Chapter 2: The Call
Sabina had finally fallen into a light, stable sleep when my phone buzzed.
Thatcher.
I stared at the screen for a long second… then declined the call.
It rang again.
Declined.
Then a message came through:
You’ve embarrassed us in front of everyone.
I almost laughed.
Not because it was funny—but because it was so predictable.
Instead of replying, I scrolled to another name.
Daniel Harper.
My lawyer.
My ally.
My quiet insurance policy in a marriage that had slowly stopped feeling like one.
He answered on the second ring.
“Vivian?”
“I’m done,” I said simply.
There was a pause. Not shock—just confirmation.
“Are you safe?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“And your daughter?”
I looked at Sabina, her breathing finally steady.
“She will be.”
Another pause.
May you like
“Then we begin tonight,” he said.
That was the phone call that changed everything.
