lia

, but I didn't care. The physical pain was a dull throb compared to the hollowness in my chest. "Ple

Her eyes, usually so sharp and commanding, soft

he finality of it a strang

rness that felt like a lifeline in the wreckage of my life. "

ining strength. "More sure than

he broken woman before her. Finally, she nodded, a slow, deliberate movement. "Very well

beyond caring. "Anything," I said,

ou will be well compensated. But you must promise me, Jillian. Promise me you

her. I stood up, leaning against the wall, the strength in my legs

tood. I left the room, the hospital corridor feeling st

suggested years of experience in high-stakes divorces. I was a ghost, drifting through the motions, my mind numb with grief and betray

react, it burst open. Two hulking men in dark suits stormed in, t

me. "Hey! What do you think you're doing?" I

y, and into a waiting black SUV. My mind raced, trying to make sense of t

tinguishable streak. When the car finally stopped, I was disoriented, my he

ds were tied behind my back, and my leg, still in its brace, was throbbing with rene

is face pale, his eyes wide with terror, tears silently streaming down his ch

ach him, but the ropes bit into my

he sight of my innocent brother, always so full of life and dreams, redu

d in. He looked at me, then at Cristophe

demanded, my voice raw. "L

brother, Jillian, is a

s insane! Cristopher would n

ly dressed, a picture of false innocence, her eyes gleaming with malicious triumph. "He stole sensit

oice cracking. "Cristopher, tell

d, shaking his head

admitted everything. He's been expelled from college. His

, bewildered. "What a

. "You chose to disrespect her. And this is

g through the numbness. "You're twisting things! Cristop

k playing on his lips. "There's nothing to inve

eved her. Without question. Without

the anger dissolving into despair. "Don't do t

. Aida, meanwhile, watched with a smug

everything they wanted to hear," he choked out, fear twisting his youn

g against my bonds. "Don't

r lips. "Oh, he listened. He confessed to

He stumbled, falling to his knees. Aida then held up a small,

ide with horror as Aida began to mockingly c

lunge, he broke free from the man holding him and ran towards the window, which was surprisingl

r the small crack, the desperate hope of escape. I lunged forward, hitting the ground,

ble escape. The men grabbed him again, pulling him back. But Cristopher, in his desperation,

voice laced with pure defiance. "I'm

, fixed on me, suddenly filled with a profound, heartbreaking resolve.

gainst the heavy, ornate mirror on the wall, shattering it into a thousand sharp pieces. The

unged, desperate, but the ropes held me fast. My head hit the f

g went bl

bbed, my wrists ached, and my heart felt like a gaping wound. "Cristop

ng me back down. "Easy, Mrs. Ra

tears welling up in my ey

"He's... he's in critical condition,

hing, washed over me. He was

He held a phone to his ear, listening intently, then nodded. "Understood. Te

ed, pushing myself up despite the

now." My heart clenched. "But if you want him to

, dread coiling

is gaze hard. "For everything. For trying to ruin her, for

rising. "She's lying! She framed Cristoph

. Get it together. Aida's reputation has been damaged by all this speculation.

fe. He was willing to let Aida destroy my family. My anger flared, hot and con

ered, the words barely audibl

deep, unbearable pain. I had given him eight years of my life, my love, my patience. An

choked out, tears streaming down my face. "I'll apolo

is voice devoid of any real war

derstanding partner, for so long. Now, I was nothing more than a pawn in h

dismissive. "Get dressed.

avy on my tongue. I closed my eyes, a single, raw sob escaping my lips. My brother's life, my last rema

ed and aching body. The thought of facing Aida, of bowing down to her lie

ressed, each button, each zipper, a struggle. I hated the person I was b

dragging slightly. The hallway felt endless, each step a descent into a n

umbled, falling to my knees onto the polished floor. The brutal force of