BENEATH THE GOLD
Chapter 7: Whispers of Freedom
Kate became two persons.
The obedient wife who cooked and cleaned, who smiled when Dominic’s friends visited, who nodded at his every word. And the woman who, late at night, researched on how to escape from her abusive husband.
Her first step was small but dangerous: she reactivated her old email.
It had been almost a year since she last spoke to her family except her sister, who she occasionally talked to. Dominic had controlled her phone calls, monitored her texts. But he rarely checked her emails, believing she was too broken to care.
Heart pounding, hands trembling, Kate typed a simple message to her sister:
"I'm okay. I miss you. I can't talk much, but I'm thinking of you."
She hit send before she could overthink it. Then she deleted the sent email and cleared the history, heart racing like she had just committed a crime.
Days passed. No response.
Kate wondered if maybe it was better that way. She didn’t want to put her sister in danger—or worse, give Dominic any reason to become suspicious.
But then, one afternoon, while Dominic was out meeting with his business partners, a single message appeared from her sister:
"I love you. Always. Whatever you need, I'm here.”
Kate pressed her hand to her mouth to stop the sob that threatened to break free but the tears couldn’t be controlled. She cried bitterly as she read the message over and over.
At least, she wasn’t completely alone. She could count on her sister.
At the same time, Dominic began to care less—forgetting to lock his office door, leaving papers scattered. Kate began to notice details she had ignored before: shady transactions, documents that suggested Dominic wasn’t just abusive but also involved in something darker. Fraud.
Fear gnawed at her.
Escaping an abusive man with criminal secrets was deadly.
Still, Kate refused to let fear drown her. She knew she had to be smart and careful. One mistake could cost her everything.
She started hiding cash. Small amounts—tips from Dominic’s business dinners, forgotten money in jacket pockets. She tucked the money into a hollowed-out book on the highest shelf of the library, where Dominic never bothered to look.
It wasn’t much yet. But it was hope.
One night, after another tense dinner where Dominic criticized the way she poured his wine, Kate stood on the balcony, staring out at the vast city lights.
It looked beautiful from up there. Golden. Untouchable.
But she knew better now.
She knew that beneath all that gold, there was rot. Lies. Pain. Chains hidden in plain sight.
And somewhere beyond the glittering city, there was a small, quiet life waiting for her—a life built not on appearances, but on peace. On freedom.
The cold air wrapped around her. Kate closed her eyes and made a silent promise:
"I will get out of this house”
Question
1. How does Kate secretly reach out to her sister without Dominic knowing?
2. What evidence does Kate discover about Dominic’s activities beyond domestic abuse?
3. What small but important action does Kate take to start saving money?
4. How does Kate's view of the glittering city change?
5. What promise does Kate silently make to herself while standing on the balcony?
Vocabulary Guide
1. Suspicious: Having doubt or distrust; suspecting something wrong.
Example: “…give Dominic any reason to become suspicious.”
2. Shady: Dishonest or illegal; suspicious.
Example: “...shady transactions, documents that suggested Dominic wasn’t just abusive...”
3. Fraud: Wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial gain.
Example: “…involved in something darker, like fraud”
4. Gnawed: Chewed or bitten repeatedly; persistent fear or anxiety.
Example: “Fear gnawed at her.”
5. Hollowed-out: Made empty inside; often to hide something.
Example: “...money into a hollowed-out book.”
6. Tangible: Real and touchable; something you can feel physically.
Example: “It wasn’t much yet. But it was tangible hope.”
7. Rot (used metaphorically)
Meaning: Decay or moral corruption hidden beneath the surface.
Example: “She knew that beneath all that gold, there was rot.”
8. Glittering: Shining brightly with reflected light; dazzling.
Example: “...beyond the glittering city...”