le's

of stepping out of my room. I sat by the window, watching

broken. I was tired of shedding tears over a family that never truly loved me. If anything, today only ma

I had always

rent today-stronger, colder. I had made small changes to my appearance, not because I wante

to wear. Maybe guilt was finally creeping in, but I no longer cared about his conscience

the soft mattress. Sleep felt like the

stopped Bella and her mother from openly disrespecting me. Before, I was treated like a servan

slightly. And for that, I was... gra

ts when a sudden knock

sickeningly sweet voice

ceiling, refusing to entertain

my dress?" she teased, he

le

ove to show you my dress," she taunted, dragging

ched m

ster," she added, her tone

rovoke a reaction from me. But I wasn't going t

eternity, she finally

h I hadn't realiz

I allowed sleep t

essed the introduction of both families had finally ended. Shifting under the covers, I pushed myse

ing. Except... it kept getting worse. My hands trembled slightly as I tried to steady myself, but a wave of dizziness hit me lik

and sharp, but it was fading-drowning

-

s and shadows shifting before coming into focus. I blinked, taking in the unfamiliar ceiling, the s

n't a

a doctor, his posture rigid, tense. My stepmother sat acros

asleep?" I croak

s smirk twisted into something cru

. Congrat

gut like a lead weight.

o me. The look in his eyes sent a chil

r?" His voice was

hitched.

ger barely restrained. "Don't play dumb

meaning behind his words. "I don't und

her word, he threw a paper at me. The cri

up. My heartbeat thundered in my e

air left

o

can't be

vision tunneling, my body turning ice-co

er's, my lips parted in a s

dy knew-this wasn't a

uld never be t