Chapter 6

Vincent carried me from the hospital to the car and then all the way into the villa, as though I were too weak to take a single step on my own. He settled me carefully onto the sofa before brushing my hair away from my face.

“You’re still healing, so don’t force yourself,” he said gently. “I don’t want you exhausting yourself.”

The tenderness in his voice might have fooled me once.

Then I saw Sabrina.

She stood among the servants in a maid’s uniform, looking as though she had every right to be there.

My chest tightened.

She had said she wanted to leave the villa, and this was Vincent’s answer? He had brought her into our home?

“Amara, hear me out.” Vincent pulled me closer, his arms tightening around me. “If Sabrina had gone to prison four years ago, she would have been released by now. I don't think that's enough punishment for what she did.”

He lifted my chin until I was forced to meet his eyes.

“That’s why I brought her here. She can serve you and spend the rest of her time making amends for what she did.”

My stomach twisted.

“I even consulted a psychologist,” he continued. “You’ve been under a lot of pressure lately. Having her around might help you confront what happened instead of carrying it forever. Trust me, Amara. I’m only doing this because I love you.”

Love.

He said it so naturally, and the sincerity in his expression made it worse.

It was the same face he'd worn seven years ago when he'd knelt before me and promised I would never have to suffer again.

Now he was the person hurting me most.

I thought I'd scream at him. Instead, I felt strangely empty.

“Fine,” I said quietly. “I’ll do whatever you want.”

He could turn Sabrina into the mistress of this house for all I cared.

I was leaving soon anyway.

For the rest of the day, Sabrina played the obedient servant, quietly cleaning and keeping her eyes lowered. Vincent didn't acknowledge her once. He remained beside me as though she weren't even in the room.

That night, he handed me a glass of milk.

“Drink this before bed. You still need plenty of rest.”

I accepted it, but when he looked away, I poured it out and pretended to drink.

Something about it didn't feel right.

Later, I lay in bed with my eyes closed, breathing evenly as I waited.

Just as I expected, Vincent leaned down and kissed my forehead.

“Get some sleep,” he whispered.

He left, and the door clicked shut behind him.

A few seconds passed before Sabrina's voice drifted through the glass doors.

“Darling, are you certain this is all right? Even with her here?”

Vincent laughed quietly.

“You worry too much. Have I ever gone back on a promise I made to you?”

My lashes trembled.

I opened my eyes and looked toward the doors.

There they were.

Vincent had Sabrina against the wall, his body close to hers as he kissed her slowly and intimately, as though there wasn't another person in the room.

As though I didn't exist.

My nails dug into my palms, but the pain wasn't what it had once been.

Perhaps because I finally understood that Vincent wasn't worth hurting over anymore.

The following morning, he left early for the company. I stayed in my room working on my designs, deliberately avoiding Sabrina. I had no desire to encounter her, so I had the maids bring my meals upstairs.

Breakfast passed quietly.

Then lunch.

By evening, someone knocked.

When I opened the door, Sabrina stood there carrying a tray. Her posture was composed, but there was something cruel beneath her pleasant expression.

“Amara,” she said lightly. “I saw you outside the conference room that day.”

My fingers tightened around the door.

“I never imagined someone as proud as you would end up like this. You used to have everything. Now you've lost a hand and abandoned the future you worked for. How do you even live this way?”

She stepped closer.

“Although I suppose you don't have much choice. You can't do what you used to, and you need Vincent for almost everything. That’s why you won’t fight me, isn't it? You know you can't afford to.”

I stared at her.

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

Her smile widened.

“I'm saying that hiding behind him won't keep him yours forever. I'll take you out of his life slowly, until there's nowhere left for you to go.”

Her eyes hardened.

“Vincent belongs with me.”

For one moment, I wanted to slap her.

Then I stopped myself.

She wasn't worth touching.

I stepped back to close the door.

Footsteps sounded behind her.

Sabrina's entire demeanor changed.

The smug expression disappeared, replaced instantly by trembling lips and frightened eyes. She suddenly threw herself backward.

The tray flew from her hands, spilling rice and soup across her uniform.

She lifted her reddened hand and stared at me tearfully.

“Miss Sinclair, I know you're still angry with me. If hurting me makes you feel better, then I won't complain. If you need to do it again, I’ll endure it.”

Disgust turned my stomach.

“I didn't touch you,” I said coldly. “You did that yourself.”

Her tears immediately spilled over.

“If that's what you need to believe, then I'll just say I lost my balance.”

Vincent stood behind her.

I saw the brief flash of concern in his eyes.

For Sabrina.

His expression darkened before he looked at me, almost as though he were forcing himself to trust what I'd said.

“Amara, I believe you,” he said slowly. “If the two of you can't live peacefully together, then I'll send her away.”

Sabrina's face went pale.

“What?”

Vincent's voice hardened.

“You heard me. Pack your things and leave.”

She looked devastated, biting her lip as tears gathered in her eyes.

“All right,” she whispered. “I'll go.”

“Good.”

Vincent immediately turned toward me, his expression softening.

“Don't let someone like that ruin your mood. I came home early because I wanted to spend time with you. Come on. Let me take you somewhere nice.”

He took my hand and led me toward the dressing room as though nothing unusual had happened.

Inside, he selected a dress himself and chose jewelry to match it, studying every detail with the same concentration he once reserved for making me happy.

“Get changed,” he said. “I'll take care of Sabrina first.”

He left.

The moment the door closed, I activated the ring.

His voice came through, completely different from the one I'd just heard.

“Darling, I'm sorry you had to witness that. Seeing her treat you that way made me furious.”

I clenched my jaw.

“But it's all part of the arrangement,” he continued. “She agreed that I would send her away, which means she's free now.”

Sabrina sounded confused.

“What are you saying?”

“Go back to the villa for the moment. After that, you can go wherever you want. You're not being kept there anymore. Just let me know when you arrive so I know you're safe.”

Her voice trembled with emotion.

“You’re really too good to me.”

Vincent laughed softly.

“You're my wife. If I don't look after you, who else is going to?”

I switched off the receiver.

My fingers had gone cold.