Indeed, this is the moment she’ll exact vengeance on her spouse. A week ago, she overheard his conversation with his mistress, and that’s when her plan took shape…

Overwhelmed by all the worries and thoughts that had plagued her, she fell into a deep sleep in an instant. She woke up late in the evening. The lights from street lamps shone into the room through the uncovered window.

Miranda squinted and stretched, feeling somewhat rested. But what would she do during the night? Suddenly, she looked around anxiously. Where was Kevin? It was already nighttime.

She was about to get up when she heard her husband’s voice from the hallway. He was speaking quietly on the phone, but she could hear everything clearly. Yes, she’s asleep.

I just checked. Miranda immediately pretended to be asleep, while she listened intently. I don’t understand how she could have found out.

Andrea, don’t panic. We’ve already discussed it at work. Nothing will change.

We’ll continue our affair just as before, and Miranda… Well, she’s just been watching silly TV shows. Yes, exactly. She’s sitting at home, suffering from idleness.

So, she made up this story. She doesn’t know anything about us and won’t find out. Take care, my love.

You know I can’t divorce her yet. I need her to transfer the apartment to my name. No, of course.

I could buy a new one for you and me, but it’s so expensive. Why spend the money when we have this option right next to us? Kevin fell silent and glanced into the room, making sure his wife was peacefully asleep. He closed the door tighter and continued the conversation in a hushed tone.

Miranda, opening her eyes, listened in horror. It turned out that all these years she had been living with a monster. I’ve already made an arrangement with the doctor.

Yes, he provided the medication. I’ve been adding a little to her tea. She’s asleep now, and it seems the medication is taking effect.

She blurted out about the affair because the medication started working. The doctor said that soon Miranda will start experiencing problems with her mind, hallucinations, hysterics, and then she’ll be declared mentally unstable. Andrea, don’t worry.

She’ll be securely confined to a clinic later. He fell silent, listening to something, and then smirked. Well, I came up with everything.

You know I have talent. Kevin said something else, or rather, murmured with his lover. Miranda, of course, understood that he was talking to her and that her best friend Andrea was the traitor.

Despicable, Miranda silently sobbed. She looked me in the eyes and lied, and then told everything to Kevin. The thought of the stranger in the park faded into the background, or even to the third plan.

Now Miranda hardly thought about it at all. She decided that the woman simply knew about Kevin’s plans and was extorting money from him and the child. No, perhaps she had misheard or misunderstood.

There was another problem now. Dread consumed her soul, her husband was plotting against her while smiling sweetly and kissing her in the mornings. To drive me insane, take away the apartment, but we’ll see who wins, Miranda thought to herself and closed her eyes.

Once again, she fell asleep, perhaps the medications Kevin had mentioned were already taking effect. Miranda opened her eyes in the morning. The first thing she remembered was the conversation she overheard yesterday.

Oh God, there were so many overheard conversations in her life now. Well, there was nothing she could do about it. Kevin peered into the room.

Good morning, my love. He smiled so sincerely that it was hard to believe he had spoken about her yesterday. Good morning, Miranda yawned, trying to appear indifferent.

Wow, you sleepyhead. Kevin kissed her on the temple. I came home yesterday, and you were sleeping.

I didn’t want to wake you, I thought you would get up on your own. And you dozed off on the couch all night. Are you feeling all right? Not sick? I don’t know, Miranda replied, closing her eyes to avoid seeing his feigned caring face.

Feeling weak, huh? Maybe, I’ll just rest. Sorry, honey, I probably won’t be able to make you breakfast. I’ll make coffee for myself.

Take care of yourself. Kevin kissed her and headed towards the door, then turned back. Miranda, if you feel worse, you call me.

Okay, Miranda nodded silently in response, covering her head with a fluffy blanket. It was hard for her to believe that her Kevin was not the person he pretended to be, but she had heard everything yesterday. And Andrea was a snake.

Now she couldn’t trust anyone. She had to solve everything on her own. As soon as Kevin closed the front door behind him, Miranda jumped off the couch.

First and foremost, she needed to find out what her husband was adding to her tea. After all, she had slept for far too long, and it seemed strange. He said he adds something to the tea, she recalled.

That meant drops or powder. Miranda searched the kitchen, bedroom, living room, and Kevin’s study. Nothing suspicious.

So, he must carry it with him. She spent the whole day lying in bed, reflecting on her life. How did it happen that she, a promising photojournalist, suddenly turned into a housewife? Yes, losing the child had shaken her, but then? Why couldn’t she recover for so many years? Was it because her beloved husband convinced her that she was worthless, incapable of anything, and her destiny was to cook soups, iron his shirts, and patiently wait for him to come home? That’s how it turned out.

Yes, when she was left alone with her grief after the hospital, Kevin persuaded her to calm down, take a break from work, and she listened, calming down. But in reality, she should have done the opposite. She should have forced herself, against her will, to pick herself up and engage in her passion, her favorite work.

And now she had almost forgotten everything she had been taught at university. Only recipes, secrets of domestic comfort, and occasionally watching another TV series during her moments of rest. Miranda had dissolved herself in her husband, she lived through his successes, took pride in him.

And what was the result? He found a replacement for her, and that’s after everything they had been through. Miranda realized she needed to take action. No, not through a scandal, that wouldn’t solve anything.

Miranda decided to pretend that she was still sleepy and lethargic. In the evening, when Kevin came home, he was surprised to see his wife asleep again. Nothing was prepared for dinner, the bed in the bedroom remained unmade, and Miranda was still on the couch in the living room.

He gently touched her shoulder and placed his palm on her forehead. She was sleeping. He left the room and dialed someone on his phone.

The medication isn’t working as you promised, Miranda heard Kevin’s voice. She sleeps all day. No, I did exactly as you instructed.

I don’t need it this way. I clearly explained, she should have at least some confusion of mind, but instead, she’s become like a vegetable. Fine, come over.

He went to the kitchen and made himself tea, preparing dinner while Miranda waited. Someone had to come. But who? She anxiously gripped the voice recorder she had thoughtfully taken with her.

Somewhere, after an hour, the doorbell rang. Miranda heard an unfamiliar male voice. Kevin was saying something.

He was clearly taken aback by the whole situation. Here, said Kevin, opening the doors to the living room. She’s been sleeping for two days.

That’s strange, the nasally male voice replied. Miranda wished she could open her eyes and see this person, but she restrained herself and only pressed the button on the voice recorder in her hand. The fluffy blanket concealed everything.

The effect you described couldn’t have happened from the drops I gave you, unless you deviated from the dosage, the stranger pondered. Exactly ten drops, just as you instructed, Kevin exclaimed. I don’t understand anything.

Although initially, there might be some sluggishness. Wait, are you sure she can’t hear us? No, she’s sleeping. Can’t you see? Miranda breathed evenly, sleeping peacefully, even smiling slightly in her sleep.

Yes, indeed, she’s asleep. Should we call an ambulance? And what do I tell them? My wife is sleeping. They’ll take her for tests, and they’ll definitely detect this drug.

Tell them that she took the medication herself, that you had nothing to do with it. Although you’re right, there will be a question of where she got the medication. But I think everything will be fine.

Soon, everything will go according to plan, don’t worry. Somewhere, in about a month, when the drug accumulates in her system, she will become agitated and even uncontrollable. The stranger approached the couch and took Miranda’s hand to check her pulse.

Miranda joyfully noted to herself how well she held the voice recorder in her other hand, but at the same time, she realized she couldn’t pretend to be asleep any longer. So, when the stranger touched her, she flinched and opened her eyes. A slender man in his fifties, repulsive with thin mustaches and curly gray hair, was looking at her.

Miranda exclaimed Kevin. I had to call a doctor. You’ve been lethargic for two days.

He rushed over and hugged her. Miranda barely managed to hide the voice recorder under the pillow. Kevin.

What’s happening, she murmured, pretending to have just woken up. I thought you were sick. That’s why I called the doctor.

The ambulance? Miranda stared at the man with confusion. Kevin seemed visibly nervous. No, no, nothing like that.

I called a doctor from a private clinic, Kevin hurriedly explained. I didn’t call the ambulance right away. They would cause a commotion, you know how it is.

A bunch of tests and all that. They would take you to the hospital, and I know how much you dislike hospitals. Yes, you’re right, yawned Miranda.

I’m fine. I guess I’m just really tired. Yes, my dear, you don’t take care of yourself with all these household chores…