a

sat on the cold marble floor. I traced the timeline of our relationship

ck my hospital hours to start a family. Not once had Shawn given me reason to doubt his devotion. We both came from wealth, both moved in the same social circles. Our famil

tenderly and reminded me he had plans for our anniversary. Had he been pl

he'd designed specifically for me. "He promised to hold my hand through everyt

n trying to reach me since yesterday, but I'd been too consumed with my own cr

ed, hearing her frantic bre

ined and urgent. "Something happ

ne wen

gnal. I tried again. Nothing. My heart thundered in my chest as worst-ca

get to my family, had to see what was wrong with Dad, had to do something b

ruised knee, and bolted for the door. As my hand touched t

re going?" Shawn's voice

ster just called. Something's happened to my father. The call got cut off, I

ppeared so quickly I couldn't be sure. "I don't care what yo

My father could be dying, Shawn! My sister needs me! And you ... you don't get t

startling speed. His hand gripped my wrist with

wrong with you? You bring home another woman, pretend our marriage neve

struggles. He pushed open the door to a small staff bedroom where my luggage had been unceremonio

lock turning from the outsi

s raw. "Shawn! Let me out! Something's happened to my father! Do

go, I had said "I do" to a man I thought would love me forever. Now I was locked in a room like a priso

allized with perfect clarity: nothing in my life

n the narrow bed in what had become my prison cell, staring blankly at the wall. My repeated att

eet, ready to confront Shawn again. Instead, Carla entered

professional title for the first time

me select Shawn's anniversary gift just days ago. "Carla, please," I begged, my voice raw from cryi

mine, filled with something that looked remarkably like fear. "I can't," she

place. I sank onto the bed, more confused than ever. Guards? What did she mean b

re behavior and this "fiancée" who had appeared out of nowhere. The sudden silence from my family after Lin

ily in dan

by examining all available evidence. I needed to think cl

had been normal. Shawn had been loving,

me, the staff wouldn't look at me,

eared with another woman

alled about my father, and

eping me prisoner, with

symptoms of a disease I needed to diagnose. This wasn't just the be

was forcing Shawn to do this? What if he w

s had clenched into fists. The momentary flicker in his eyes when I mentione

out what had happened to my father an

ars, a safety feature in this old wing of the mansion. The door was solid wood, and the lock apparently controlled from the outside.

urgeons in the country. I had spent thousands of hours performing delicate procedures that requi

tch the staff's routines, look for weaknesses, and wait for

y did, I wou