Chapter 3

Lucille's POV

I heard their footsteps get closer to the hallway. Quickly, I wiped off the tears on my face and forced a smile before stepping out. “Hey, do you need me for something?” I asked, walking past Benjamin, who looked at me suspiciously.

Once I placed the tray down on the coffee, I turned around and found them giving each other questioning looks. Benjamin turned to me with a smile, walking over.

His touch made me jolt, but we both brushed it off with a smile. “Come, come, take a seat,” he led me to the couch.

“How long have you been standing there?” he leaned in, his eyes boring into me with anticipation.

Once those eyes showed me pure love and right now, why did it seem like it was all gone? There was something else hidden in them. Fear. Betrayal.

I shook my head, biting hard within myself from lashing out. “I just came in. Is there a problem?” I asked, glancing at Katherine, who was quiet, seated across from us with a look in her eyes that quickly disappeared with my gaze on her.

I wanted to laugh. Why was it now? For years, I had seen that look. Glimpses and I pushed it to the back of my mind because it didn't matter. Now, seeing it just as always, it held a different meaning.

Benjamin chuckled. “Oh, there is no problem,” he said.

“Alright then. Let's drink,” Kathy bent over, filling the glasses with the wine.

I gripped my gown, trying my best to hide my emotions, but the longer I stayed, the more I replayed their words in my head, the more I felt myself losing it.

“Um... Ben... I feel tired. Let's drink another day,” I said.

“I want to drink, Lucy,” Katherine said with a big smile.

One I would have thought was genuine if I didn't know the truth. “You two can go ahead then,” I said, rising.

With slow steps, I headed for the room. “Are you okay, baby?” I heard Benjamin say.

I turned to him with a smile and nodded. The moment I looked away from him, the tears fell off my eyes. In my room, I fell to the ground, letting my emotions take over.

I knew not to be loud, as I didn't want to alert them. I sobbed silently, hugging my legs. Remembering all the times that seemed good, that I cherished with all my heart, but now they were turned upside down in my mind.

I stared down at my ring, still on my finger, still burning. A dry chuckle left my lips as it all felt like a horrible nightmare. I wanted to wake up, but I knew it wasn't. Benjamin returned to the room hours later, half drunk.

I was laid on the bed, hands on my stomach and eyes on the ceiling, unable to sleep. “Baby,” he slurred, taking off his suit jacket before plopping on his side of the bed with his arms wrapped around me.

“Happy birthday,” he slurred into my ears.

Kathy's scent wafted into my nostrils. More reason to laugh at my stupidity. Signs. All the signs were there, but I turned a blind eye to it all.

The kiss marks on his shirts he claimed were from me, but I didn't recall.

The hickeys I found on him every morning after he 'worked late'.

The female scent was all over him most times when he returned.

It was all Kathy, my best friend!

I could only stay still, unable to sleep a wink until the sunset came. For Harvey, I put on a smile as I got him ready for school and on time for the bus, but once he was gone, the mask I had been putting on fell off.

I wanted to stay home today, ball out my eyes, but I had a firm to manage. Once done dressing up, there was one thing left, my ring that sat on the dresser.

I hesitated to put it on. Just before I could grab it, I jolted, hearing Benjamin behind me. “You don't want to put it on?” he asked.

I glanced down at the ring but said nothing. He held my shoulder, turning me around to look at him. He opened a ring box, and a nicely crafted diamond ring sat in it.

“Here,” he said, grabbing my hands

Instinctively, I pulled away before he could slip the ring onto my finger. “What's wrong?” he raised a brow.

“My finger still hurts. Maybe it's best I don't put on any ring today,” I said, forcing a smile.

“This is a new ring. It won't hurt anymore, promise,” he said, taking my hand and sliding the ring in.

He admired the ring with a smile. “It looks so beautiful on you,” he said and placed a kiss on the back of my palm.

As I was about to walk away, he grabbed me by the arm. “Could you give me some money? I need to get some things,” he said with a pleading look.

“What about the investment?” I asked.

“It's still in progress. I really need some money right now, Lucy,”

I opened my purse and handed my credit card before leaving, ignoring his many praises and thanks. While driving off, I stared down at the new ring.

I indeed did not feel any discomfort, but I could not shake off Kathy's words. “Up the dosage on her ring. I need her dead in the next two months.”

If I wasn't aware of what they were doing, I could brush it off as Benjamin only caring for me but not anymore. Pressing down on the accelerator, I rode down to the lab. I needed to know what they were doing to me, but I got the shock of my life.