Chapter 9 Opportunity knocks!
I don’t know if it’s because of shock or anger, but my chest is holding me back. I want to roar in frustration, but I dare not. I don’t know how they would react if they knew about my condition. My home, my children, my ten years of everything…
I bite down on the blanket, desperately clenching my teeth to prevent the heart-wrenching cry from escaping. Memories of the past ten years whirl rapidly in my mind, making it hard to breathe, and I pass out.
When I wake up, my brain is unusually clear. I can’t just lie here and let them manipulate me. I need to know the truth. Infidelity would be one thing, but poisoning me is another level – it’s an attempt on my life.
My eyes fixate on the upper-left corner of the room. If Robert has sensed something off with me, he won’t overlook the surveillance in this room. I have to make that “eye” shut completely.
However, doing this without being noticed under their surveillance is close to impossible. But, surprisingly, fate smiles upon me, and an opportunity arises quickly.
In the evening, I vaguely hear Sherry talking in the corridor. Soon after, Robert is on the phone. It seems he has returned early or maybe never left at all. His voice is loud enough for me to understand that there’s a power outage in the area.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.
Excitement rushes through me. This is a stroke of luck! Just as I’m about to get up, I hear the door handle click. I quickly close my eyes and hold my breath.
The room is dimly lit. I squint and see Robert glancing inside before retreating. The door isn’t fully closed, and I can clearly hear Sherry complaining impatiently, “Why is there a power outage? The dinner isn’t ready! What does the property management say? When will they come?”
“Investigating. If it takes too long, we can go out to eat,” Robert replies nonchalantly.
“Ah? Okay.” Sherry’s tone reveals her excitement, “But the medicine for her isn’t ready yet!”
“Deal with it when we come back. She won’t wake up for a while.”
“Well, I’ll go change the kids’ clothes!” Sherry’s hurried footsteps move away.
Not long after, I hear the sound of a car starting downstairs. My heart sinks to the lowest point, tears stream down my face, and I wipe them away in frustration.
I don’t have time to be sad. I quickly get up, my heart pounding with excitement and nervousness, my whole body weak, and my legs trembling uncontrollably.
I laboriously drag a chair, climb onto it, and check. The camera is still there. I reach out, take it down, and examine it. I don’t know how to make it look intact but unusable.
In my haste, I quickly get off the chair and briskly walk to the bathroom. I fill the sink with water and casually throw it in.
Then I return to my bedside table, searching for my phone. It’s been so long since I used it that I can’t remember where I put it. I need to call Scarlette and ask for her help. I need to know what they gave me to drink.
Scarlette is my classmate and my only trustworthy confidante.
I search through all the drawers and shelves, but I can’t find my phone anywhere.
My heart is failing me. It beats like it’s about to explode. I lie on the bed, gasping for breath. Tears stream down my face again, regretting how I’ve ended up in this state.
I take a moment to calm down, take a deep breath, and determinedly get up. I go to the door, cautiously peering outside. The whole building is silent, eerily quiet, covered in gradually deepening darkness.
I swiftly move like a ghost, heading straight for Robert’s study room. I must find my phone before the incoming power. Once the power is back, I can’t imagine if there will be another chance like this.
I haven’t been in the study room for a long time. I’m certain that my phone has been hidden by Robert.
His computer is on the desk. I reach out to touch it; it’s still warm, indicating that he has been using it recently.
I bend down to try and open a drawer to find my phone, but I notice that all the drawers are locked.
He never used to lock his drawers, and now they’re all secured. I stomp my foot in frustration.