YUNA
I opened my eyes to sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows. My head felt heavy like it was stuffed with cotton.
What time is it?
I turned my head slowly because even that small movement made the room tilt. Then I saw the clock on the nightstand.
12:47 PM
Lunch time.
The memory of yesterday crashed over me in humiliating waves.
My breakdown. My screaming. The things I said to Knox, which I should not have let slip…
I blew it.
I just completely blew my cover.
Great.
"Mrs. Humphries? You're awake."
I turned towards the voice. She's a woman in her late thirties, dressed in a neat gray uniform. She stood by the door, hands clasped in front of her.
"It's me, Lydia. Mr. Humphries asked me to look after you today while he attended to business matters."
Knox left.
Of course. Why would he stay after last night's disaster?
"What time did he leave?" My voice came out raspy, and the woman immediately moved to pour water from a crystal pitcher on the side table.
"Early this morning, ma'am. Around six. He left instructions for your care."
Lydia handed me the glass with a slight bow.
"How are you feeling?"
I took the water gratefully, draining half the glass before answering.
"Like I was hit by a truck. What did the doctor say?
"Mr. Humphries said the doctor said you needed rest. He said you would experience significant stress and that the sedation was for your own protection."
For my own protection? Right.
Because screaming at your billionaire husband definitely required medical intervention.
"I've prepared lunch for you, ma'am."
Lydia gestured toward the sitting area where a small table had been set up.
"Mr. Humphries wanted to ensure you ate properly."
I pushed myself up slowly, testing my balance. The room stayed mostly stable, though my head felt like it was full of sand.
Lydia moved to help me, but I waved her off.
I need to prove to myself that I could still function and that whatever's happening has not completely destroyed me.
The spread on the table was mouthwatering.
There was a beautifully plated serving of what looked like seared salmon with some kind of sauce. Fresh fruit arranged like art. All of it color-coordinated and Instagram-perfect.
So this was how rich people ate lunch.
I picked up what I hoped was the salad fork and stabbed at some greens.
It was delicious.
I couldn't help but compare it wth my regular meals. Hospital cafeteria food at 2 AM between surgeries.
Rubbery chicken and instant mashed potatoes that I shoveled down in ten minutes while reviewing patient charts.
I caught Lydia watching me from her position by the door.
"Lydia," I said carefully, setting down my fork. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course, ma'am."
"How long have you known Elodie, I mean me?"
"I've been with the household for two years, ma'am."
"And before that? Did you know her, I mean me, before the marriage? Sorry for the silly questions. I'm just checking if my mind is back to normal."
Lydia nodded. "No ma'am. Mr. Humphries hired staff after the wedding."
"I see."
'I wonder when they met?'
"Tell me about her," I said, leaning forward. "I mean me. What was I like? What did I do all day?"
Lydia hesitated. "Ma'am, are you feeling all right? Perhaps you should rest some more…"
"Please," I kept my voice gentle but insistent. "I need to know. You know. I need to go back to 'normal' so they wouldn't sedate me."
Lydia exhaled as she looked at me with sympathy in her eyes. "You are very… quiet. You spend most of your time here in the suite. Reading, mostly. Sometimes you'd work on embroidery or painting. You rarely went out unless Mr. Humphries required your presence at events."
Embroidery?! I could barely sew on a button. Tsk.
"I didn't have friends? Places I liked to go?" I pressed.
"Not that I observed, Ma'am. You seemed content with solitude. Very obedient to Mr. Humphries' preferences and schedules."
Lydia paused, then added carefully. "You never questioned his instructions. Never raise your voice. Never caused any… disruption to the household routine.'
'Unlike last night.'
The unspoken words hung in the air.
"I sound…" I searched for a diplomatic word. "Peaceful."
"Yes, Ma'am. You are very proper. Always composed and appropriate."
Her eyes met mine briefly, and I saw the question there:
'What happened to you? Where did that proper, quiet woman go?'
I looked down at my barely touched lunch, understanding settling in.
Elodie had been exactly what Knox wanted. The opposite of me in every way. Where I'd been loud and emotional and challenging, Elodie had been silent and compliant.
Unthreatening.
'Is that what you really wanted, Knox?' I asked him even though he wasn't there.
I remembered our relationship. The passionate arguments. The late-night debates.
I'd never held back with Knox.
If I thought he was wrong, I said so.
If I disagree with his choices, I told him.
Not cruelly, but honestly.
Always honestly.
Maybe that's why he'd married someone else while keeping me. Maybe I'd exhausted him.
The thought hurt more than I wanted to admit.
"Ma'am?" Lydia's voice pulled me back. "You've barely eaten. Should I have the chef prepare something else?"
"No, this is fine. I'm just…" I pushed food around my plate aimlessly. "Not feeling quite…myself."
I forced myself to take a few more bites even though my appetite was gone.
If I wanted to survive in this household, if I wanted to stay close enough to Knox to figure out how deep his involvement is with Hemlock and save those children, I needed to be more like Elodie.
Quiet.
Obedient.
Non-threatening.
The exact opposite of everything I actually was.
I couldn't let my emotions sabotage everything again.
"Thank you for the lunch, Lydia. It was lovely."
"Of course, Ma'am." She moved to clear the dishes. "Is there anything else you need?"
"Actually, yes. Did Mr. Humphries leave any messages for me?"
"Yes, ma'am. A note. I'll fetch it."
She disappeared into the bedroom and returned with a cream envelope.
My hands trembled slightly as I opened it.