Chapter 2: Seven Days Until Freedom

We both agreed to it.

But less than a year after we got married, Lucas came back.

The real one came back. Of course, the stand-in got pushed aside.

But it doesn’t matter. I’m about to leave, too.

The system—the thing that dropped me here—told me the third wedding anniversary is when my assignment ends.

Just a few more days until the portal opens, and I can return to my own world. Just a few more days. I can almost taste it.

Seven days left until the portal opens.

I’d started counting down the hours, not just the days. Every morning I woke up, I felt the weight on my chest a little lighter, like I was already halfway gone.

Rachel comes out, steam trailing behind her.

She sees the message from Lucas.

She looks at me. “You didn’t touch my phone, did you?”

Her hair was damp, curling around her face. She eyed me suspiciously, clutching the phone a little too tight. Like she thought I’d been snooping.

Honestly, it’s almost funny.

She’s already cheating out in the open. Would she really care about a text message?

I reply, “Why? Is there something on it?”

She says no, but she doesn’t look convinced. “No.”

She sits, texting him back.

After a while, she glances around and asks, “No milk tonight?”

Whenever she came home late, I’d always warm up some milk for her.

She’d gotten used to it.

Not anymore.

Three whole years.

To survive, I spent three years learning how to be the perfect lapdog.

Now, finally, it’s over.

“I’m tired today. If you want milk, make it yourself.”

My voice came out flat, almost bored. I didn’t look up from the table as I spoke. The silence stretched between us, heavy as a soaked blanket.

I took off the suit jacket I’d put on for our candlelit dinner. No point in wearing it now.

The fabric was stiff, the sleeves creased. I’d picked it out days ago, hoping—stupidly—that tonight might be different. I draped it over the back of a chair, feeling the weight of disappointment settle in my shoulders.

Rachel looked at me in surprise.

“You…”

She trailed off.