My Stolen Daughter, My Shattered Life

a Han

zzying mix of emotional trauma and physical pain from the burn on my arm. The

p my newborn, her face was not sweet and innocent. It was Carla' s face, contorted in a sneer, clutching my baby close. And then, from the shadows, Brad emerged, his eyes cold and calculating, excha

y was drenched in a cold sweat, the burn on my arm throbbing with re

mask of cold fury. "Joanna, get up!" he commanded,

beyond fear. Only a raw, burning hatred remained. I slowly sa

I asked, my voice flat

s fingers digging into the burned flesh. I flinched, but he showed no

re, furniture overturned. And in the center of the chaos, Chloe sat on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably,

puppy. The one Carla ha

whispered, my voi

ollen. "Mommy... Mommy killed my puppy!" sh

monster! How could you, Joanna? How c

oice weak. "I was in my room

dog! You were jealous! This is just another one of your irrational outbursts

g me for something I hadn't done. Making me quest

said, my voice gaining str

else? You're clearly unstable. I' ve already contacted Dr. Evans.

same Dr. Evans who is a personal friend of yours? The one wh

ying here, in the penthouse, under strict supervision. No outside contact. No phone, no internet.

as locking me away. Just as I had overheard him plotting

spered, a flicker of fear finall

sake. And for our... reputation." He turned to the two hulking security guards who now

ontrolling monster. And then, a strange, almost serene calm settled

ter irony. "You think you can break me, Brad?" I asked, my voice chillingly s

r word, I walked back into the bedroom, my head held high. I heard Brad shoutin

definitive thud. I heard the click of the loc

ars that streamed down my face, burning tracks on my skin. I slid to the floor, my breath coming in ragged gasps, my body wracked with

They thought they had broken me. They were wrong. I closed my eyes, picturing my re

t be controlled. I would esca

p, still sitting on the bedside table. He had taken my phone, but he h

precise, began to

part of the distraught, confused wife, allowing them to believe they had me exactly where they wanted me. But every night, hidden under the covers, I

ace. My escape route. My new life. My se

ictory. Chloe was asleep. I had bribed the security guards, promising them a fut

my heart pounding, I climbed out of the window, slowly, carefully descending the fi

k. I didn't spare a glance for the gilded cage I was leavi

fe. As we pulled away, I took out my old burner phone, the one Brad didn't know about. I inserted a

as

e already purchased.

uffocating pain, the endless lies, the betrayal that had defined my life for too long. A strange sense of lightness, of freed