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Chapter 1 A Bad Feeling
My name is Daniella Larson, and I turned 30 this year.

I've always been an object of envy to my peers, living in a standalone house in the upscale Quilton neighborhood with my young, handsome, and considerate husband. He treated me as if I were his first love, and everyone praised him for being the picture of the perfect husband.

He was Zachary Douglas. He used to be a well-known senior stylist, whereas I used to manage a medical equipment company that had a sizable annual revenue.

After we got married, I gave birth to three beautiful children—Jade, Nicholas, and Liam Douglas—but it was difficult for me to juggle work and taking care of the children. Zachary felt bad for me, so he voluntarily resigned to help me manage the company, which thrived under his leadership. Because of that, I decided to become a stay-at-home wife and enjoy life while supporting him and educating our children. In the eyes of others, I seemed to have won everything in life.

However, the truth was, I began to notice that my health was deteriorating day by day. I started losing hair and my weight fell gradually, not to mention the excessive drowsiness, memory impairment, and lack of energy I experienced. I was also suffering from persistent brain fog.

Zachary said my symptoms pointed toward generalized anxiety disorder. We sought out renowned doctors who prescribed a variety of medication for me and had the housekeeper, Sharon Meyer, prepare the effervescent tablet in a glass of water for me to take on time.

I never would've imagined that this was the start of the situation in which I almost died.

A sharp pain in my head woke me up that day. In my daze, I accidentally knocked over the glass of medication Sharon had brought for me. Molly, my greedy cat, took advantage of the fact that I was still groggy and licked up the spilled medication before I could stop her.

By the time I realized what had happened, Molly had already jumped onto the windowsill and was happily licking her paws and cleaning her face.

When Sharon came back to take the glass, I didn't mention the incident to her, not wanting to trouble her with preparing it again.

To be honest, I'd had enough of that medicine. It seemed completely useless anyway. I would've thrown it away if Zachary hadn't gone to such lengths to find it and was so attentive in reminding me to take it on time.

As for Sharon, she'd had her hands full since I'd become ill as well, always on the go. As she was so busy, I couldn't help but feel bad for her too.

After a brief chat with me, she took the empty glass and went outside to do her chores.

I turned to glance at the pillowcase, which was covered in yet another layer of fallen blonde hair. It was quite a shocking sight to behold. I sighed and reached out to gather the hair, rolling it into a ball and stuffing it into the pocket of my lounge pants.

Suddenly, I heard a muffled sound behind me.

I clutched my chest, trying to calm myself down before carefully turning around to face the other side of the bed. Molly, who'd been enjoying the view from the windowsill, had collapsed to the ground. She was sprawled out and motionless, showing no signs of life. The sight of her lifeless body gave me a bad feeling.

"Molly!" I called out, but she didn't move an inch. A chill ran down my spine, and my hair stood on end.

Molly had never behaved like this before. Cats were said to have nine lives and excellent balance, so I was perplexed as to how Molly could have fallen from the windowsill and ended up like this. Was she dead?

My heart was in my throat as I cautiously leaned down to check on her. She was breathing heavily. In fact, she didn't appear to be dead but was sleeping instead! Still, something about this sleeping position bothered me …

All of a sudden, a horrifying thought crossed my mind.

I jumped off the bed without a second thought and reached out to pick Molly up. She was limp and unconscious, with no ability to protect herself. I couldn't help but wonder if I'd been sleeping like this every day too.

"Is it possible …" I shuddered as if I'd fallen into an icy abyss upon my train of thoughts, hardly daring to pursue them further.

Before I could dwell on it more, however, familiar footsteps sounded outside the door. Realizing that Zachary might have returned, I jumped back into the bed, clutching Molly tightly as I draped a blanket over the cat to hide her unusual behavior. Then, I adjusted my breathing, pretending to be fast asleep.

The doorknob clicked just then. My heart was pounding like a drum, and I could feel someone's gaze sweeping over me. It was torture, and my hands trembled uncontrollably beneath the blanket.

However, the footsteps didn't enter the room. Instead, it retreated after a while. "Did she take the medicine?" I heard Zachary ask just as the door was about to close. Before he could finish the rest of his sentence, however, the door closed, preventing me from catching his subsequent words.

Immediately, my eyes burst open, a wave of unprecedented fear washing over me. I had no idea where I was—was this all a dream? Was I having a nightmare?

The scene in front of me reminded me of that glass of medicine, and I soon fell into deep thought.

I'd raised Molly for many years, but never once had she acted this way in the past. The only thing that was different today was the fact that she'd licked that glass of medicine that had been intended for me in the first place.

The realization that dawned on me moments later filled me with dread. Somehow, part of me couldn't help but wonder if someone was truly out there to get me.

Chapter 2 Suspicions
Zachary's and Sharon's faces kept flashing through my mind. I wanted to confirm my suspicions, but deep down, I desperately wished to deny everything instead. The mere thought of it was simply too much for me to bear.

Utter disbelief descended upon me as I pondered the possibility of my suspicions. It couldn't be. After all, Zachary loved me, didn't he?

He'd always cared for me wholeheartedly from the moment we met. We got to know each other, fell in love, and built a home together with our three beautiful children, but his selfless concern regarding my wellbeing had never wavered.

In the past ten years, never once did we have a single argument, his love for me giving me complete faith in him. There was no way he'd do such a thing. It was, without a doubt, impossible!

Similarly, it made no sense for Sharon to do this to me either.

I'd never met her before she started working at our house. We'd never had any issues or disagreements, and her salary was undoubtedly one of the highest in the industry.

I was the one who'd hired her in the first place. She was two years older than me, and she'd seemed trustworthy enough at that time. After graduating from high school, she got into this line of work and turned out to be an excellent housekeeper in the years to come.

At first, Zachary had his doubts when I hired her. "Isn't she too young? Can we trust her?" he'd inquired quietly.

"How does being young imply that one isn't trustworthy? As a matter of fact, it is precisely because she's young and capable that she'd be able to carry out her job smoothly! You're being too picky. She is an excellent housekeeper!" I gave him a meaningful look before teasing him, "You know, if anyone should be worried, it should be me!"

He gently pinched my cheek and responded, "What exactly are you thinking about? Don't spout such nonsense!"

Then, he pulled me into his arms, nibbled on my earring, and said, "Alright. As long as you like her. Her job is to help you anyway, and she'll be with you every day. I'm just worried that she's young and won't stay for long. If that happens, we'll have to hire a new housekeeper. It'll be quite troublesome by then!"

We hadn't expected Sharon to stick around for so long after that; yet, she'd been with us for almost eight years now. We got along well over the years, and I treated her like she was my sister. How could she possibly have drugged me?

Besides, if it had been her, Zachary would've noticed something was wrong with me after I'd taken the medicine. He wouldn't have overlooked its effects. He wouldn't … I didn't have the guts to continue that line of thought.

I wasn't sure if it was because I hadn't taken my medication or because Molly's condition had scared me, but I wasn't feeling drowsy at all. I felt as if I'd awoken from a foggy haze, my awareness unusually sharp, and every cell in my body bursting at the seams with energy. I felt energized, even more so than usual.

Fear made it impossible for me to close my eyes. Needless to say, it was a long night.

What made me even more bitterly disappointed was that no one came to check on me in all that time; no one even asked if I'd eaten anything.

Eventually, I had to come to terms with the fact that I'd been sleeping alone in this room for quite some time, with no one caring or paying attention to me.

It seemed that Zachary didn't actually care about me as much as he appeared to on the surface.

Just as I'd expected, he didn't show up that night. I couldn't help but wonder if he'd grown accustomed to my bouts of drowsiness.

Molly, who'd been in a deep slumber, gradually regained consciousness as the sky brightened.

Her gaze was unfocused at first, and she meowed weakly a few times. After a while, she finally began to move her limbs. Then, she stretched, flipped over, and curled up beside me, returning to her usual sleeping position. She still seemed a little sluggish and lethargic, indicating that she hadn't fully recovered yet.

Looking at her now, I found that her condition was eerily similar to mine every time I awakened, which deepened my suspicions even further.

I embraced Molly tightly, burying my face in her soft fur, and cried silently. Helplessness bled through my tears, and I had no idea why this was happening or who was doing it to me.

After a long time, I finally looked up and gritted my teeth. I told myself that I couldn't just sit back and wait for doomsday to come; I had to uncover the truth. I'd made up my mind, though I was well aware that I couldn't act rashly. I had to continue "sleeping" and maintaining this facade!

First and foremost, I needed to figure out the person who'd administered the medicine and what their motive was.

I still had a glimmer of hope, preferring to believe that Sharon was the one behind all this instead of the alternative. For some reason, it was easier for me to accept that. However, reality slapped me mercilessly in the face, as it always did in the end. The pain was unbearable, and it was even more brutal than I could've ever imagined.

Chapter 3 Who's the Mastermind Behind All This?
Exhausted after the sleepless night I'd had, I acted like I'd just woken up, leaning against the headboard. I knew it was time for my medicine, and Sharon would probably show up soon since I needed to "take it on time".

Sharon was startled for a moment when she opened the door, but she quickly regained her composure and greeted me with a gentle smile. "You seem to be doing well today, Mrs. Douglas! You appear to be quite energetic. What a pleasant surprise!"

I forced a smile and chuckled, carefully observing her.

"Let's open the window for some fresh air." She quickly drew the curtains open and thoughtfully pulled the blanket over me as she spoke.

I leaned against the headboard weakly, deliberately declaring, "I feel a little hungry today!"

"Oh, that's wonderful news! I'll get you some breakfast right away! I haven't heard you say you were hungry in a long time!" Sharon rushed out the door, beaming. "Wait a moment. I'll be right back!"

A faint perfume scent wafted off her as she rushed past the bed. I'd always been sensitive to smells, and I could pick up on even the most subtle scents. She was wearing my favorite perfume, Chanel Chance Eau Tendre, that day. I'd liked that particular brand of perfume because Zachary had liked it as well. There was an instance when he'd described its subtle scent as evocative and enchanting.

I clenched my fist, feeling a little out of breath. Stories about husbands conspiring with their mistresses to harm their wives raced through my mind, but I quickly realized how ridiculous they sounded.

The door opened after a while, and I looked up to see Zachary walk in with the glass of medication. He had a concerned look on his face and a gentle smile on his lips as he walked toward me, basking in the sunlight streaming through the window. He looked bright and warm, but my heart sank heavily as I recalled what he'd asked last night—"Did she take the medicine?" His voice echoed in my mind.

"You look great today, honey!" he exclaimed now. "Sharon informed me that you were hungry." He set the glass on the bedside table and reached out to hold my hand. The warmth of his palm still felt familiar to me, and his gaze was affectionate as he asked, "What would you like to eat? I'll prepare it for you."

"You don't have to do that. I can't eat much anyway; really, don't worry about me!" I tried to keep my emotions in check and pretended to be concerned. "When did you return last night? I had no idea. Were you busy with work?"

"It's been the peak season for orders recently, so I've been very busy with a lot of customers requesting quotations. Sharon told me she'd just given you your medication when I got back, so I asked how you were doing and went to work in the study. I ended up sleeping there because it was very late by the time I finished work," he answered with a yawn.

I felt guilty when I saw how tired he was. He didn't lie to me; everything he said was true. There were mountains of quotations to sort through every year at the sales conference. How could I doubt him when he was putting in so much effort for our family? Sharon had to be the mastermind behind this, then.

He reached out, picked up the glass of medication, and tasted it for a bit. "The temperature's just right. Come on. Take your medicine first, and we'll have breakfast later!"

I pretended to be impatient, frowned, and grumbled, "What's the point of drinking it if it's not working? It makes me feel nauseous. Can't I just skip it, darling?"

"Oh, sweetheart, be a good girl for me, will you? No matter what, it's important for you to take your medication on time. Look, you're feeling so much better today. When was the last time you said you were hungry? Dr. Fleming adjusted it again the day before yesterday, and it seems like it's finally working. Don't give up on me just yet!" Zachary's tone was calm, every inch the loving husband who'd always put me first.

I found myself in a dilemma as I looked at the clueless man. If I drank the medicine, I'd fall into a deep slumber, and I wouldn't be able to find any evidence to expose the mastermind behind all this.

"I don't want to drink it!" I leaned into his arms. My mind was racing as I tried to figure out how to divert his attention.

He consoled me by patting my back with one hand while holding the medication to my lips with the other. "Be a good girl. Listen to me and take it. We must continue to do our best."

I grew anxious as I realized that I couldn't avoid it this time.

"I'll drink it myself!" My heart was pounding non-stop as I took the glass.

I knew I'd fall asleep in half an hour if I drank it.

Meanwhile, Zachary looked at me with concern, his eyes brimming with affection. From the way he acted, he was the epitome of a devoted husband, though his persistence raised my suspicions. I was perplexed as to why he would insist on me taking the medication despite my refusals.

Perhaps, in the past, I would've been easily swayed by his affectionate gaze, but for some reason, it felt different now. Unknown sharpness bled into his smile, and a dagger slowly closed in on me. It wasn't an expression of love—none of this was. Instead, it felt more like he was attempting to coerce me into submitting to his will.

Even though I was anxious, I couldn't say a word. I was furious, but too afraid of alerting the enemy with my newfound suspicions. Hence, I had no choice but to pick up the glass.

Chapter 4 A Worthy Opponent
Just as I'd lost all hope of escaping this predicament, Sharon walked through the door.

Zachary's eyes had been on me the whole time, smiling as I brought the glass to my lips and pretended to take a small sip. However, when he noticed Sharon, his attention shifted to her, and he stood up to take the tray in her hands.

His tall figure blocked Sharon's view of me, offering the perfect chance for me to act. Seizing the opportunity, I quickly spilled the glass of medication over my dark floral blanket before bringing it back to my lips and tilting my head, pretending to gulp it down. As I did so, I got some medication residue on my lips from the rim of the glass.

I simply spat the small amount of medication I'd sipped back into the glass, making it look as though there was a little leftover at the bottom.

Just then, Zachary turned around to face me with the tray in his hands.

"I'll do it myself!" I said as I lifted the blanket off my body, piled it to the side, and handed Sharon the glass.

Zachary looked at me approvingly. He set the tray on the bedside table and kissed my forehead before picking up a bowl of food to feed me.

I pretended to blush and pushed him away. "You should go to work! Stop being so clingy!"

He smiled gently and pinched my thin and bony face. "Alright. I'll go to work. Be sure to rest properly after you're done eating. I'll try to come back early so I can spend time with you and Liam."

"Okay." I pretended to be sad as I looked at him. "Go on. Come home early tonight!" In fact, I was just afraid that he'd reach out to tidy the blanket beside me.

He didn't make any eye contact with Sharon as he walked out, leaving Sharon and me alone.

"Sharon, is Liam still sleeping?" I asked calmly, hoping to divert her attention by using my youngest son.

"I'll go check on him right away. Please take your time and eat. Call me if you need anything." With that, she turned around and left the room.

I listened to her retreating footsteps before returning to the bed and reluctantly taking a bite of the food. I draped the blanket over me, set the tray on top, and ate slowly. I had no appetite at all. I was so nervous that I couldn't stop trembling, but I still continued to take slow bites.

First and foremost, I needed to eat to maintain my strength. Secondly, I was on guard because this room was equipped with surveillance cameras.

In the past, I'd installed surveillance cameras in every room to improve security. After all, I'd seen too many bad things and needed to be cautious. I'd never imagined that it would end up being a trap I'd set for myself.

Back then, Zachary had objected to the installation of surveillance cameras in this room. He'd teased me, saying, "We'll have no privacy. Aren't you worried that I'll exploit our intimate moments in bed and use them as adult content?"

Despite his reluctance, I'd insisted on it, but I only turned the cameras on when I wasn't around or at other specific times. As time went on, I rarely used the surveillance cameras in my room anymore.

I wasn't sure if it was turned on now.

After finishing the meal, I set the tray aside. On the pretense of tidying up my bed, I neatly laid the blanket out, taking the chance to discreetly absorb the medicine residue on it with a tissue. Then, I quietly disposed of the tissue by flushing it down the toilet.

I played with Liam for a while before pretending to be exhausted and falling asleep on the bed. I hadn't noticed anything unusual in either Zachary's or Sharon's behavior earlier, but I couldn't let them figure out what I was up to.

To be honest, the only strange thing that had caught my attention was Sharon's perfume, but there could be many reasonable explanations as to why she was wearing it.

It was troublesome to pretend to be asleep; I dared not move at all out of fear, wanting to make my act as believable as possible. I also took great care in keeping my eyes firmly closed as I considered the available options for my next move.

My mind was racing, and the fear in my heart only increased with how tense and anxious I was feeling. Above all, staying in one position and pretending to be asleep was the most agonizing.

At that moment, I realized that being awake was even more terrifying than being unconscious.

Eventually, my body succumbed to sleep, possibly due to the sleepless night I'd had or the exhaustion of being overly stressed combined with my already weakened body. Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, I sensed someone approaching me.

Chapter 5 Stabbing Pain
I was startled awake, but I didn't dare to move. I kept my breathing steady and my eyes closed as I listened to the footsteps approaching from afar. I could tell that it was Sharon.

Subconsciously, my sweaty palms clenched into fists under the blanket. Even though my back was to the door, I could feel her standing in front of my bed. I even sensed her faint breath and the subtle scent of her perfume.

"Mrs. Douglas!" Sharon called out softly.

I didn't respond or move.

The next thing I knew, she pushed my shoulder hard. Fortunately, I was mentally prepared; otherwise, it could have been a real problem.

"You sure are sleeping like a log!" Although she'd muttered it under her breath, it sounded like a thunderclap to my ears. It wasn't a compliment, and I could hear the contempt clearly laced in her tone.

My mind cleared a little. So, it was Sharon.

Before I could even process that thought, I was caught off guard as a harrowing scene unfolded before me. Without any warning, I felt a piercing pain on my scalp, like a needle pricking me, nearly giving myself away.

I tried to hide the pain by moving my head slightly to show discomfort, but I pretended to remain drowsy and not fully awake.

In reality, I was breaking down on the inside. A tidal wave of resentment, anger, and shock washed over me. My eyes were prickling with tears, but I clenched my teeth tightly.

Sharon Meyer, when had I ever treated you poorly in the last eight years? I even had considered you as my sister, and yet you treated me like this?!

I finally understood why I'd been experiencing a sharp, stabbing pain so frequently. It was a piercing, excruciating kind of pain, but in the past, it would always fade swiftly from my hazy consciousness, making me think it had all been a dream. Who would've thought that someone had been truly treating me so maliciously? No wonder the pain had felt so real, so much that I would feel it even after I regained consciousness as well.

Sharon proceeded to slap me across the face several times after she realized that I hadn't woken up. "Wake up! It's time to take your medicine!" Her voice had a sinister edge to it, a complete contrast to her usual gentle demeanor.

I was in a state of utter confusion at that moment. I couldn't believe that Sharon would do such a cruel thing to me.

I realized I couldn't pretend to be asleep any longer when another slap rang out across my face. I moved my body slightly, letting out a soft whimper before slowly opening my eyes. My gaze was blank, my stare fixated on the window while I cursed inwardly. "What on earth happened? How did the seemingly gentle and honest Sharon become such a twisted and vicious person like Cruella De Vil?"

Sharon's voice sounded once again, but this time, her tone was as gentle as usual. "Mrs. Douglas, wake up! It's time to take your medicine!"

"Mmm …" I hummed heavily, gathered myself, and rolled over slowly. I locked eyes with Sharon, my eyes misty.

Her smile froze when our eyes met, and she asked softly, "Mrs. Douglas, did you sleep well? Would you like me to help you sit up?"

I stared at her intently without looking away, to the point where she became visibly nervous. She gulped before averting her gaze. Then, I pretended to sigh sorrowfully. "Sharon, I've been thinking … Is it possible that I'm suffering from a serious illness that you've all been keeping from me all this while?"

Sharon reached out to smooth out my blanket. Her tone was casual when she spoke. "Mrs. Douglas, you're overthinking again. Everyone gets sick. You've had consecutive pregnancies, and your body is weak. You'll get better eventually if you take care of yourself."

"You say that, but why do I feel like I'm getting weaker and weaker by the day? All I've done is sleep as the days pass. It's almost as if I'm sleeping my whole life away! I only have two things to do each day—take my medication and sleep! Sharon, thank you for your hard work, truly!"

"Mrs. Douglas, please don't say such things. My job is to take care of you!" She looked at me. "Sleep is essential for recovery, so don't you worry; you're already on the road to recovery. Here, I'll go get your medicine for you; it works better if you take it while it's still warm!" She left after she said that.

I sat up slowly and stared blankly in the direction in which Sharon had disappeared. After that, I reached up and touched the sore spot on my head. My mind raced as I tried to think of a way to avoid drinking that medicine. When I pulled my hand back, I noticed a small but bright red bloodstain on my fingertip. I wiped it away calmly.

Sharon soon returned with the glass of medication and handed it to me. "The temperature is just right. You should drink it quickly!"

"Yeah," I responded faintly, but I didn't take the glass. Instead, I raised my hand and touched the spot where the needle had just pricked me. Then I looked up at her, saying, "Sharon, could you help me take a look? Why does it hurt so much here?"

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