ck stain taunted her, a stark reminder of the reality she had been trying so hard to ignore. She felt like the floor had been pulled out from un

ing inside her all evening had reached a boiling point. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess of hurt, betrayal, and fe

just about the bruises she could hide with makeup. This was a wound that cut deep into the core of her being, a truth that could no longer be co

didn't even graduate high school. Cole had control over everything-the house, the cars, the bank account

t and ran out of the bedroom, her bare feet thudding against the cold marble floor. She didn't bother to dress properly, the need to get away from Cole's

t fix their broken marriage, but it was all she had. She gazed at Kaia who was sleeping peacefully. Tears streamed down her face

t sleep. She had lain awake all night, her thoughts tangled in a web of anger and pain. The room's silence was pierced only by the distant chirp of early birds

t, packing Kaia's lunch, her movements devoid of emotion. Kaia's cheerful chatter was a stark contrast to th

"Just a little tired, hon

ng his toast and coffee and shuffling out the door. Serenity felt a pang of relief as the heavy front door c

erenity's stomach. The sight of the luxurious school gates, wh

it in anymore. The weight of the shirt, of the truth, of the life she had been living, crushed her. Her knees buckled, and she slid to the

flowing freely at last. This life, this constant betrayal, it was suffocating her. But the fe

g in her chest. She couldn't stay here, weeping on the floor. It

she caught her reflection in the mirror, self-consciousness washed over her. Cole had chipped away at her confidence, leaving behind a woman she barely recognized. Her

him win. Wouldn't let him break her completely. There had to be more evidence, more

infidelity. Each item she touched was a reminder of the man she once loved, the man who had promised to cherish an

eye. It was something she had never seen before, something that didn't belong in Cole's war

of keys and a folded note. The words "To my love" were scribbled has

ank as she read the address scribbled on the note. Another secret, an

n building, the kind that cost a fortune to even step foot in, let alone own. Her stomach twisted into

he never bought anything for Kaia...his daughter and y

shattering into a million jagged pieces. Each word was a knife twisting i

f her being. "No," she choked out, her voice raw with a mixture

fears. She wasn't just living with a liar, she was living with a mon

ped into the cold, hard floor. Images of Cole's indifference, his cruel words, flashed before her eyes. The years of physical abu

n the deafening silence of the house, amplifying her pain. Her heart felt lik

ice, laced with conc

ia's voice was thick with conc

was barely a whis

immediately to one of u

her voice thick with tears. "It

e was a gentle whisper, the concern

d, her voice a broken mess of sobs.

r voice softening. "I'll be there

r face, blurring the black box that lay accusingly beside her. Minutes t

she was engulfed in a fierce hug from Khalia. Sobbing uncontrollably, Serenity buried

the couch, a box of tissues sitting on the coffee table between them. Taking a deep

Serenity confessed, he

hock. "He hits you? How lo

mumbled, the shame she had buried for

ulling Serenity into another

on her lashes. "I don't know... I

Khalia said firmly, her voice unwav

looked at Khalia, her voice fille

ut hesitation. "Leave him. You a

again. "But... where would we g

uringly. "He won't. I won't le

was small, hope flickering in the vast se

You visit your mom, and I'll get everything started here. Lawye

nity asked, he

y. Now, let me drop yo

's voice trembled as she thought about the

Would it ease the pain or just add to the humil

er right now. We need to focus on you and Kaia. We'll deal with Cole and h

of facing Cole's mistress was too much to bear, but knowing

d only by Serenity's hitched breaths. Khalia reached over a

ay," Khalia murmured. "We'll

voice helped push back the darkness that had been consuming her. As they pulled up to the hospital, Khali

Stepping out of the car, she took a deep breath

encounter with her mother. The memory of their last conversation still st

smile. Serenity offered a shaky smile in ret

urled up in bed, engrossed in a book. The sight

s lighting up at the sight of her daughte

. How could her mother act so normal, as if nothing had happened during their las

r spoke up. "This book is absolutely delightful, S

knot of anger forming in her

ly blurted out,

er's voice was calm, her eyes nev

on me," Serenity forced

she murmured, finally setting the book aside.

N

N

N

ther's voice was brittle, th

I found a note, and a key to a condo he's thinking

y a whisper, the color draining from he

...condo for his mistress," Serenity managed

It wasn't the fear of Cole cheating that seemed

ief. "What did fucking you do, Serenity?" The words were like a slap acr

y stuttered, the shock o

of another woman?" Her mother screamed, the

!" she yelled back, her voice filled with anger and desperation. "He's been ab

f anger and disgust. "You're just like your father, al

s voice rose, each syllable a dagger

ou neglected him! You need to try and win your husband back, Serenity. Don't you understa

ords striking like a whip. "How can you say that?" she w

ation?" Serenity's voice cracked with emotion, the walls of the hospital room seeming to close

l blow. The room grew smaller, the air suffocating, as her mother's eyes bore into hers, filled with accusat

e felt like she was drowning in a sea of her mother's cold indifference. " Am I

g. "What about Kaia, huh? Doesn't she matter? Do you wa

shrieked. "This is your mess, Serenity! You scre

d it at the wall, the shattering glass echoing her fury. "You don't get it!" sh

family together! To be a good wife!" Serenity

nity's voice shook the hospital room, her fists clenched at her sides. The vase lay in shatter

er ears. She didn't care about the stares from the nurses and patients in the hallway, didn't care about the mess she'd left be

tears fell onto the cold concrete. She had no one. Not really. Just Kaia and Khalia, a tiny beacon of light in the suffocati

s a festering wound that demanded to be seen, to be acknowledged. Serenity knew it was a dangerous