Chapter 4: A Desperate Plea
Clara knew she was running out of time. Julian’s violence was escalating as her due date approached. He had become obsessed with the idea that the child might love Clara more than him, a delusion that fueled his darkest outbursts. Three days ago, Clara had managed a minor miracle. While Julian was asleep and Eleanor was entertaining guests downstairs, Clara found a burner phone a maid had accidentally left behind. She sent a single, frantic text message to a number she had committed to memory years ago—a number she was forbidden from calling. “He’s going to kill me. Please, Dad.” She deleted the message and slipped the phone back, terrified of the consequences, unsure if the message even went through.
