My Husband Planned A Romantic Anniversary Trip To The Blue Mountains. Then I Overheard Him At 3:10 Am Planning My “accidental” Death. How Do I Survive This Drive?

I felt a glacial cold throughout my body, but my mind had never been so awake. The mountain pass, the accident, the sedatives, the house, the millions, “wait for me to bring you the papers.” Every word from Liam, every laugh from that woman, was seared into my head with a hot iron.

I could no longer cry. The initial tears had soaked the pillow and as they dried, only a chilling coldness remained, spreading across my chest—a deep hatred and a painful lucidity. I always used to think that if I could not take it anymore, I would get a divorce and leave with nothing, but I would leave. I never imagined someone would not even want to give me the right to live.

Outside, the sky began to lighten, shifting from a dark purple to a pale gray dotted with the gold of the first sun. A bird’s song from the garden sounded faintly. I remained motionless, pretending to sleep so I would not have to look at the face of the man who had planned my death. Only when a clear thought formed in my head did my body begin to slowly relax.

“I will go on that trip tomorrow, but not to die. I must live. I must protect myself, and I will make them pay for every single thing they have planned against my life,” I thought.

That thought was like a small flame igniting in the long night, warming my frozen heart. I did not know what would happen tomorrow on that mountain road, but I knew that from the moment I heard that conversation, I was no longer the submissive, resigned woman.

“I will live and I will reclaim everything that belongs to me in my own way,” I thought.

The next morning, I did not remember if I had managed to sleep at all. I only know that when the alarm clock went off, my head felt heavy as if filled with cotton, but strangely clear. Beside me, Liam was still lying down, his eyes closed and his breathing even. If I had not heard last night’s conversation, I probably would have turned to wake him gently like so many other mornings, but today I simply got up in silence, trying not to move the mattress an inch.

I went into the bathroom and closed the door, gripping the sink. In the mirror, my face showed sunken eyes with red rims and dry lips. I stared at myself for a long time and whispered as if speaking to a stranger. My phone was still on the bedside table. Last night, in the panic of the hallway, I do not know how I had the presence of mind to open the recording app and slip the phone into my pajama pocket.

When I returned to bed, before pretending to sleep, I had stopped it. Now, sitting on the toilet lid with trembling hands, I opened the audio file. Liam’s voice played word for word, as clear as if it were being whispered in my ear.

“As soon as she’s dead, the house and all the money in the bank will be yours,” he said.

I listened to it once and then again. My ears were ringing, but strangely my heart calmed down. It was proof. I had not dreamt it; I had not imagined it. I saved the file in a hidden folder with a random name and sent a copy to Chloe, my best friend, through a messaging app with a single line.

“Save this for me. It’s urgent. Don’t ask anything. I’ll call you this afternoon,” I wrote.

Chloe replied immediately.

“Of course I’ll save it. Are you okay?” she asked.

I looked at those three words, “Are you okay,” for a long time and finally replied.

“Yes, for now,” I wrote.

I splashed my face with cold water to reduce the swelling in my eyes and stop my voice from trembling. When I came out, Liam had just sat up in bed, his hair tousled, pretending to rub his eyes sleepily.

“You’re up already,” he smiled with the same gentle voice as always.

“We’re leaving early today to beat the traffic,” he said.

I turned so he could not see my expression, simply replying,

“Yes, I’m going to get things ready,” I said.

“No need, I’ve already packed everything. You just need your toiletries,” he said.

If it had been yesterday, that sentence would have moved me. A husband who packs for every trip. Now, every “I’ve prepared everything” only sent shivers down my spine. I did not know what exactly he had prepared to end my life.

I dressed in comfortable clothes and put on some light makeup to hide my fatigue. I opened the closet and chose a cream-colored turtleneck sweater, the same one Liam once told me made me look like a 20-year-old girl. I did not put it on to please him, but because today I needed to be completely lucid with every detail under my control.

When I went down to the kitchen, Eleanor was already up, giving orders to the housekeeper to serve breakfast. The smell of toast, fried eggs, and coffee filled the air. Arthur was sitting at the head of the table, his eyes fixed on the newspaper as usual. Seeing me enter, Eleanor gave me an indifferent look.

“You’re down. Eat something before you go. You don’t want to get stuck in traffic on the way to the mountains. It’s a pain,” she said.

I nodded and sat down. Liam, who was a few steps behind me, pulled out my chair and placed the plate with the most perfect fried egg in front of me.

“Eat well. It’s a long drive today,” he said.

I looked at the egg, thinking of the sedative he mentioned last night. My heart skipped a beat, but my face smiled and my voice sounded light.

“You too, honey,” I said.

At that moment, Arthur folded his newspaper, took off his glasses, and looked at us.

“What time are you leaving?” he asked.

Liam answered quickly.

“Dad, I was thinking of leaving around 9,” he said.

Arthur nodded and said slowly, in a tone halfway between advice and a warning.

“The roads in the mountains are treacherous, especially if it rains. Drive carefully, don’t get overconfident. One skid and you’re down the ravine,” he said.

The fork trembled in my hand. He mentioned the mountain pass, the skid, the ravine. Was it a coincidence or did he know? I glanced at Liam’s reaction. He just smiled with a confident attitude.

“Don’t worry, Dad. I’ve been driving for over 10 years. I checked the weather; it’s supposed to be sunny today and the road will be dry. Don’t worry, I’ll protect Emily,” he said.

The word “protect” echoed in my ears like a cruel joke. I looked down, cut a small piece of egg, and pushed it to the side of the plate. Then I took a piece of dry bread and dipped it in the yolk. Today I had to control everything. I did not know where he would put the drug, but I promised myself not to touch anything that tasted strange.

After a few bites, I put down my fork and rubbed my stomach.

“Mom, my stomach has been feeling heavy lately. I’ll eat light so I don’t get car sick,” I said.

Eleanor glanced at me, about to make a sharp comment, but seeing her husband’s look, she swallowed it and just grunted.

“Eat what you want, but be careful and come back safe and sound,” she said.

I stood up and said to Liam,

“Finish eating. I’m going to get a couple of things and I’ll be right down,” I said.

Back in the room, I locked the door. I took a small purse from a drawer and put my phone, passport, some cash, and the audio file—which I had already copied to a small USB drive in the bathroom—inside. I did not know how this trip would unfold, but I understood that I could no longer trust anyone in this house. Before going down, I sent another message to Chloe.

“If I don’t call you tonight, open that file and take it directly to the police or a lawyer. Don’t trust anyone,” I wrote.