Voice Stolen by Mistress

Synopsis

I stared at the manila folder on Michael's desk, its edges crisp and neat like everything else in his office. The Seattle rain tapped against the floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a rhythm that used to comfort me. Not today. Today, each drop felt like a countdown to something I couldn't name but deeply feared. Michael sat across from me, his posture perfect in his tailored charcoal suit. Three years ago, that same posture had made me feel safe—the embodiment of control when my world had none. Now, as he slid the folder toward me, his clinical detachment sent ice through my veins. "Lily," he said, his voice carrying the same measured tone he'd used in our therapy sessions long ago. "This is necessary. Scarlett Rose needs a comprehensive image rehabilitation after her drug scandal, and a relationship with her therapist—a respected psychiatrist—is the perfect narrative." My fingers instinctively found my grandmother's Tiffany necklace, the delicate silver chain warm against my skin.