ce defined by chores and humiliation. She tried, once, to speak to Ethan alone. She found h

o listen to me. We... we loved each other. For years. I was

've been warned about you. My mother

ed, tears welling in her eyes. "I

rd. "She saved my life. My family trusts her. I trus

ssing her completely. The hope th

w more elaborate. She' d stumble, feigning wea

enough for Ethan to hear. "She startles

. "The girl is unhinged,

rah becoming overt. If Sarah was too slow bringing a tray, or if a room

emand, his voice laced with contempt.

The small, framed photo of Sarah and Ethan hiking, once on his bedside table, vanished. Replaced by a studio portrait of

rah he loved her. One morning, Sarah found the bench gone, replac

is life, from his home, as if she' d never existed. Her hea

e' d "accidentally" spill coffee on a fre

uld say, not even bothering t

ate silk blouse, then claim Sarah h

d sneer. "Honestly, I don't kn

ere else could she go? She was still weak, her savings dwindling. A part of her, a