Two days later, the doctor called me in.
His face was grave. “Mrs. Carter,” he said gently, “the liquid contains a strong sedative—unprescribed and potentially dangerous. Prolonged use can cause dependency, memory issues, even cognitive decline. Whoever’s been giving you this isn’t helping you sleep.”
The Truth Behind the Smile
That night, I didn’t drink the tea.
When Ethan noticed, he frowned. “Why didn’t you finish it?”
“I’m not sleepy tonight,” I replied, watching his face carefully.
He smiled, but his eyes hardened for the first time. “You’ll feel better if you drink it, baby. You know I only want what’s best for you.”
The warmth in his voice was gone—replaced by something colder, controlling.
When he left for work the next morning, I checked the kitchen drawer. The amber bottle was still there, half empty, without a label. I sealed it in a plastic bag, called my lawyer, and started moving every piece of my life out of his reach.
