Page 13 of Web of Lies
It's me. But I've never seen myself look so disheveled. I look drunk, but I haven't had a single drink in months. I watch myself stumble around the bedroom and fall to my hands and knees. I listen as I sob and beg for Adrian to come help me. Then I listen to myself cry and beg him to go get my Dad. He reminds me that my Dad is gone and then I watch as grief takes over my features again and I crumble to the floor. And worse, when Adrian tries to help me up I fight him and accuse him of trying to hurt me.
I don't remember anything about any of that happening. Not a single minute of it. I would never behave the way the person in this video is behaving. Not consciously.
Then I have another realization. I look up at the window. That's why Anne was looking at it this morning. “Is there a camera above the window?” My voice is quiet with complete horror and embarrassment.
Adrian looks up at the window, too, a little smile curving his mouth. “Yes. For your safety.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
He looks back at me. “Because you would have taken it badly. You haven't exactly been understanding or coherent lately.”
I just look at him. This is so utterly unacceptable... such an invasion...
“Oh, don't look at me like that, babe. I just installed it to help me keep an eye on you before we hired Anne.”
“Youhired Anne.”
“Becauseyoucan't take care of yourself and one of us has to run your Dad's company.”
“All I need is to see a doctor, arealdoctor, and then I'll be able to runmycompany myself. Where is my phone?”
Adrian chuckles. “You're getting agitated again, Larken. You can't run the company in your state. You're just going to have to trust me.”
“Where is my phone, Adrian?”
He stands up and smiles down at me. “I put it away. You don't like all the notifications. Don't worry. As soon as you're back to yourself I'll make sure you have it.”
Chapter Six
Larken
What if I had a nervous breakdown, or some kind of breakdown, after I lost Dad? What if I really am as crazy as they're trying to convince me I am? It's the only logical explanation for all my symptoms. Maybe I actually have seen a doctor but I just don't remember it? I'm not sure, but breakdown symptoms or not, I recognize that I'm being isolated. And Adrian has stopped treating me like his wife almost completely, he treats me more like a troubled child. I've been thinking back on our entire relationship during my lucid moments to see if he's always treated me like this and I was too in love with him to see it. Surely someone would have recognized it and told me, wouldn't they? Did they, and I brushed it off because it didn't match up with the idea of him I had in my head?
Wait.
Someone did notice something was off.
Regan. And Conner. They noticed something was off. Regan even joked about it every time I mentioned us doing something as couples or I invited her over to watch a movie with me. She never said anything outright, but she wouldn't come over if Adrian was home, and we never did anything as couples after that first time.
I need to talk to her.
I need my phone.
I need to find it. It's somewhere in the house. It has to be. I'm going to find it and call Regan. I've been awake for days, though. I don't know how many. The pills Adrian gives me to help me sleep aren't helping anymore. I'm even more exhausted than I usually am, but if I can manage to find my phone I can call Regan and she'll help me get to a doctor. But I'll have to get around Anne to do it. And the security camera.
My bedroom door opens and Anne walks in. She sees that I'm awake and gives me a tight-lipped smile. “Good morning, Mrs. Nash. Are you ready for me to help you get ready for the day?”
I blink at her and respond without returning her smile. “I am ready for the day. I'm already dressed.”
“This is good,” she chirps. “I've brought your morning medication. As soon as you take it I'll bring up your breakfast.”
“I'd like to have breakfast in the dining room this morning, Anne. I feel strong this morning. I think I can make it down the stairs.”
Her smile drops. “By yourself?”
I shake my head slowly to avoid any dizziness. “No. You'll have to help me. I think it would be very good for me to get out of this room for a while. I can stay downstairs all day today. If I get tired I can rest on the couch. Adrian can help me back upstairs when he gets home.”
Anne's eyes harden, but she smiles at me again. “Alright. I'll help you downstairs. Here's your medicine. Do you need another drink?”
