Chapter 5 - I Pretended To Be Dying—And Let Her Think She Had Won**
The next week, I started acting.
I let myself look more tired.
Paler.
Weaker.
I stumbled once or twice when I walked, making sure Vanessa saw.
I complained constantly about the ringing in my ears getting worse.
I told her I could barely hear anything anymore.
I pretended to forget things, to confuse names, to have trouble concentrating.
Vanessa ate it up.
She held me and told me how sorry she was, how she would take care of me no matter what.
But I saw the flicker of satisfaction in her eyes.
The excitement.
She thought she was winning.
She started talking more and more about what would happen “if something happened to me.”
She suggested we update our wills, making her the sole beneficiary of my entire estate.
She pushed me to give her power of attorney, “just in case I couldn’t make decisions for myself.”
I pretended to agree.
I signed the papers she put in front of me.
But I had already talked to my attorney.
The documents Vanessa thought gave her everything were actually worthless.
My lawyer had prepared real ones that left my entire fortune to a foundation in my grandmother’s name, with provisions for Nora and Lily.
She also started increasing the dose.
I could taste it in the tea now.
Bitter.
Stronger.
She was getting impatient.
She wanted me gone soon, so she could collect her prize and move on to her next victim.
Every night, I poured the tea down the sink.
Every meal she made me, I pretended to eat while hiding most of it in a napkin when she wasn’t looking.
And every day, I got stronger while she thought I was getting weaker.
I also made sure Nora and Lily were safe.
I arranged for them to stay in a small, secure apartment I owned in the city, far from the estate.
I told Vanessa Nora had quit because her mother was sick and she had to move back home to take care of her.
Vanessa didn’t even pretend to be sorry.
She just hired a new housekeeper and forgot about them immediately.
Lily sent me drawings through Nora.
Pictures of rabbits and flowers and a big man holding hands with a little girl.
She signed are you safe? in one of the margins.
I sent her back a drawing of my own, signing I am safe. Thank you for saving me.
She was the bravest person I had ever met.
And I was going to make sure she and her mother had a good life, free from fear.
Marcus kept investigating, gathering more evidence.
He found the supplier who had been selling Vanessa the cisplatin.
He found witnesses who had seen her meeting with him.
He found old letters she had written to friends, bragging about how easy it was to manipulate wealthy men.
We had more than enough to put her away for a very long time.
Now we just had to spring the trap.
I talked to Vanessa about hosting another party.
A small one, just for our closest friends and business partners.
“I want to celebrate us,” I said, letting my voice tremble slightly.
“While I still can.”
Tears came to her eyes—fake tears, but convincing ones.
“Oh, Ethan,” she said, hugging me tight.
“That’s such a beautiful idea. I’ll plan everything. It will be perfect.”
She had no idea how perfect it would be.
For me.
May you like
For justice.
And for the end of her reign of terror.
