Under the Same Roof

Charlotte

Vanessa remained in the room, the malicious smile still present on her lips, while Marta watched her with a satisfied look. I felt like a chess piece, moved from one square to another, with no control over the game being played around me.

"Richard thought it would be a good idea," Vanessa continued, as she walked around the room with the confidence of someone who knows they’re in charge. "I should get closer to you, make sure everything is in order. After all, we’re all in this together, aren’t we?"

Her words were like venom, slowly dripping in my direction. I knew that Vanessa's real purpose in being here wasn’t to care for me or the babies, but to ensure that I was completely under control, under the watchful eye of someone Richard trusted.

"We don’t need to make this difficult, Charlotte," Marta said, her voice cold and calculated. "Vanessa is here to help. She will be your eyes, your ears. We want you to be comfortable."

The irony in Marta’s words didn’t go unnoticed. Vanessa wasn’t here for my comfort, but to make sure I didn’t try anything else, to ensure that I accepted my new reality without resistance. And her presence in the mansion, living under the same roof, made everything even more unbearable.

I wanted to scream, to tell them how unfair and cruel all of this was, but the words got stuck in my throat. Instead, all I could do was clutch the sheets tightly, trying to hold on to some shred of dignity as the emotional pain consumed me.

"It’s going to be so good for the both of us," Vanessa continued, completely ignoring my silence. "We can get to know each other better, spend some time together. Richard thinks this will be beneficial for everyone."

The mention of Richard made my stomach turn. He hadn’t just allowed Vanessa to move into the mansion, but now he was placing her as a sort of guardian, someone to watch me closely and ensure I remained obedient. It was another form of control, another way to trap me in the life he had decided for me.

Marta, satisfied with the direction the conversation was taking, stepped forward and looked directly into my eyes. "I hope you understand, Charlotte. There’s no more room for mistakes. Vanessa is here to make sure everything goes as planned."

I just nodded, not trusting my own voice. The weight of this new reality fell on me like a heavy, suffocating cloak. Vanessa was now part of my daily life, and with her, the last hope I had of ever regaining my freedom was slipping away.

They finally left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The darkness of the room seemed to reflect the darkness now filling my heart. I was more trapped than ever, and Vanessa’s constant presence was a cruel reminder that Richard had total control over my life.

That night, as I tried to sleep, I couldn’t stop thinking about how my life had reached this point. The acceptance I had started to develop was now being crushed by the reality that even within the mansion, even under constant surveillance, I was still a prisoner. And with Vanessa by my side, that prison became even more suffocating.

Time passed, and Vanessa’s presence became part of my daily routine. She was always around, watching, asking subtle questions, trying to infiltrate my thoughts and bend me to Richard’s will. Every day was a new silent battle, and every night, I wondered how much longer I could endure all of this.

Until one night, as I lay in bed, listening to the silence of the hospital, something inside me began to change. I knew I couldn’t go on like this forever. The flame of resistance that I thought had been extinguished began to rekindle, fueled by the growing hatred I felt for Richard, for Marta, for Vanessa.

I didn’t know how, or when, but one thing was certain: I would have to fight. For myself, for my children, for the chance to have a real life, free from the oppressive control that surrounded me.

And so, as the silence of the night deepened around me, I began to plan again. This time, it would be different. This time, I wouldn’t fail.

But then, the door to the room slowly opened, and Vanessa entered, with a smile that chilled me to the bone. She approached my bed, sitting beside me, and leaned in to whisper in my ear, "You can try to fight, Charlotte, but remember... I’ll always be one step ahead."

With those words, she stood up and left the room, leaving me with a deep and growing fear. She knew. Somehow, Vanessa knew exactly what I was thinking.

As the door closed behind her, I remained there, paralyzed, as fear turned into despair. I was surrounded, and now, the real battle was just beginning.