickening charade. Now I'd have time to plan my revenge.

"Fine." I turned, left the master bedroom, and shut the door. As it closed, I heard Sophia say, "Vincent, don't be too hard on her. I'm worried she'll hate you..."

Hate him? I already did.

The moment he threatened Diana's flower shop, the moment he betrayed me for Sophia, my love for him turned to hate.

Back in the guest room, I dragged a suitcase from under the bed.

Inside were things I'd prepared: clothes, cash, and a tiny recording pen.

I knew I couldn't stay trapped in this cage. I needed to get out, find more evidence, find people who could help.

I opened my laptop and logged into an encrypted dark web forum.

A friend had told me about it, saying it was a place to find help for impossible problems.

I posted a message, "Seeking reliable faked death service. Generous payment."

Soon, someone with the handle "Raven" replied, "One million dollars, plus you do one task for me."

I stared at the screen, a cold smile curling my lips.

A million dollars was nothing to me now. Vincent's black card had more than enough.

As for the task, if it meant escaping this nightmare and getting my revenge, I'd do anything.

I knew it was insane, but I had no other path.

I replied, "Make me 'dead' within a month. Then I need a new identity to start over in a new country."

Raven responded quickly. "Deal. One week from now, meet at the abandoned warehouse on Bergen's docks in Eldoria. Bring a $500, 000 deposit."

I closed the laptop, slid the suitcase back under the bed, and lay down, staring at the ceiling.

Brooklyn's docks-where Diana died, where my revenge would begin. "Vincent, Sophia, just wait. Soon, you'll pay a heavy price for what you've done."