Nick had sworn to dismantle the infernal agency that had stolen his wife, dragging her through seven long years of suffering. For years, he searched for lawyers brave and relentless enough to take legal action against the infamous organization. It had taken time and strategy—but now that Sara was finally back, she could become a key witness in the case.
However, Sara was emotionally fragile. Reopening those wounds might break her completely. All she wanted was to forget that nightmarish world forever and live a quiet life with the man she loved and the children she barely had the chance to know.
But Nick wanted justice.
He wanted to protect her by erasing the agency from existence, not just pretending it never happened. So, when he explained everything to Sara one afternoon in the living room, her reaction was immediate and full of panic.
—"No, please, Nick! Don't make me do this!"
—"Sara, I just want to help you," Nick said, holding her gently.
—"Then help me forget," she cried. "Help me move forward. Not backward."
She tried to pull away from his arms. Nick reluctantly let her go.
—"Let the past go, Nick. Please."
—"You don't want to bring down the 'Perfect Girls' agency? After everything they did to you? To us?" he asked, his voice tightening. "They took you from me and from our children."
Sara closed her eyes.
And suddenly, a voice from the past echoed in her mind.
Quiet, obedient, and loyal. You'll learn it this time, traitor. Disobey again, and we'll make your daughter the perfect little slave. And no one will be able to stop us.
You're nothing. Trash. You deserve to be used.
The memories came in waves—blinding, violent waves. The cold room. The pain. The powerlessness. The fear.
Her body trembled. Her eyes filled with tears.
Nick gently brought out a folder containing photographs of potential suspects connected to the agency.
Sara tried to get up and leave.
But Nick stepped in front of her.
He wouldn't let those monsters escape.
—"Sara, sit down," he said firmly.
She shook her head.
—"Please, Nick. I'm begging you…"
—"You're a key witness, my love. Help me to help you. Just tell me what they did to you. Tell me if you recognize anyone."
He opened the folder and slowly flipped through the images, giving her time to look carefully at each one.
Then she saw him.
One photo. A man. Older.
Her face turned pale. Her breathing hitched. Her eyes welled up.
Nick noticed immediately.
—"Sara… my love. Do you recognize him? Who is he?"
Recognize him? Of course. He was the worst of them.
He was the one who hurt me over and over again.
For two years I was trapped in that filthy room, tied to that bed… and he…
He's one of the four heads of the agency. But I can't say that. I'm not allowed.
Quiet. Obedient. Loyal. That's who I must be. I've learned my lesson, sir. Please don't hurt me again. I'll be good. I promise.
Nick's voice snapped her back.
He kept asking gently, over and over, if she knew the man in the photo.
She wiped her tears. Took a breath. Masked her emotions. Her eyes grew cold.
—"I've never seen him," she said flatly. "I don't recognize anyone in those pictures."
Nick's shoulders tensed.
—"Sara… please. I know you're lying. I saw your face. Tell me. Who are they?"
Four of them are the agency heads. The rest—those are the ones who followed orders. Who laughed while they tortured me.
But I must stay silent. Always silent. Always obedient. Always loyal.
I'm not a person. I'm a thing. And things don't speak.
Nick's voice rose slightly.
—"Sara. Who is this man?"
—"I don't know."
—"Who kidnapped you? Who kept you prisoner? Who hurt you?"
—"I don't know. My eyes were covered."
Her voice was sharp. Emotionless.
—"Sara, I just want to help you. To bring you peace."
—"Then stay with me, Nick. And forget the past."
—"I will. But first, we need to make sure they can never hurt anyone again. You and I—we can do this together. Just tell me."
—"I don't know. My eyes were covered. I don't know who they were."
—"So they blindfolded you the entire time?"
—"Most of it. When they took it off, they wore masks."
—"I want to help you."
—"I know, Nick."
—"Then tell me. Who kidnapped you? Where were you before they brought you to the brothel?"
—"I don't know. I was blindfolded."
—"Sara, think. What smells do you remember?"
—"None."
—"Nothing? No perfume, no smoke, no food?"
—"Nothing."
—"How can that be?" Nick cried, frustrated. "Please, Sara! Give us something. Anything. We have to start somewhere."
She flinched as he raised his voice. Tears fell again.
But inside her mind, the voice returned.
Quiet. Obedient. Loyal. You belong to us until we are sure you've forgotten how to betray us.
—"Sara!" Nick begged. "Please speak to me!"
—"I don't know," she whispered, trembling. "They blindfolded me…"
—"How can that be possible?"
—"I'm sorry, Nick…"
He looked at her, pain etched deep in his face. But then he took a breath, forcing himself to calm down. He stepped closer and embraced her gently.
—"I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have yelled. I just want to see you free again."
—"Then help me forget, Nick. Please."
—"Don't be afraid. I'll protect you. This time will be different. Just trust me."
—"I do."
—"Then tell me… the man in the photo. Was he one of them?"
—"I don't know. My eyes were covered. I already told you."
Nick exhaled and closed the album.
He knew he wouldn't get any more out of her today.
—"Alright, my love. Let's forget about this for now. Let's go see the twins."
He hugged her tightly and led her out of the library. They joined their children in the playroom, wrapping themselves in the warmth of family.
Sara gradually calmed down, the darkness of the previous conversation fading as the twins laughed and clung to her with love.
Nick smiled, seeing how their presence relaxed her. She still had a long way to go, but he would never give up.
He would bring her justice.
Even if she couldn't speak yet.
And one day… he knew she would.