My Husband Had Two Anniversaries… And I Was Neither

I heard faint sobbing coming from the garden and my legs moved before my brain could catch up. I stepped closer, ducking under the drooping wisteria, and froze. Felix. My husband. Dressed in a suit, looking untouchable, a predator in every sense. He held a soft leather whip, striking Shannon over and over. She was tied to the antique chaise lounge I had spent weeks choosing for our villa, completely naked. And then, just like that, he dropped the whip, leaned over her, and kissed her. Hard. Dominant. His hands everywhere, his sweat slick on his back. My stomach turned over. My chest felt ripped open, bleeding in ways I didn’t even know were possible. It wasn’t sobbing I’d heard. It was her moans. Pleasure. Laughter whispered through her gasps. The so-called “punishment” I’d imagined wasn’t torture. It was… love. Their love. The prison he’d spoken of all those times wasn’t a cell. It was their playroom. Their nest. I stumbled backward, staring at the chaise lounge I had painstakingly picked out for him, imagining him sitting there with me, hands blistered from carrying the weight of my life in his hands. He’d said once, soft but with fire, “Danica deserves all the beauty in the world. This lounge is yours alone. And so is my love.” Now it wasn’t mine. Not mine at all. My hands clenched until they bled, pain ripping through me. Why? Why the hell would he do this? And then I started listening. “Honey, you’re amazing. I’m so happy,” Shannon said, her face flushed and glowing. “Just thinking about how I finally married you makes me feel like I’m dreaming.” “You deserve it,” Felix said, calm, almost casual, sliding on his shirt like the chaos behind him didn’t exist. His voice was velvet with steel. I froze at what he said next. “Four years ago, all I wanted was for Danica to stay here, to be with me forever. And you,” he hissed, “you took an axe and chopped off her hand so she could never chase her dreams again. Then you turn yourself in like some idiot martyr, thinking even if you rot in jail, my happiness matters more than yours.” I felt like someone was dragging a knife through my chest. “I ask myself if I’m heartless,” he continued, “but I can’t ignore selfless love like that. Danica can have my love openly, you only get to hide in this villa. I give you a title. That’s fair.” Fair? Fair? Wow. I staggered back, heart pounding, eyes burning. Years ago, a noble brat mocked me, called me a broken-winged angel, and Felix made him eat his own tongue, cold as ice. And now he’s here, kissing the woman who shattered me, giving her gifts, giving her his life, giving her… a title. I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. I wanted to vanish. “What if she finds out?” Shannon asked, voice worried, “Miss McKellar won’t accept it.” Felix smiled, calm, his power radiating from every pore. “My love for Danica has never changed. I’ll protect her for life. She’ll never know. And she’ll never be hurt by you again.” He knelt and placed a pink diamond on Shannon’s hand. Shannon gasped, eyes wide. “This is the final item from Paris’ auction a few days ago. Worth a hundred million. Am I… worthy?” “You’re my woman, baby.” He kissed her gently, and my blood froze. “Of course you’re worthy. Happy fourth anniversary, my wife.” And I stood there, broken, watching the man I loved, the man who’d sworn I was his world, give himself to someone else. ... I didn’t leave the mountain until his black car disappeared down the road. I just stood there for a long time, like my body forgot how to move, like if I moved everything would become real. My phone started vibrating in my hand. I looked down at it, numb, and tapped the screen. [Danica, I’m on my way home. I can’t wait to celebrate our seventh anniversary with my darling. Love you.] For a second, I didn’t react. Then I laughed. God… I laughed so hard I had to bend over, my shoulders shaking, tears streaming down my face like I’d gone insane. Seventh anniversary? He had just finished celebrating four years with another woman, and now he was coming home to celebrate seven years with me? What was I to him? A joke? A pet? Or just… someone too stupid to notice? There was no seventh anniversary. We had been divorced for four years. Four whole years. And love? If Felix’s version of love was cutting off my future, locking me in a golden cage, and lying straight to my face… then I didn’t want it anymore. Not even a little. He said I’d never find out. I wiped my tears, my fingers trembling. “No,” I whispered to myself. “You’re the one who’s going to lose me.” Forever. I tightened my grip on the application form in my hand, the paper crumpling under my fingers, then I turned around and did the only two things that mattered. First, I applied to erase myself. Every identity record I had in this country. Gone. Clean. Like I never existed. Second, I submitted my application again. Under a new name. A new life. A new me. four years ago, when Shannon cut off my right hand, she didn’t just take it, she threw it to wild dogs like I was nothing. Felix lost his mind back then, spent billions, replace and transplant me a hand that looked real enough to fool anyone. It worked, I could live normally, but I couldn’t operate the way I used to. I was a surgeon, precision was everything, and now… it was gone. My dream died that day. I tried to follow it. Three times. Three times I tried to end everything. And failed. After that I cried until I couldn’t anymore, night after night until my throat burned and my chest felt hollow, and then one day I forced myself to stop. I went to hand rehab for my transplant hand. Simple, right? It wasn’t. It was hell. More than a thousand days and nights, blood and pain, my fingers splitting open, calluses forming and breaking again and again. But I made it. I fucking made it. I got back to where I could stand again. I kept it from Felix. I wanted to surprise him, wanted him to see that the woman he “loved” didn’t break so easily. Now? I was just glad I didn’t tell him. If he knew… would he have taken both of my hands too? The thought made my stomach twist. My phone buzzed again. I looked down. “Your cancellation application has been submitted and will be processed within eight business days.” Eight days. After eight days, I’d be gone. No name. No trace. Even someone like Felix, with all his power, all his connections, he wouldn’t find someone who didn’t exist.

As the sun went down, I went back to the villa. The moment I stepped inside, I felt it. Tension. Fear. Chaos. Felix stood in the middle of the living room, surrounded by his men. The servants were tied up on the floor, shaking, their faces pale. His voice was cold, sharp, dangerous. “Where the fuck is she?” he demanded. “You think I won’t break every single one of you until someone talks?!” The moment they saw me, it was like they’d been saved. “Miss Danica…!” someone gasped. Felix turned. And everything about him changed. The cold in his eyes melted instantly, relief hitting his face so hard it almost looked painful. “Danica!” He crossed the room in seconds and pulled me into his arms, holding me tight like I might disappear. “Where the hell did you go?” his voice dropped, “I’ve been calling you. I thought something happened. You scared the shit out of me.” I went stiff for a second, then forced myself to relax. “I was shopping,” I said quietly. “Lost track of time.” He pulled back, looking at me, then sighed like he couldn’t even be mad. “Next time, take me with you,” he said, brushing my hair back gently. “Your husband can carry your bags, pay for everything, and show up the second you call. That’s what I’m here for, yeah?” Husband. The word stabbed right through me. No… you’re not. You stopped being that four years ago. “Today’s our seventh anniversary,” he continued, smiling slightly. “Come on. I’ve got something for you.” He took my hand and led me outside, straight to the helipad, and before I could say anything he picked me up like I weighed nothing and carried me into the helicopter. The blades roared to life, wind whipping around us as we lifted into the sky. I didn’t speak. I just watched him. This man. This stranger. After we climbed high enough, he tilted my chin toward the window. “Look.” I looked down. The city lights shifted, moving, aligning until they formed words stretching across the dark. LOVE, DANICA. My breath caught. It was beautiful. It was insane. It was him. Felix leaned close, his lips brushing my ear, his voice low and soft. “I love you, Danica,” he murmured. “Always have. Always will.” My chest tightened. If someone else saw this, they’d think I was the luckiest woman alive. So why did I feel like I was drowning? The helicopter slowly descended, landing outside a massive estate far from the city. And I knew… this night wasn’t over yet. … The helicopter landed in front of a massive mansion, the kind that looked like it belonged to royalty or monsters, maybe both. Felix had bought it for five billion, people whispered about it like it was some legend. The gates were carved in insane detail, and right in the center were the words that made my chest tighten. Danica’s Palace. I couldn’t breathe for a second. Everything about it… it was me. The whole place was built in that aesthetic style I once mentioned I liked, just casually, like it didn’t matter. The garden was filled with orchids, rows and rows of them, rare ones, the kind that cost more than most people made in years. And further in… I saw it. An amusement park. My amusement park. Carousels, Ferris wheels, roller coasters, all glowing softly in the night like something out of a dream. Even a small petting zoo, full of dogs running around, playing, sleeping, safe. Because I once stopped to feed a stray. Because I once said they looked lonely. That was all it took for him. My eyes burned. He remembered everything. Every little thing. For seven years… he really did love me like that. He gave me everything I ever wanted, even the things I didn’t dare to ask for. So why… why did it feel like I was dying? Because now I knew. That love wasn’t just mine. He had split it. Given half to me… and half to the woman who destroyed me. Felix stepped closer and wiped the tears from my face with his thumb, so gentle it almost hurt more. “Hey,” he murmured, voice low. “A husband’s supposed to take care of his wife. If you keep crying like this, it’s gonna mess me up. Don’t do that to me.” I almost laughed. Husband? Which one? Under the stars, he suddenly dropped to one knee. My breath caught as he opened a velvet box, a ring inside catching the light. “Danica,” he said, looking up at me like I was everything. “Marrying you was the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you so damn much I can’t even stand being away from you for a second.” My fingers trembled. “So I fixed it. This ring… it’s got a chip inside. And mine has the receiver. Means I’ll always know where you are, what you’re doing. I won’t ever lose you again.” Something inside me went cold. Love? Or control? His eyes were intense, almost frightening, like if I tried to run he’d burn the world just to drag me back. He reached for my hand. And right before the ring slid onto my finger… His phone rang. A specific tone. I saw it in his eyes. Just for a second. Shannon. He checked it quickly, face unreadable, then slipped the ring onto my finger anyway like nothing happened. Like I didn’t matter enough to pause for. “Danica’s an important client,” he said casually, already turning away. “I’ll be right back. Don’t wait too long.” Client? I almost choked on that. Before I could even respond, he was gone. Already moving, already boarding the helicopter, like whatever was on that phone mattered more than this moment. More than me. The sound of the blades faded into the distance. And then it was quiet. I lowered my head slowly and picked up one of the puppies near my feet, holding it close as I crouched down. It bark softly against my palm, warm, alive. But my chest felt empty. The stray dogs found a home. So why didn’t I? Something slipped from my finger. It was the ring. My heart sank as I picked it up. He didn’t even notice. He gave me the wrong one. The one meant for him. The one that receives. Which meant… The one he took was the one with the chip. Tracking. Monitoring. For a long second, I just stared at it. Then… I pressed the switch. A voice came through almost immediately. “I’m sorry, honey… I didn’t want to get like this,” Shannon’s voice trembled, “But I’ve been locked here for four years, I feel like I’m losing my mind.” My fingers tightened. “You don’t have to worry about me,” she continued, trying to sound strong. “It’s your seventh anniversary with Miss McKellar today. Go be with her. I’ll be fine. I mean… we made it through four years already, right?” Silence for a second. Then his voice. “Don’t talk bullshit,” Felix said, sharp but controlled. “You think I’d leave you like this? You’re sick. I’m your man. I take care of you, no matter what day it is.” My heart cracked.

“I don’t care if it’s a damn anniversary or a meeting or whatever,” he continued, softer now. “You come first when you’re like this. We’ll go out, get some air. Clear your head.” “Really?” Shannon gasped, her voice lighting up. “I can leave? I’m not dreaming, right?” Felix let out a quiet breath, almost amused. “Since when do I lie to you? Get ready. We’re leaving now.” And then the sound of the helicopter. Loud. Familiar. Carrying her away. Again. … Four years ago, when I had just lost my right hand and the pain was so bad I couldn’t even breathe, Felix stayed with me the whole time. He didn’t sleep, didn’t eat properly, just stayed there like if he let go for even a second, I’d break. One night, he dragged me out of bed and carried me straight to a helicopter. I remember clinging to him, weak, barely holding on, and he just held me tighter like I was something fragile. When we were high up in the sky, he tilted my face toward the window. “Look,” he said softly. “See that? All those buildings… they look small as hell from up here, right?” I nodded, my vision blurry. He pressed his forehead against mine, his voice rough but gentle. “That’s life, Danica. No matter how big something feels, it’s not bigger than you. You hear me? There’s no problem you can’t get through.” His hand squeezed mine. “And you’re not doing it alone. You’ve got me. I’ll get you through anything. I swear.” Back then… I believed him. I really did but now I knew the truth. That nightmare… that pain… it started because of him. ... The helicopter sound pulled me back to the present. I looked up, my eyes narrowing slightly. For a second, I thought I was imagining it. But I wasn’t. It landed right next door. Another mansion. Identical. My chest tightened. The ring in my hand buzzed faintly, and his voice came through. “Shannon,” Felix said, calm, almost soft in a way I hadn’t heard in a long time, “you didn’t get to leave the villa before. But I’ve got something for you now. This place… it’s yours. Your anniversary gift.” I stopped breathing. “I’ll stay here with you today,” he added quietly. Shannon laughed, bright and happy, like she’d just been handed the world. At the same time, my phone lit up. [Danica, I’ve got to meet a client about a project. Won’t be back until tomorrow night. Don’t wait up. Go have fun or whatever you want. If you need anything, call your husband. Love you.] My fingers tightened around the phone. A tear slipped down and blurred the word husband on the screen. He could build the same life twice. Same house. Same love. Same everything. But he could only belong to one woman. And it wasn’t me. Just one wall away, he was with his real wife. And me? I felt like a dirty secret. Like something hidden in the dark. Like a mistress he couldn’t show the world. My chest hurt, but this time… I didn’t cry. Not anymore. It was almost over anyway. I wiped my face and turned away from the mansion. I didn’t stay. I went home. And I worked. I picked up my instruments, both hands stiff but steady enough now, and forced myself to focus. I had only passed the preliminary stage. If I wanted to go further, I had to be better. Stronger. Faster. Better than everyone else. Maybe it was everything that had just happened… but decisions started coming to me fast. Sharp. Precise. Like pain had carved something open inside my mind, turning hesitation into instinct. When I finally finished the first procedure plan, I leaned back, staring at it, breathing slowly. My fingers brushed against the ring on the steel tray by accident. A soft click. And then— “I know one day isn’t enough…” Shannon’s voice came through, soft and breaking. “After this, I have to go back and hide again, right?” My body went still. “I get it,” she whispered. “I know I can’t let Miss McKellar see me. I know I don’t deserve that. But I really want to be like her. I want to stand beside you openly. Not hide like this. Just once, I want to be your wife in front of everyone.” Silence. My breath got stuck in my throat. My arm started shaking. God… it felt like that day again. Like the blade coming down, like my hand being torn away. The pain came rushing back, phantom and real all at once. It hurts. Why does it still hurt this much? Felix knew. He knew exactly what she did to me. That’s why he kept her hidden. Because he knew if she showed her face… I would break. He would never allow that. Right? Right…? After a long silence, his voice came through. “Okay.” Just one word. But it destroyed everything. I clutched my chest, gasping like something inside me had been ripped open. .... A day later, Felix came back like nothing had happened. Right on time. Like a perfect husband. He walked in with gifts like it was just another normal day. A necklace, blue and shining like the ocean itself, worth more than I could even process. And a dress, custom-made, covered in diamonds that caught every bit of light. “Danica,” he said, his voice softer now, almost warm. “It’s our seventh anniversary. I want everyone to see how happy we are.” Happy. I didn’t say anything. I just changed into the dress. Let him put the necklace on me. Let him look at me like I was something precious. And then I let him take my hand and lead me out. The banquet was held in one of his hotels. Of course it was. Seven stars, private, untouchable. His territory. The ballroom was packed. Celebrities, mafias, business elites, people with power and money, all dressed like they belonged in a different world. Everything sparkled. Everything looked perfect. But something felt… off. All the waiters wore the same uniform and masks. Every single one of them. Felix barely looked at the masked staff and then glanced at me like none of it mattered. “Danica,” he said calmly, “you’re the center of tonight. No one’s stealing your spotlight. Masks keep the background where it belongs.” My stomach dropped. I think… I already knew. Before I could say anything, people started crowding in, all smiles and fake admiration. “Mr. Gallardo’s still crazy in love, huh?” “Mrs. Gallardo is so lucky.” “I heard he bought her a five billion dollar mansion for their anniversary.” “They say every year his gifts get bigger. His love too.” Love. The word made me feel sick. Then suddenly—fabric tearing. The sound cut straight through the room. A waitress had fallen, her dress ripped high up her thigh, exposing way too much. She scrambled up, shaking. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” No one moved. No one even looked at her properly. Because everyone was scared. Felix didn’t tolerate mistakes. Not tonight. Not ever. I saw it in their faces. They thought she was dead. Felix’s voice came out cold enough to freeze the room. “Come with me.” Then he turned to me, and just like that, his tone softened. “Danica,” he said gently, brushing my arm, “rules matter. People need to learn them the hard way sometimes. I’ll deal with her and come right back, alright?” I nodded without thinking. He grabbed the waitress by the wrist and dragged her away like she weighed nothing. Something felt wrong. Really wrong. A few minutes later… I followed. I don’t even know why. Maybe I already knew what I’d find. The conference room door upstairs was slightly open. I pushed it just enough to see. And my whole world just… shattered again. The waitress was sitting on the table, legs wrapped around Felix’s waist. The mask was gone. It was Shannon. Of course it was.

Her face was wet with tears, looking so pitiful, so fragile… like she was the victim in all this. My chest tightened so hard I thought I’d collapse. So this was it. This whole night… wasn’t for me. It was for her. “Honey…” Shannon’s voice trembled. “I’m sorry. I should’ve just been happy you brought me out. But seeing you with her… seeing how gentle you were… it hurt so bad. I got overwhelmed and I couldn’t breathe… I just fell. I embarrassed you. Did I ruin everything for you and Miss McKellar?” Felix didn’t even hesitate. “Of course not,” he said quietly. His hand came up, wiping her tears like they mattered. “I’m just worried about you. You don’t look okay. I’ll have someone take you back, get a specialist to check on you. You need to rest.” “I don’t want anyone else,” she whispered, clinging to him tighter. “They can’t fix me. You can. You’re the only one who can. Don’t send me away please.” Felix let out a low breath, something dark flickering in his eyes. “Yeah?” he murmured. “You really think I’m your cure?” “Try me,” she said softly. He chuckled under his breath, then pulled her in and kissed her. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. Everything felt… wrong. “Feeling better?” he asked against her lips. “A little,” she whispered. “But not enough… I need more.” Her hands moved over him, slow, teasing. Felix groaned softly, his grip tightening. “Fuck! You acting up ‘cause you’re sick,” he muttered, voice rough, “or you just trying to mess with me right now?” She laughed quietly, her breath brushing his ear. “Both.” The next second, he pushed her back against the table, his control snapping just like that. I flinched. My vision blurred. I remembered. Four years ago. That same woman, naked on his desk, begging him. “Please… just once…” And Felix didn’t even look at her. “Get this shit out of my office,” he had said coldly. Then he covered my eyes, pulling me into him. “Don’t look,” he murmured. “It’s disgusting. I’ll only ever touch one woman. You.” I believed him. God… I believed him. And now… he was touching her like she was everything. Like she was the only one. There was no disgust in his eyes. Only… affection. I couldn’t watch anymore. I turned and walked away, my legs shaking so badly I almost fell. ... When Felix came back later, it was like nothing had happened. Like he didn’t just break me upstairs. He held a box in his hand and walked straight to me, smiling slightly. “Danica,” he said, placing it in my hands, “this hotel… it’s yours now.” I blinked. What? “Transfer papers are inside,” he added casually. “Tonight happened here. Thought it deserved to belong to you.” Billions. Just like that. Given to me like it was nothing. People around us gasped quietly, their eyes full of envy. They thought I had everything. They had no idea. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her. Shannon. She walked down the stairs slowly, back in her uniform, mask covering her face again. No one would recognize her. But I did. Her hands were clenched tight at her sides. Even without seeing her face… I knew. She wasn’t happy. … A moment later, Shannon let go of him and went back to work like nothing happened. She started setting up the champagne tower, careful and slow, standing on her toes as she stacked the glasses from the top down. For a second, everything looked normal. Then suddenly, she slipped. Or… that’s what it looked like. Her ankle twisted and she grabbed the tablecloth in panic, and the whole thing came crashing down. Glass shattered everywhere, sharp and loud, like something breaking beyond repair. Pieces flew toward both of us. People gasped. Felix’s face changed instantly and he ran forward. Not to me. To her. He pulled Shannon into his arms, shielding her completely like she was something fragile, something worth protecting. I had already stepped back, already avoided most of it. But then he slammed into me. Hard. My body lost balance and I fell straight to the ground. My head hit first. Everything went white for a second, then warm liquid started running down the side of my face. Blood. Glass shards cut into my skin, shallow at first, then deeper, burning like I was being sliced apart slowly. My whole body shook, pain spreading everywhere. I couldn’t even scream. My vision blurred. And somehow… I smiled. So this was the truth. I used to think he loved us equally. Split in half. But if he had to choose… he already did. When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. The lights were too bright. My head throbbed. “Danica…” his voice was low, almost guilty. “I was trying to protect you. I just… I got confused. I was worried and grabbed the wrong person.” Wrong person. He kept kissing my hand over and over, like that would fix anything, like he could pour his feelings into something I couldn’t even feel. Because it wasn’t real. I stared at him. Felt nothing. “Then what about the waitress?” I asked coldly. I knew what I saw. That fall wasn’t an accident. Felix paused for a second, then shrugged slightly. “She messed up. Careless. I already had her blacklisted. She won’t be working anywhere again.” I blinked. Then I laughed. God… I laughed again. It hurt. It actually hurt to laugh, like cracks forming inside my chest, letting all the pain leak out. Shannon wasn’t even a waitress. So what kind of punishment was that? Like telling a bird it could never be a fish again. So stupid. So meaningless. Felix saw me smiling and relaxed a little, like everything was fine again. After that, he stayed by my side, attentive, careful, perfect. He checked my IV himself, adjusted it like it mattered. He treated my wounds personally, his hands gentle, focused. He peeled a lychee and held it to my lips. “Eat,” he said softly. I did. Then he held out his hand without a word, waiting for me to spit the seed into his palm like he always used to. The nurses walking past looked at me with envy. Like I was lucky. If only they knew. Then my phone rang. That same ringtone. He froze for half a second. Then he stood up like nothing was wrong. “Danica, I’ve got something at the company,” he said calmly. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t wait up, alright?” I nodded. Of course I did. Only after he was gone… completely gone… did I turn on the receiver in the ring. And then I understood. Shannon was in the hospital too. But not like me. He wasn’t checking her IV. Wasn’t treating her wounds. Because she didn’t have any. Just a minor scratch. Already healed. Instead… “Stay still,” his voice came through, lower, rougher. “You’re gonna make a mess.” I froze. I didn’t want to hear it. Didn’t want to understand. But I couldn’t stop listening. “Honey… if you keep me locked up like that, I’m gonna lose it,” Shannon’s voice trembled, soft and broken. “I can’t breathe in that place anymore. I feel like I’m dying slowly. Please, don’t send me back there. I want to go out. I want to be seen. I want to stand next to you even if it’s in front of her…” My fingers tightened around the ring. “I even want to be close to you like that… even if she’s there…” I shut my eyes. I couldn’t listen anymore. “Careful what you ask for,” Felix murmured, voice low and dangerous. The sounds that followed, I didn’t need to understand them. I turned the switch off. My hand was shaking. My chest felt hollow. Like there was nothing left inside me at all. After everything settled down, Felix said that word again. “Okay.” Three days later, I was discharged.

Felix carried me the whole way. From the hospital, into the car, then all the way back to the villa like I couldn’t even walk. He laid me down on the sofa carefully, his voice low and warm. “You’re still recovering. Don’t push yourself. I don’t want you getting tired.” It sounded so gentle. So loving. Until I saw her. Shannon. Standing there among the servants, wearing a maid uniform like she belonged there. My chest tightened so hard it hurt. I looked at Felix, disbelief crashing over me. She said she wanted to leave the villa… and this was his solution? Bring her here? “Danica, listen,” Felix pulled me closer, his arms tightening around me like he was afraid I’d slip away. His tone was soft, but there was something firm underneath it. “If she went to prison back then, she’d already be out by now. four years is nothing. But I’m not letting her off that easy.” He tilted my chin up, making me look at him. “So I brought her here. She’ll serve you. Keep atoning for what she did.” My stomach twisted. He kept going like this made sense. “I even talked to a psychologist,” he added. “You’ve been under pressure lately. Facing her, having her around… it might actually help you heal. Trust me, Danica. Everything I’m doing… it’s because I love you.” Love. He said it so easily. And the worst part? He looked sincere. The same face he had seven years ago when he got down on one knee and promised me I’d never suffer again. Now he was the one breaking me. Again and again. What was the difference between this and pouring salt into an open wound? I thought I’d break. I thought I’d scream at him, refuse, fight back. But I didn’t. There was nothing left in me. Just… empty. “Okay,” I said quietly. “I’ll do what you want.” Even if he made her the mistress of this house… I wouldn’t care. Because I was leaving anyway. Soon. For the rest of the day, Shannon acted like the perfect maid. Cleaning, moving quietly, keeping her head down. Felix didn’t even look at her once. He stayed by my side the whole time, like she didn’t exist. That night, he handed me a glass of milk. “Drink this,” he said softly. “It’ll help you sleep. Your body still needs rest.” I took it. And the moment he looked away, I poured it out. Something felt off. I pretended to drink it anyway. ... Later that night, I lay there, eyes closed, breathing slow. Waiting.And just like I thought… Felix leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Sleep well,” he murmured. Then he got up and left the room. The door clicked shut. A few seconds later… “Honey… are you sure this is okay?” Shannon’s voice came, soft but excited. “Doing this… while she’s here?” Felix let out a quiet laugh. “You’re overthinking it. When have I ever broken a promise to you?” My lashes trembled. I opened my eyes slowly. Through the glass doors, I could see them. Right there. Behind me. He had her pinned against the wall, his body pressed close, his head lowering as he kissed her slowly, like he had all the time in the world. Like I didn’t exist. My hands clenched so hard my nails dug into my palms. It hurts but not as much as before. Not anymore. Because he didn’t deserve my pain. ... The next morning, Felix left early for the company. I stayed in my room, working on my designs. I didn’t want to see her. Not even by accident. So the maids brought my meals in. Breakfast. Lunch. Quiet. Peaceful. Until evening. There was a knock. I walked over and opened the door. Shannon stood there. Holding a tray. Her posture straight, her chin slightly raised, her eyes filled with something ugly. “Danica,” she said, her voice light but sharp underneath. “I saw you that day. Outside the conference room.” My grip on the door tightened. “I never thought someone like you would end up like this,” she continued, smiling faintly. “You used to be so proud. And now? After losing a hand… you just gave up everything. How do you even live like this?” My stomach turned. She stepped closer. “Then again… what choice do you have?” she added softly. “You’re useless now. You can’t even stand on your own. You need Felix to survive. So of course you won’t fight back. You don’t dare.” I felt sick just looking at her. “What are you trying to say?” I asked coldly. Her smile widened. “I’m saying… no matter how long you hide like a coward, you won’t keep him,” she said, her voice dropping. “I’ll push you out slowly. Step by step. Until you’ve got nowhere left to go.” Her eyes locked onto mine. “Felix belongs to me.” My hand curled into a fist. For a second… I wanted to slap her. Hard. But I stopped myself. She wasn’t worth it.Touching her would only make me feel worse. There were other ways. Better ways. I stepped back, ready to close the door. And then— Footsteps. Shannon’s expression changed instantly the moment she heard the footsteps. One second she was smug, the next she looked like she was about to cry. Then she threw herself backward. The tray flipped, rice and soup spilling all over her body. She raised her already red hand, trembling, voice soft and pitiful. “Miss McKellar… I know you’re still mad at me. If pushing me makes you feel better, then… I’ll take it. You can do it again if you want.” I felt sick. “I didn’t push you,” I said flatly. “You made that up yourself.” Shannon’s tears fell faster. “If saying that helps you feel better, then… I’ll just say I fell on my own.” Felix stood behind her. For a second, I saw it. That flicker. Heartache. For her. My stomach twisted. His expression shifted, something dark passing through his eyes, but then he looked at me instead, like he was forcing himself to believe me. “Danica,” he said slowly, “I trust you. If you two can’t get along, then fine. I’ll send her away right now.” Shannon froze. “What…?” Felix’s voice turned cold. “Didn’t you hear me? Pack your shit and leave.” She looked stunned, biting her lip, holding back tears like she’d been wronged. “O-Okay… I’ll go now.” “Good,” Felix said, then turned back to me, his tone softening instantly. “Don’t let people like that ruin your mood. I came back early just to spend time with you. Let’s go out, yeah? I’ll take you somewhere nice.” He took my hand and led me into the dressing room like nothing happened. Like she didn’t just perform that whole scene. He picked out a dress himself, matching it with jewelry, his eyes focused like I was the only thing that mattered. “Change first,” he said. “I’ll go deal with her.” He walked out. And I turned on the ring. His voice came through, completely different now. Gentle. Soft. “Honey… I’m sorry you had to go through that,” he said quietly. “Seeing her push you like that… it pissed me off.” I clenched my jaw. “But it’s part of the plan,” he continued. “She agreed to me sending you away. That means you’re free now.” Shannon sounded confused. “What do you mean?” “It means go back to the villa for now,” he said calmly. “After that, you can go wherever you want. You’re not locked up anymore. Just message me when you get back so I know you’re safe.” Her voice broke, full of emotion. “You’re… you’re so good to me.” Felix chuckled softly. “You’re my wife. If I don’t take care of you, who the hell will?” I turned the ring off. My hands were cold.

That night, we went to a high-end Italian restaurant. One of those places where everything looked perfect. The food, the lighting, the view from the top floor overlooking the city. It should’ve been romantic. But I felt nothing. Felix sat across from me, looking calm, composed… but I noticed it. The way he kept checking his phone. Waiting. Of course he was. Waiting for her message because she was his wife. When his phone finally rang, he answered immediately, like he’d been holding his breath this whole time. He moved too fast and pressed the wrong button. Speaker. Shannon’s voice came through, shaking, panicked. “I… I’ve been taken! I don’t know where they’re bringing me… but it’s okay. Maybe this is better… if I disappear, Miss McKellar won’t be upset anymore… ah—! Help me!” The line cut. Felix’s face changed instantly. He tried calling back. Again. Again. Nothing. Then he looked at me. His voice forced calm, but I could hear the tension underneath. “Danica… where did you send her?” I frowned. “What?” “If you’re pissed, you tell me,” he said, his tone tightening. “I’ll handle it. You don’t need to get your hands dirty. Why the hell would you do something like this yourself?” “I’ll say it again,” I said quietly, putting my fork down. “It wasn’t me.” The next second, his hand clamped around my wrist. Tight. “Shannon’s not stable,” he snapped, his voice sharp now. “She can’t handle this kind of shit!” My heart stuttered. “Danica,” he continued, frustration breaking through, “can you just stop for a second? You lost a hand, yeah, I know, but she’s been through a lot too. Stop pushing her and just let her go, alright?” I froze. My eyes slowly burned. She’s been through a lot? I almost laughed. She attacked me with an axe. And someone protected her so she didn’t even spend a day in prison. She married the man she wanted. She lived comfortably, hidden away, loved for four years. And now… she was free. So tell me… Who was the victim? And who had been fighting alone this whole time? I forced my tears back and looked at him, my voice slow and steady. “I said I didn’t do it, and… even if this is a transplanted hand, it still hurts.” Felix froze, then looked down at my wrist like he just noticed it was red. “Shit… Danica, I’m sorry,” he muttered, letting go right away. “I thought you might do something reckless. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He exhaled and added, “Where are the rings I gave you? Why aren’t you wearing them?” I almost laughed. “You gave me the men’s one. It didn’t fit, so I took it off.” He paused, a little thrown off, then nodded. “Alright. We’ll switch them back when we get home.” After that, he dropped it. Like Shannon didn’t even exist. ... Three days later, late at night, his phone rang and he got up immediately. His hand was already on the door when he suddenly turned back to look at me and stopped. I just sat there, calm, not asking anything, not stopping him, nothing. For a second he looked… unsettled. Like he didn’t expect this version of me. He hesitated, like he might stay, but then his phone rang again. “Something came up at the company,” he said quickly and left. He didn’t come home that night. Just one message. [Danica, I’ve got work. Staying late. Go to sleep first. Love you.] I stared at it, then turned the screen off. Those words meant nothing now. The next morning, a maid said someone was looking for me. I stepped outside and something hit the back of my head. Everything went black. When I woke up, my body was tied up. Hands, legs, everything. My mouth was sealed. I was in a private room in a nightclub, music faint in the background. They dressed me in a servant's uniform and a mask. Just like her. My hair was gone, cut short and uneven, barely touching my ears. Felix liked my long hair. Said it made me look soft. Now it was gone. The door slammed open. “Wife, is this the one who locked you up and tortured you for three days?” Felix’s voice was low and dangerous. “It’s her!” Shannon cried immediately. “She said Miss McKellar ordered her to make me suffer, to make me wish I was dead. She tortured me, locked me up, even brought men to humiliate me. I almost…” her voice broke. “I barely made it out…” I struggled, trying to make a sound. Nothing came out. Felix’s tone turned colder. “Danica went too far. I won’t touch her, but I can make an example out of someone else.” He paused, then said, “Bring me the whip. The one soaked in salt.” My whole body started shaking. She wasn’t just framing me. She wanted him to think I was something filthy. Someone he could punish. Felix stepped closer, whip in hand, looking at me. For a second, he hesitated. His eyes narrowed slightly, like something felt off. The lights were dim. Maybe he saw it. Maybe he felt it. That something about me was familiar. Then— “Honey…” Shannon hugged him from behind, her voice soft and trembling. “Thank you for standing up for me. That woman… she hurt me so much…” I knew why he didn’t recognize me. I never wore servant uniforms and I always kept my hair long, the way he liked it. The woman in front of him now had short, uneven hair and a cheap uniform, and there was no way, in his mind, that I could be his Danica. I saw it in his eyes, the moment that thought settled in, everything warm in him disappeared. What was left was cold and violent and insane. “If you dare touch my wife, I’ll make you suffer a thousand times worse! You fucking hear me?! I’ll make you wish you were never fucking born.” The whip cut through the air. “Smack!” The first hit landed hard and my back snapped straight, the barbs tearing into my skin like claws.

Pain exploded through me and I screamed, but it came out muffled behind the tape. The second hit came and my vision blurred instantly, it felt like hot metal was pressed into my flesh, burning and ripping everything apart. I couldn’t breathe, or maybe I was breathing too fast, I didn’t even know anymore. The third hit made me bite down so hard I tasted blood, my whole body curling and shaking, pain sinking into my bones with no escape. It didn’t stop. Again and again and again. By the time he reached ninety-nine, I wasn’t fighting anymore. My body was soaked in blood, twitching like it didn’t belong to me. My mind drifted somewhere far away and I remembered something. He once said he’d punish her, said he’d tie her up and whip her and make her pay for what she did to me. He promised. So why… why was I the one here? Why was I the one bleeding under his hands? “Shannon,” his voice came through the haze, calm like nothing happened. “How many men did she bring to mess with you?” “…Ten,” she whispered. “Good,” he said coldly. “Then I’ll make it worse.” My heart dropped. “Bring in a hundred of the filthiest guys you can find,” he ordered. “And give her something to make it more fun.” He stepped forward and kicked my chin hard. “You think you can touch my wife and walk away? I’ll fucking ruin you.” The mask fell off. “Felix…!” I forced the sound out, everything breaking inside me. “If you knew it was me… would you regret it?” But it didn’t come out right, just broken sounds and choking sobs. He didn’t even look. He had already turned away, holding Shannon’s hand. “Don’t look,” he told her gently. “It’s disgusting. I’ll stay with you the next few days, alright?” Their voices faded and the door closed. Someone came in and untied me just enough to shove a pill into my mouth. I tried to resist but couldn’t. My body started heating up almost immediately, too fast, too much. My chest tightened and my skin felt like it was burning. Then they came. One after another. Dirty men, reeking, their eyes crawling over me like I wasn’t even human. Hands touched me, rough and sick. I felt like throwing up and then something worse happened, my body reacted, heat spreading in a way that felt wrong and disgusting, mixing with the pain until I couldn’t tell anything apart. Tears streamed down my face. What is happening to me…? I grabbed the nearest thing I could reach, a vase. Smashed it. And drove a shard into my thigh. The pain hit sharp and clean and cleared my head just enough. I looked up and they were getting closer, no way out except the window behind me. I didn’t think, I just ran and jumped. For a second I thought I was dead, but I hit grass. It hurt like hell but I was alive. The back door of the club was open and I ran, didn’t stop, didn’t look back. Blood soaked through everything and my body screamed at me but I kept going. My phone kept vibrating. I checked. [Danica, this project’s gonna take a few more days. Be good and wait for me at home. Love you.] I laughed, broken and empty. Another message came. “Your identity cancellation has been completed. All records under this name are now invalid.” I stared at it and then I smiled, for real this time. I was finally gone. ... Back at the villa, I packed fast. He had taken most of my documents long ago but it didn’t matter anymore. That person didn’t exist. I only took what I needed. I took off the ring, still stained with my blood, and placed it on the desk. He’d see it. He’d know everything he did. I used to think I’d take revenge myself but now I didn’t have to. That ring was enough. It would destroy him. When I left, it was night. The sky was deep blue and the stars were faint under the city lights, but they were still there. And stars… they always shine eventually, right? I bought a ticket under my new name. One way. As the plane lifted into the sky, I leaned back and closed my eyes. I was getting closer to something new. Goodbye, Felix. I just hoped we’d never meet again.