Bloom Ville Estate
Olivia was so engrossed in the chapter she was reading when she heard the familiar sound of a car engine roaring to a halt.
That must be from the parking lot, her wandering thoughts indulged.
She quietly walked to the back door to take a quick peek.
Second floor.
Down at the garage, Gareth stepped out just as the car gave a locking beep.
He suddenly spun around.
Olivia, quick to notice the movement, ducked behind a pillar, squatting low to avoid being seen by her husband.
But his gaze immediately followed, shifting toward the pillar where she hid.
He stared for a couple of seconds. Then, indecisively, he darted his gaze away.
"Ah, it's nothing. I saw nothing… maybe I'm just thinking too much," he muttered, convincing himself.
Pressing a blue button, the elevator to the first floor opened with a buzzing sound. Gareth stepped in and dialed a few digits.
Buzz.
The doors slammed shut, and the elevator began its ascent.
"Ah…"
"He's back," Olivia muttered, her voice drained with panic and horror, her mind spinning with a thousand thoughts.
"No way."
She thrust the book aside, fear flashing across her porcelain face.
"He's back…" she repeated under her breath.
Quickly, she rushed to the kitchen to heat up a meal for her husband. She was so afraid and disoriented that her hands trembled uncontrollably. She kept bumping into things, knocking utensils to the floor, spilling water everywhere. She nearly slipped, forgetting to dry the wet floor.
"Ah, Olivia, get a grip on yourself!" she smacked her forehead, trying to stay calm.
But how could she, when Gareth's meal wasn't ready yet? She knew what would follow once he arrived.
Turning on the gas, she placed a pan on the heat and poured in a generous amount of oil to fry the frozen fish she had taken from the freezer.
First, she washed the fish thoroughly to remove the odor.
"You're so stupid, Olivia. How did you forget to check the time?" she scolded herself, hitting her forehead again.
"Ouch!"
She suddenly cried out in pain. She had forgotten about the heated oil on the cooker and, carelessly, dropped the fish into the pan without checking the temperature. The oil splattered violently the moment the fish touched it.
"Ow…" she whimpered, unable to bear the sting, quickly rubbing a little salt on her skin to prevent blistering.
Bang! Bang!
Aggressive knocks echoed through the door.
"Oh no… he's here," Olivia quivered in fright, unaware that the fish on the stove was already burning.
She rushed to the door and peeped through the installed camera.
Sure enough, it was Gareth, his face crumpled with irritation. He kept glancing at his wristwatch impatiently.
"What's with Olivia today? Isn't she in?" he hissed in exhaustion.
"Liv… Liv…" he called, trying to sound calm.
But Olivia knew better. It was all an act—same old, same old.
Her mind drifted back to the novel she had been reading earlier.
She imagined her life reflected in the mirror from the story. For a moment, she couldn't tell if it was magical or ordinary.
But it heard thoughts, she reminded herself.
Exactly… it hears. It feeds on people's thoughts, fears, and desires.
"This is crazy. It's just a fantasy novel. Stuff like this doesn't exist in real life," another voice argued in her head.
Olivia stood there, conflicted.
Ah, I wish such a mirror existed. I could actually change my life for the better.
"I'm so tired of living in fear. What if I wake up one day and Gareth is a completely different person? Gentle… sweet… just like the old times…"
She closed her eyes, reminiscing.
Things had gone terribly wrong between them. Gareth had suddenly become a completely different person—cold, complicated, and cruel. She often wondered if he was the same man who had courted her back in college, chasing her endlessly… or if she had lost the beauty he once adored.
"What's the point? It's crystal clear… he deceived me. He lured me into this loveless marriage. He pretended to be someone he wasn't."
"All for what? To get me… and he succeeded."
Her voice broke into a quiet wail.
Each time he turned her into a punching bag, he would grin—actually grin—enjoying every moment. Olivia had lost two pregnancies because of his brutality.
Her hands clenched into fists. Her teeth ground together. It felt as though a beast had awakened inside her.
Her pupils burned red with something dark… something dangerous.
For the first time, Olivia truly felt used—reduced to nothing more than trash. Forced into becoming a shadow of herself. Always made to feel like she was at fault.
Even outsiders and relatives saw her as strange.
If only they knew…
They wouldn't dare judge.
She had tried to express her pain through painting.
Unfortunately, no one ever saw beyond the surface.
"I was delusional to think it would work in the first place…"
She had even gathered the courage to report him to the police.
But Gia had stopped her.
Smack!
A bitter smile crossed Olivia's lips as she remembered. It wasn't the slap that hurt—it was the betrayal.
Her sister-in-law had chosen family reputation over her life.
"What were you thinking? You—yes, you!" Gia had shoved her hard that day, rage blazing in her eyes.
"Did you even think about what people would say if the world found out you're being abused by him?"
How typical.
What people would say…
Olivia scoffed, her chest tightening as though her lungs might rupture.
"Liv!"
"Liv!"
Gareth kept knocking nonstop.
Strangely… Olivia found it amusing.
She felt powerful—holding back the access he so desperately wanted.
Finally, she opened the door.
"What took you so long?" Gareth snapped. "Didn't you hear me knocking for what felt like ages?"
Olivia moved aside, letting him in.
She seemed… different.
Less shaken.
The old her would have stood trembling, head bowed, apologizing repeatedly, fearing his next move.
Even Gareth noticed.
"What's gotten into her?" he muttered, watching her retreat upstairs.
"Liv… Liv!" he called, trying to catch up—then suddenly stopped.
"What's that smell?"
Alarmed, Gareth rushed into the kitchen and quickly turned off the gas.
The fried fish was beyond saving—burnt to the point of becoming charcoal.
Without hesitation, he wrapped it in nylon and tossed it into the trash.
"Liv!"
"Liv!"
He called again, striding upstairs.
What do you think will happen next?
Does Olivia have a backup plan?
As bold as she seems now… is she truly ready to face Gareth?
Or is this just the beginning of something far more dangerous?