Permission: Precise Location (Enabled)
Permission: Call History (Enabled)
Most terrifying—all permission buttons were grayed out. Unchangeable. Unremovable.
My brain exploded like ten thousand tons of dynamite detonating simultaneously.
Those details I'd previously taken as "romantic" and "emotional connection" now felt like poisoned knives, brutally shredding all my illusions piece by piece.
How did he know I had writer's block?
How could he appear so precisely when I was about to break down and push open the study door?
How did he know my and Mia's whereabouts so thoroughly?
"Did you find it?" Mia asked on the phone.
"Found it." My voice began shaking involuntarily. "Something called 'System Optimization Assistant.' Microphone, location, call history... all enabled."
Mia was silent for several seconds on the other end.
"Vivienne..." she began carefully. "Who gave you that phone?"
I closed my eyes.
Fucking Nikolai.
There was no goddamn "emotional connection," no "he cares about me."
This was control. Sickeningly pathological surveillance.
"Nikolai." I opened my eyes, voice devoid of warmth. "Nikolai gave me this phone."
"Shit." Mia cursed under her breath. "Vivienne, right now you should—"
"I'm fine." I cut her off, voice strangely calm. "Mia, I need to go. I need... I need to be alone for a bit."
"Vivienne—"
I hung up.
I sat on the soft bed, holding that expensive phone planted with surveillance software, feeling the whole world spinning.
I thought of him saying he'd protect me, saying he'd give me freedom, saying happy birthday under those fireworks with such gentle light in his eyes...
That tenderness, that care, those moments when I thought I was finally truly seen, truly cherished—
All built on lies.
He'd never truly trusted me, never truly respected me.
In his eyes, I was just something to be monitored, controlled... What? An asset? A plaything?
Or just a goldfish in his panoramic glass tank—he watched me swim, listened to my every breath, controlled all my emotions, and I'd been stupid enough to feel grateful for his condescending "generosity"!
Tears blurred my vision.
I bit my lip hard, not letting myself cry out.
