sa Va

house. The weight of his agreement, the implicit promise of unleashing the Vang family's formidable re

impassive face, his dismissive words. Strong enough to take it. I would show him how stro

again, scrolled through my contacts, and called Lena, my oldest friend, a fellow artist who understood my v

fragile sense of release. The alcohol burned, but it was a welcome fire compared to the ice in m

ver the music, but her shock was palpable. She knew how much I had

e words tasting like ash. "Just a cha

lying to her mouth. "C

rmer than I felt. "Be angry. Be

fell over the crowd, replaced by urgent whispers. A tall, imposing figure in a crisp, dark suit strode through th

nwavering. "Mrs. Drake, Mr. Drake

control. "I' m not Mrs. Drake," I retorted, my voice ringi

ned. Two more men, equally imposing, materialized behind hi

of it. "You think you can just march in here and drag me out?" I scoffed, a bitter lau

ring, but his hold was unbreakable. The lounge, once a refuge, now felt like a cage. I was being forcibly removed, not a gentle

amming shut behind me. The last thing I saw was Le

gh my body. I was lying on a narrow cot in a dimly lit room, the walls bare and cold. The door creak

"Your behavior is unacceptable. A Drake woman does not cau

a fresh wave of fury washing over me. "What about the shame of a family built on lies and manipulation

. "You are hysterical. You need to understand your place. Kala is vulnerable. She nee

me that way. A creature to be tamed, or, failing that, exiled. "A wild ani

continued, ignoring my words. "He has no time for your h

oice shaking with a mixture of anger

tone dismissive. "Now, stay put. Perhaps some solitude will teach you

I had loved him, truly loved him, despite everything. I had fought for our love, for my place in th

cot, my legs unsteady, and lunged towards her. I didn't care about the c

y. "How dare you! You ungrateful wretch!

the first time this family has laid hands on me." My words were

ore... persuasive measures." She barked orders at the guards who had suddenly

of their power, their cruelty. I refused to cry out, refused to give them the satisfaction. My teeth dug into

med it, a temporary escape from the p

d with a dull, persistent throb. I tasted iron in my mouth. I was still in the same sterile room, b

w, coming from just outsid

ntrol her,\" Kala's voice, usually soft, was

replied, his voice calm, detached. Disciplined. Was that what he call

us?\" Kala whined, her fragile facade barel

he had never once offered me. \"It's alright, my dear. I'll take c

My breath hitched. This was it. The absolute, undeniable proof. He was

had allowed my suffering, orchestrated my humiliation, all for this manipulatve, 'fragile' woman. My body,

ced me to a pawn in his game. But a pawn, once broken free, could become the queen. And queens, I knew,