Page 16 of Cup of Lies

Idolove Romy.

I have to find her.

Romy

Seth is suspicious.

I’m doing my best to feed him the “perfect wife” lie I’ve been living, but he’s no fool. With every narrowed glance my way, I know he’s working out if I’m being genuine or not.

Truth is, I’m freaking out.

I’m stuck in this warped world where I’m supposed to be happy, living a brainwashed life. In reality, I’m nothing more than a lightning bug caught in a jar to be observed endlessly, slowly suffocating in captivity until my light eventually goes out forever.

“I was thinking of trying my hand at making orange sconces,” I say to Seth as I wipe out the inside of the microwave. “I haven’t had them since I lived in the city. I think you and Kaitlyn would love them.”

I can’t meet his gaze when I lie to him.

He’ll see. He’s too observant not to.

What I really need is access to the internet.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he says from too close behind me.

Why is he hovering over me so much? Does he always do this? Did I stupidly mistake it as love and adoration when my brain was in its fog?

I force a confused look on my face and then turn to look at my freckly faced captor. “Why not?”

He scrutinizes my doe-eyed expression and it’s difficult not to flinch under his intensity. Then he raises a hand to brush a strand of hair away from my face. “Because I said so, love.”

The endearment has my insides shriveling up.

It’s then I realize it was never his to call me.

It belongs to someone else.

Goose bumps flash across my skin as I recall lips on my neck and a strong, firm body pressing me into the mattress. A man, much larger and powerful, drives into me with possessive need. The fragment of a memory consumes me.

Love.

It has to be Caius.

I’mhislove, not Seth’s.

But because I can’t reveal my hand to this monster masquerading as a good father, loving husband, and successful doctor, I don’t challenge him. The real Romy would argue her case. This plastic version of her knows her place.

“Okay. I’m sure I can make chocolate chip cookies again since that’s your favorite.”

He nods, pleased at my acquiescence. “Thank you.”

I close my eyes when he kisses me, trying not to gag at the way his tongue rapes my mouth. Bile creeps up my throat and I wonder if he’ll take it personally if I puke on him. I could always blame morning sickness.

Thankfully, he pulls away and gives me a gentle smile I once trusted. I’m now fully aware of the evil that lurks beneath.

“Daddy, can you push me on the swing?” Kaitlyn asks when she bounds into the kitchen, full of life and energy.

Is he really her father?

I don’t believe that.

---