The morning air was crisp, and the city felt strangely quiet as I stood by the window, looking out over the skyline. The penthouse was still and calm, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me. The plan was set into motion, and I could feel the tension in every inch of my being. Today would change everything. I knew that with every fiber of my body.Ronan had been preparing for this moment for weeks, and now it was time to act. The details were all in place: the meeting with my parents, with Kate, with David. It would all come to a head today. The moment I had dreamed of and feared in equal measure.I wasn’t the same person I had been when I was forced to live through the hell of my past life. I had been broken, crushed under the weight of their betrayal. But now? I was stronger. I had fought too hard and survived too much to let them destroy me again.A knock at the door broke me from my thoughts, and I turned, my heart beating a little faster. "Come in," I called.The door open
The weight of the moment hung in the air, thick and suffocating. As I stood before my parents, Kate, and David, I felt a fire within me burn brighter than ever before. I had been their pawn and victim for years, but no more. Today, I would no longer allow them to control me, to dictate the course of my life.The room was tense, everyone waiting for someone else to speak and make the next move. My parents’ eyes flickered between Ronan and me, their faces a mixture of guilt and defiance. They knew what was coming. Kate stood beside them, her arms crossed, a mocking smile still on her lips as if nothing could faze her.David... I could barely bring myself to look at him. The man who had once been my husband, the man who had sworn to love and protect me, had thrown it all away in pursuit of greed, power, and a life with Kate. He had betrayed me in the worst way possible, and no apology would ever be enough."You don’t deserve my forgiveness," I said, my voice steady and cold, cutting thro
I stood there, my body still buzzing with the aftermath of everything that had just happened. The room was quiet now, save for the slow, steady breaths I took to steady myself. Kate had been escorted out, her attempts at defiance crumbling under Ronan’s unwavering presence. My parents... they still stood frozen, caught between guilt and the bitter realization that they had lost the control they had once held over me.I felt a rush of emotions, too many to sort through at once. There was relief, yes, a sense of freedom that I hadn’t known I was capable of feeling. But there was also anger, an unrelenting fury that still simmered within me. For too long, I had been their puppet, their victim. And while the battle might have been won, the war was far from over. The scars of my past would take time to heal, but I had no intention of allowing them to haunt me any longer."Are you alright?" Ronan’s voice broke through my thoughts, his hand gently resting on my arm. His touch grounded me, re
The days following my confrontation with my parents and Kate felt like a blur. It was as though I had stepped into a new world, one where the rules were different and I held the power to shape my destiny. There was no more manipulation, no more lies, no more living in the shadow of people who only saw me as a tool for their gain. I was finally free, but freedom came with its own set of challenges.As the sun rose each morning, I found myself standing at the edge of a new life, wondering where it would take me. The past still lingered, the wounds still raw, but I refused to let it define me any longer. I had spent too many years as a victim, too many years allowing others to control my fate. It was time to take control, to carve out a future that was mine, and mine alone.I had Ronan by my side, and that brought me a sense of peace I hadn’t known in years. He was my anchor in the storm, my constant reminder that I wasn’t alone in this. His unwavering support, his belief in me—it gave m
The days blurred together in the aftermath of my decision to sever all ties with my past. Each moment felt both heavy and free as if I was walking in a dream, unsure of what was real and what was the echo of everything I had left behind. But one thing was certain: I was no longer a prisoner of my history.Ronan and I had settled into a rhythm of rebuilding, slowly but surely. We didn’t rush into anything; we let the pieces fall into place at their own pace. It wasn’t about erasing the past—it was about creating something new, something solid that would be ours, free from the weight of old ghosts.But I couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that something was still unfinished. The world around me had shifted, and I had shifted with it, but there were still lingering scars I hadn’t yet addressed. I had spent years as a victim of my circumstances, and now that I was free, I found myself asking the question I had avoided for so long: Who was I?There were moments when I would sit alone, jus
The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I stirred in bed, the warmth of the blankets cocooning me as I slowly woke up. The house was quiet and peaceful, and for the first time in a long time, I felt content. The storm from the night before had passed, leaving behind a calm that felt like a promise.Ronan was still asleep beside me, his steady breathing a comforting rhythm. I watched him for a moment, the lines of his face softened in slumber. The man who had helped me heal, who had stood by me when I had nothing left—he was here, with me, and for the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to fully appreciate that.There was a time when I would have woken up in fear, wondering what the day would bring, bracing for the next wave of pain or betrayal. But now, I woke up with a sense of peace. The world outside my window felt like a new beginning, full of opportunities. It was no longer about surviving—it was about living.I carefully slip
I never thought this day would come—the day my life would finally end, and yet, it was the only way out. The cold metal door clanged behind me, and I felt my body collapse against the ice-cold concrete of the cell. Everything had led to this. Betrayal. Suffering. Endless years of watching everything that was meant for me slip through my fingers, until it was too late.David's words echoed in my mind as I lay there, bruised and broken, cold air biting at my skin. "You ruined everything," he’d said, his voice cold, devoid of the warmth I had once known. "You should have never come back."How could he say that to me? I, his wife—the woman who had fought to survive, to find my place in a world that never wanted me—had become the enemy. He held Kate in his arms, my fake sister, the woman who had taken everything from me, from the wealth that should have been mine to the love of my parents. Even my husband had chosen her.Tears stung my eyes, but they were no longer for him. I had shed them
I walked out of Ronan’s office that night with my mind in turmoil. The cold evening air whipped across my face, carrying the faint scent of rain and city streets. My hand instinctively moved to my stomach. My child. My reason for everything now.Could I trust him? A man like Ronan Darkwood, who radiated power and control, wasn’t someone you casually trusted. Yet, in his eyes, I saw something I hadn’t seen in years—certainty. He wasn’t going to break me. He saw me for who I could be, not who I was in my weakest moments.I flagged down a cab, giving the driver the address of a cheap motel on the outskirts of town. It wasn’t safe, but it was quiet, and I needed time to think. I couldn’t go back to the Scott mansion—not with David and Kate waiting like vultures, ready to pounce on the carcass of my already shattered life.The motel room was as dreary as I’d expected—peeling wallpaper, a bed that creaked under the lightest weight, and a single bulb that flickered ominously. But it didn’t m
The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I stirred in bed, the warmth of the blankets cocooning me as I slowly woke up. The house was quiet and peaceful, and for the first time in a long time, I felt content. The storm from the night before had passed, leaving behind a calm that felt like a promise.Ronan was still asleep beside me, his steady breathing a comforting rhythm. I watched him for a moment, the lines of his face softened in slumber. The man who had helped me heal, who had stood by me when I had nothing left—he was here, with me, and for the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to fully appreciate that.There was a time when I would have woken up in fear, wondering what the day would bring, bracing for the next wave of pain or betrayal. But now, I woke up with a sense of peace. The world outside my window felt like a new beginning, full of opportunities. It was no longer about surviving—it was about living.I carefully slip
The days blurred together in the aftermath of my decision to sever all ties with my past. Each moment felt both heavy and free as if I was walking in a dream, unsure of what was real and what was the echo of everything I had left behind. But one thing was certain: I was no longer a prisoner of my history.Ronan and I had settled into a rhythm of rebuilding, slowly but surely. We didn’t rush into anything; we let the pieces fall into place at their own pace. It wasn’t about erasing the past—it was about creating something new, something solid that would be ours, free from the weight of old ghosts.But I couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that something was still unfinished. The world around me had shifted, and I had shifted with it, but there were still lingering scars I hadn’t yet addressed. I had spent years as a victim of my circumstances, and now that I was free, I found myself asking the question I had avoided for so long: Who was I?There were moments when I would sit alone, jus
The days following my confrontation with my parents and Kate felt like a blur. It was as though I had stepped into a new world, one where the rules were different and I held the power to shape my destiny. There was no more manipulation, no more lies, no more living in the shadow of people who only saw me as a tool for their gain. I was finally free, but freedom came with its own set of challenges.As the sun rose each morning, I found myself standing at the edge of a new life, wondering where it would take me. The past still lingered, the wounds still raw, but I refused to let it define me any longer. I had spent too many years as a victim, too many years allowing others to control my fate. It was time to take control, to carve out a future that was mine, and mine alone.I had Ronan by my side, and that brought me a sense of peace I hadn’t known in years. He was my anchor in the storm, my constant reminder that I wasn’t alone in this. His unwavering support, his belief in me—it gave m
I stood there, my body still buzzing with the aftermath of everything that had just happened. The room was quiet now, save for the slow, steady breaths I took to steady myself. Kate had been escorted out, her attempts at defiance crumbling under Ronan’s unwavering presence. My parents... they still stood frozen, caught between guilt and the bitter realization that they had lost the control they had once held over me.I felt a rush of emotions, too many to sort through at once. There was relief, yes, a sense of freedom that I hadn’t known I was capable of feeling. But there was also anger, an unrelenting fury that still simmered within me. For too long, I had been their puppet, their victim. And while the battle might have been won, the war was far from over. The scars of my past would take time to heal, but I had no intention of allowing them to haunt me any longer."Are you alright?" Ronan’s voice broke through my thoughts, his hand gently resting on my arm. His touch grounded me, re
The weight of the moment hung in the air, thick and suffocating. As I stood before my parents, Kate, and David, I felt a fire within me burn brighter than ever before. I had been their pawn and victim for years, but no more. Today, I would no longer allow them to control me, to dictate the course of my life.The room was tense, everyone waiting for someone else to speak and make the next move. My parents’ eyes flickered between Ronan and me, their faces a mixture of guilt and defiance. They knew what was coming. Kate stood beside them, her arms crossed, a mocking smile still on her lips as if nothing could faze her.David... I could barely bring myself to look at him. The man who had once been my husband, the man who had sworn to love and protect me, had thrown it all away in pursuit of greed, power, and a life with Kate. He had betrayed me in the worst way possible, and no apology would ever be enough."You don’t deserve my forgiveness," I said, my voice steady and cold, cutting thro
The morning air was crisp, and the city felt strangely quiet as I stood by the window, looking out over the skyline. The penthouse was still and calm, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me. The plan was set into motion, and I could feel the tension in every inch of my being. Today would change everything. I knew that with every fiber of my body.Ronan had been preparing for this moment for weeks, and now it was time to act. The details were all in place: the meeting with my parents, with Kate, with David. It would all come to a head today. The moment I had dreamed of and feared in equal measure.I wasn’t the same person I had been when I was forced to live through the hell of my past life. I had been broken, crushed under the weight of their betrayal. But now? I was stronger. I had fought too hard and survived too much to let them destroy me again.A knock at the door broke me from my thoughts, and I turned, my heart beating a little faster. "Come in," I called.The door open
The days seemed to blur together as I settled into my new life with Ronan. The world outside remained as chaotic as ever, but here, within the walls of the penthouse, I felt a strange sense of peace. It was as if I were cocooned in a world where time moved at a different pace, where the ghosts of my past couldn’t reach me.Yet, no matter how much I tried to push them away, the memories of my former life still lingered, haunting the edges of my mind. David’s betrayal, my parents’ rejection, Kate’s cold smirk—they all seemed to hover just beyond my grasp. But with each passing day, I could feel the weight of those memories begin to loosen as if they were no longer as suffocating as they once had been.I stood in front of the large mirror in my room, brushing my hair absently. The reflection staring back at me was different—stronger, more confident. My once-fragile self had been replaced by a woman who had learned to survive in the darkest of circumstances. A woman who had the power to s
The days seemed to blur together as I settled into my new life with Ronan. The world outside remained as chaotic as ever, but here, within the walls of the penthouse, I felt a strange sense of peace. It was as if I were cocooned in a world where time moved at a different pace, where the ghosts of my past couldn’t reach me.Yet, no matter how much I tried to push them away, the memories of my former life still lingered, haunting the edges of my mind. David’s betrayal, my parents’ rejection, Kate’s cold smirk—they all seemed to hover just beyond my grasp. But with each passing day, I could feel the weight of those memories begin to loosen as if they were no longer as suffocating as they once had been.I stood in front of the large mirror in my room, brushing my hair absently. The reflection staring back at me was different—stronger, more confident. My once-fragile self had been replaced by a woman who had learned to survive in the darkest of circumstances. A woman who had the power to s
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, flooding the room with a warm glow. I stirred awake, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings. The luxurious bed and the serene quiet were a far cry from the chaos that had once defined my mornings. For the first time in years, there was no shouting, no cold sneers, no oppressive weight of expectations.Stretching slightly, I let the thought sink in. I was free—or at least, I was on the path to freedom. My past still lingered in the corners of my mind, but here, in Ronan’s penthouse, it felt distant, almost like a bad dream.A soft knock on the door startled me from my thoughts. "Come in," I called, my voice still hoarse from sleep.The door opened to reveal a housekeeper carrying a tray. "Good morning, Ms. Brown," she said politely, setting the tray on the table by the window. "Mr. Darkwood asked me to bring you breakfast. He’s out attending to some matters but wanted to ensure you were comfortabl