Chapter 3
When I woke up again, it was already dark. Colin was sitting in a chair by the window, smoking.
He heard me stir, but he didn't move. He just turned his head and gave me a mocking expression. "Vivian, don't be like this. It's cheap.
"I know you love me and can't handle it right now, but there's really no need to go all dramatic and suicidal.
"Don't worry. Even if I don't love you anymore, I can still keep you around as a housekeeper or a servant. You can't live without me anyway."
He stubbed out his cigarette, his voice carrying that familiar air of superiority, like he was doing me a favor.
I wanted to argue back. But when I opened my mouth, I couldn't find a single thing to say.
I had been trapped by his side for 20 years. I'd been reduced to nothing. I didn't know what the outside world was like anymore. I didn't even know how to live on my own.
He picked up the papers from the desk, walked over, and threw them on the bed. "But you can't be my wife anymore. Sign the divorce papers."
My hands shook as I opened the papers and read through them.
I was getting nothing. That was so Colin.
I looked up at him and asked, "What if I don't sign?"
He just smiled, "You know me. If I want something done, nothing can stop me. Good girl. Don't be difficult. After the divorce, I'll still keep you around."
Colin was right. In front of him, I never had a choice.
I took the pen he handed me. My hand kept shaking as I signed. I had to hold my right hand with my left to barely finish my name.
He thought I was in pain because I was leaving him. He patted my hair gently. "Vivian, good girl."
But honestly? I was buzzing inside. Finally, I was getting away from that psycho.
For 20 years, not a single moment went by that I didn't want to leave him. Love him? Not even close.
Even back when he loved me the most, when he would have ripped out his heart just to make me smile, when he would grovel in front of me and beg for any little response, I never felt a thing for him. Not once.
No one could ever love the creep who kept them prisoner. He was just a kidnapper and a rapist.
Before he left, Colin gave me a phone. "Here. Something to keep your mind busy."
In the past, he never let me have a phone. He said people and things outside would take my attention away from him.
Now, just to keep me from clinging to him, he handed me a phone himself.
Phones were so different now than they were 20 years ago.
I held this phone in my hand, clueless about how to use it, but I couldn't help grinning happily.
Freedom was finally within reach. It was wonderful.
*****
Colin brought a new girl home.
The girl was very pretty. Her eyes were bright and sparkly. Her smile could light up a room.
She looked a lot like I did 20 years ago. She was even prettier than I had been back then.
As soon as she walked in, she tilted her head and stared at me for a moment. Then she asked in a clear, crisp voice, "Have I seen you somewhere before?"
I shook my head. She was only 20. How could she have seen me?
The girl pouted and was about to ask something else when Colin came back from outside.
The second he stepped in, he immediately shielded her behind him, as if I might hurt her.
She poked her head out from behind him and playfully held out her hand to me. "Hi, I'm Amber Young, a journalism student at Northbridge University. I'm here to interview Mr. Stanton. Are you Mrs. Stanton?"
"No," Colin answered for me. "She's a servant in my house." He shot me a warning look.
Amber realized she'd put her foot in her mouth and quickly apologized, "Sorry. I'm so sorry."
Colin bent his finger and gave her a light flick on the head. "It's okay, silly girl. Come sit down. Didn't you prepare a lot of questions? My time is valuable."
"Oh, right," she replied.
I stood there, watching them talk. A bitter smile appeared on my lips without me even noticing.
Colin was never the warm or friendly type. If he brought someone home for an interview, there was only one reason. He was interested in the girl.