THE 365-DAYS WIFE

Chapter 8: Under Watch

Day 6.

Zara woke up to a new sound.

A faint _click_ from the corner of her ceiling.

She sat up.

There it was. A tiny black camera. Pointed right at her bed.

Her blood ran cold.

She got out and checked. Another one by the door. Another in the bathroom.

Damian was watching her.

Her phone buzzed.

Damian: `Good morning, wife. Breakfast at 8. Wear something nice. We have guests.`

No mention of cameras. Like it was normal.

At 7:55am she went downstairs.

Damian was in the kitchen. Cooking. Again.

Pancakes. Bacon. Coffee.

He looked up and smiled. `“Morning. Sleep well?”`

`“I saw the cameras,”` Zara said flatly.

Damian flipped a pancake. `“Ah. Security upgrade. After what happened with Bola.”`

`“You’re watching me.”`

`“I’m protecting you,”` he corrected, sliding a plate to her. `“Eat.”`

Zara picked at her food. `“Is that why you were in my room at 2am?”`

Damian paused. `“What?”`

`“The cameras caught you too,”` Zara lied. She hadn’t checked them. `“You stood at my door for 5 minutes.”`

Damian set his fork down. His jaw ticked. `“I heard you crying in your sleep. Nightmare about the USB?”`

Zara froze. `“I don’t—”`

`“It’s okay,”` Damian stood up and walked to her. He crouched in front of her chair. `“You don’t have to be scared of me, Zara.”`

He took her hand. His was warm. Calloused.

`“I would never hurt you,”` he whispered. `“Not like that.”`

Zara wanted to believe him. God she wanted to.

`“Then why the cameras?”` she asked.

`“Because someone is trying to hurt you,”` Damian said. `“That text from B? The email? I’m trying to find out who.”`

He squeezed her hand and stood. `“Trust me. Please.”`

---

That night, the guests came.

Investors. 20 people.

Zara wore a gold dress. Damian’s hand never left her back.

`“Beautiful couple,”` one woman said. `“How did you meet?”`

Damian answered for her: `“She crashed into my car. Then she stole my heart.”`

Everyone laughed. Zara smiled.

But her eyes kept going to the cameras in the corners of the living room.

At 11pm the last guest left.

Zara went straight to her room. Locked the door.

She took the USB out and looked at it.

_Click._

The light on the camera turned red.

Damian’s voice came through a small speaker she hadn’t noticed. `“Zara? Can we talk?”`

`“Go away.”`

`“Please.”`

She opened the door.

Damian was there in sweatpants. Looking tired. Human.

`“Can I come in?”`

Zara stepped aside.

He sat on the floor. Not the bed. The floor. Like he didn’t deserve the bed.

`“I’m sorry,”` he said. `“For the cameras. For lying. For all of it.”`

`“Why did you marry me, Damian?”` Zara asked. `“Really.”`

Damian was quiet for a long time. `“Because you looked at me like I wasn’t a monster. For 5 seconds in that hotel room. You looked scared, but you didn’t look at me like everyone else does.”`

He looked up at her. `“And because Amina... she was the only person who ever did that too. And I lost her.”`

Zara’s chest hurt. `“So I’m a replacement?”`

`“No,”` Damian said quickly. `“You’re not her. You’re sharper. Braver. You yelled at me on Day 1.”` He almost smiled. `“I like that.”`

He stood up. `“I’ll be in the guest room down the hall. If you need me. If you have another nightmare.”`

He walked to the door. Stopped.

`“Zara?”`

`“Hmm?”`

`“I meant what I said. I would never hurt you.”`

He left.

Zara stared at the door.

Her heart was pounding.

Was he lying? Or was he telling the truth?

She didn’t know.

But when she finally fell asleep, she didn’t lock her door.