7: The Shadows of Doubt

The Everett mansion, with its imposing facade, seemed to mirror the turmoil in Lily's heart as she returned from her mother's house. The grandeur of the estate, once a symbol of her new life, now felt like a gilded cage. Martha greeted her with a mixture of concern and relief. "Mrs. Everett, you're back. I was getting worried. Have you had dinner? I've kept your meal warm." Lily managed a faint smile. "Thank you, Martha, but I'm not hungry. I... I just need to rest." Martha hesitated, her eyes studying Lara's weary face. "Mrs. Everett, Michael hasn't been home much lately. He's been advised to rest after the accident, but he doesn't like being confined. You won't have to... avoid him." Lily's heart sank at the mention of Leon. Since his awakening from the coma, he had become a stranger, his presence in the mansion sporadic and ghost-like. Retiring to her room, Lily's thoughts wandered to Michael. The man she married, once full of charm and warmth, had become an enigma, his life outside the mansion shrouded in mystery. She pitied herself, trapped in this luxurious prison, bound to a man she no longer recognized. The next morning brought a semblance of normalcy. Lily, having studied foreign languages, had taken up translation work to fill her days. Mid-morning, a call from a former classmate jolted her from her routine. "Lily, it's urgent. We need your help with a translation. The client's deadline is tight, but they're offering good compensation. Can you do it?" pleaded her classmate, also the coordinator of a freelance studio. Driven by a need for distraction and the lure of financial independence, Lily accepted without hesitation. Immersed in her work, she completed the translation by noon, only to be thwarted by her computer crashing moments before the deadline. Her saving grace was that she had developed the habit of working on Google docs, meaning her work was automatically saved online, can can be accessed from any computer. Panic set in. She needed another computer, fast. Lily approached Martha with her predicament, and Martha suggested using the computer in Michael's study. The thought of entering Michael's private space filled her with unease. Lily's eyes widened. "Is there really no other option?" Lily asked, desperation creeping into her voice. She really wanted nothing to do with Michael, or be seen as a tresspasser. Martha shook her head. "I'm afraid not. The only other computer is in Mr. Everett's study." Reluctantly, Lily entered Michael's study, a room she had never dared to explore. The room was full of hardcover books from one wall to another. the only wall that was free had a door-to-ceiling window. Lily marched over to Michael's imposing mahogany desk, sat in the deluxe office chair and proceeded to boot up his computer. To her utter surprise, the computer didn't require a password. She fired up the internet hotspot on her phone, connected to the computer, and quickly sent the document. But in her haste, she accidentally clicked on a file. The file opened almost immediately, indicating that it had been just recently accessed. The contents of this file made Lily's blood run cold. Before she could process what she had seen, she closed the file, her heart pounding. Upon leaving the study, Martha's voice startled her. "Mrs. Everett, did everything go alright?" Lily nodded, her mind racing. She had stumbled upon something dangerous, something that Michael would go to great lengths to keep hidden. Later that day, Michael's unexpected return in the afternoon set the Everett mansion on edge. His fury was palpable as he stormed through the halls, his rage a stark contrast to his usual composed demeanor. He had been undergoing physiotherapy in order to get his legs working excellently well again, and his determination to gain back a semblance of the life he lived before the accident, made the sessions quite painful. Michael stormed out of his study, a face red with rage. "Who touched my computer?" He roard to no one in particular, but sure that every servant in the mansion could hear him. "Have I not given explicit instructions that no one should enter my study, except Martha, and that is to clean it?" Martha, sensing the tension, hurried to Lily's room, out of sight of Michael. "Mrs. Everett, Michael is... he's very upset. Did you find something in his study or computer?" Lily's fear was evident. "Well, I saw something... but it was by accident. I closed it immediately. I didn't mean to." Martha's expression softened. "I believe you, but Mr. Everett... he might not." As Lily stepped out of her room, she found herself face-to-face with Michael. His gaze was cold, his anger barely contained. Despite this, Lily couldn't help but notice his cologne and how sharply dressed he was. Such a handsome and rich man, yet so...vile. The thought flitted through her mind as she looked up at Michael innocently. "Did you touch my computer?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. "I know Martha cannot operate the damn machine, so it couldnt have been her!" Michael's usual restraint seemed to have evaporated. His sanctuary had been violated, and by his own, unwanted wife. This breach of trust was unforgivable. "I'm sorry," Lily stammered, her voice trembling. "It was an accident. I didn't mean to see anything." Michael's response was curt. "Enough. Go back to your room. You are not to leave until our divorce is finalized." Lily understood the gravity of his words. She was to be confined, isolated from the world she once knew. Retreating to her room, Lily's heart sank. She realized the full extent of her predicament – trapped in a mansion with a man she no longer recognized, entangled in secrets that threatened to consume her. In the quiet of her room, Lily pondered her next steps. The walls around her felt suffocating, each ornate decoration a reminder of the gilded cage her life had become. She was torn between fear and a desperate need for freedom. The day's events had solidified her resolve to divorce Michael, yet the glimpse into his hidden world had unveiled a more sinister side of him. She knew too much, and that knowledge could be her undoing. Her phone buzzed with the notification of the payment for her translation work. The money, a symbol of her independence, now seemed trivial in the face of the looming threat that overshadowed her existence. As Lily contemplated her future, a sense of determination began to take root amidst her fears. She resolved to confront the challenges ahead with a newfound strength, even if it meant navigating the dangerous waters of Michael Everett's world.