Chapter 253

Annie's POV

Philip loosened his grip, convinced I'd succumbed to the drug. My limbs felt impossibly heavy, but my consciousness stubbornly fought the chemical fog. I could feel him binding my wrists and ankles with coarse rope that bit into my skin, sending sharp jolts of pain through my dulled senses.

He carefully lifted me onto the decrepit bed in the corner of the room. The mattress groaned beneath my weight. I struggled to stay alert as darkness crept in from the edges of my vision. Philip's fingers brushed across my cheek. a once-familiar touch that now sent shivers of revulsion through me.

"You could have come back to me, Annie," Philip whispered, his voice carrying a disturbing tenderness. "We could have started over. You, me,and Brian-a complete family again."

My thoughts drifted away, memories flooding in like a tide. I remembered my first meeting with Howard, the sweet moment when Lucy first called me "Mommy," those ordinary yet precious days that might now be consumed by this nightmare.

"No one is coming to save you, Annie," Philip continued, the confidence in his voice chilling me to the bone. "Howard is waiting at the pier in Long Island for Sarah who will never show up, while you're here, completely mine."

In desperation, I bit through my lower lip. The sharp pain cut through the drug-induced haze likelightning. The taste of blood spread through my mouth as my awareness gradually sharpened. I needed to buy time,to protect myself-for Howard and Lucy, for my family.

"She's awake? Impossible!" Philip muttered in surprise. I could feel his breathing quicken.

I opened my eyes, blinking several times to focus. Philip stood beside the bed, the drugged cloth in his hand, ready to use it again. My brain was still foggy. but my survival instinct had fully awakened.

"Philip, stop," my voice was weak but determined. "Do you realize what you're doing? This is kidnapping. This is a crime."

He paused, looking down at me. In the dim light, his eyes gleamed with a madness I'd never seen before.

"A crime?" he repeated sarcastically. "When Howard stole you from me,wasn't that a crime? When you betrayed our marriage, wasn't that a crime?

,

"We were already over, Philip," I struggled to stay calm. "I never betrayed you. You betrayed me first,with Sarah."

Philip suddenly moved closer, his face inches from mine. "No! You left first! You abandoned our family, abandoned Brian!"

"I never abandoned Brian," I argued, my voice trembling with emotion."You and Sarah took him from me. You made him hate me."

Philip steppedI back, his lips twisting into an eerie smile. "Because he needed to know the truth. He needed to know his mother is a cold-hearted woman who only cares about her own happiness."

I shook my head, though the motion made me dizzy. "Where's Lucy?Where's Brian? What have you done with them?"

"Don't worry, they're safe," Philip answered, his voice suddenly calm."

Safer than they would be with you."

"Philip, what do you want?" I asked, trying to understand the logic behind this madness. "Do you really think this will make me come back to you?"

Philip was silent for a moment before turning toward the camera on the tripod across the room. He adjusted the angle, ensuring it captured me on the bed.

"This isn't about getting you back anymore, Annie," he finally spoke,his voice low and dangerous. "This is about punishment. Punishing you and Howard. If I can't have you, then neither can he."

I felt a chill run down my spine. "What are you going to do?"

"Make Howard feel my pain," Philip said with a cold smile. "Let him know what it's like to lose someone he loves."

My mind raced, searching for any way to delay or change Philip's plan. I needed to find his weakness, to disrupt his intentions.

"So this was Sarah's idea?" I asked, trying to divert his attention. "She told you to do this?"

Philip laughed, a hollow, desolate sound. "Sarah? She wvas just a tool. A convenient distraction. This was all my plan."

I took a deep breath, decidling to take a risk. "Philip, have you considered why Sarah wanted you to do this? Why she's so eager to destroy my relationship with Howard?"

Philip frowned. "That doesn't matter."

"Of course it matters," I persisted. "The baby, Philip. Haveyou considered

that it might not be yours?"

Philip's expression froze, and I knew I'd touched on his doubts.

"Nonsense," he whispered, but uncertainty betrayed him. "Of course it's my child."

"Is it?" I pressed. "Sarah's been with so many men. Are you sure it's yours?Why would you commit crimes for her? Why follow her instructions?"

Philip's face paled, and I could see a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. I'd found my opening.

"That's ridiculous." he said, but his voice lacked conviction. He paced back and forth, fingers raking through his hair. "Sarah wouldn't... she couldn't..."

"Think about it, Philip," I continued, focusing all my energy on sounding reasonable despite the ropes cutting into my wrists. "Why is she so invested in destroying my life? It's not about you-it's about Howard. It's always been about Howard."

Philip stopped pacing, his expression shifting between doubt and anger.I could practically see the gears turning in his mind as he processed this new perspective.

"She wanted Howard from the beginning," I pressed on. "You were just...convenient. A way to stay close to the situation."

"No." Philip muttered, but the seed of doubt had clearly taken root. "No,that's not possible."

I twisted my wrists against the ropes, trying to create even the slightest bit of slack while keeping my face neutral. The drug was wearing off, but I

needed to appear weaker than I was.

"Where are the children really. Philip?" I asked softly. "Are they even with Sarah? Or did she lie about that too?"

His expression flickered with uncertainty. "They're... they're safe."

"Did you actually see them? Or did Sarah just tell you she had them?"

"She's using you. Philip, just like she always has," I said, my voice gentle but firm. "Just like she did with making Brian hate me. Just like she did with the pregnancy. Ask yourself-who benefits most from all this?"

I watched his face contort with conflicting emotions-anger, confusion,betrayal. The camera stood forgotten in the corner as Philip withdrew his phone with trembling hands.

"I need to make a call." he said, eyes darting nervously around the room.

This was my chance. As Philip turned away to dial, I redoubled my efforts to loosen the ropes, ignoring the burning sensation as they chafed against my skin. I had to get free. I had to find Lucy and Brian. But most importantly. I had to survive this night.