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Chapter 33: Family— Or Not
Last Updated:
2025-02-10 22:22:51
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I was sobbing hard, each ripping through my chest uncontrollably. I cried—loud, messy, and unrestrained. I let out years of pent-up pain emotions, and it poured out of me in waves, shaking me to the core. I spent so much time pretending to be strong, but now? I didn’t think I could even pretend anymore. After that confrontation, all my tough walls just melted like ice cubes in a heating pan.I was so lost of it, I barely noticed the soft footsteps rushing toward me until a pair of hands touched my shoulder.“Miss Eleanor?”I looked up to see who it was— at first a bit blurry, but one harsh wipe was all it took to see Anikka, one of my maids. Her voice was cautious, and hesitant, as if she wasn’t sure if she was even allowed to come near me. When I didn’t push her away, she knelt beside me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, which took me by surprise.“W-what… are you doing?” I asked with my voice filled with woe.Why is she hugging me…“I don’t know how else I can comfort you, Ma
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"You really want to pick yourself up, Eleanor?"I stared at him, my fingers floppy around the edge of the blanket, my mind sluggish from days of barely moving, barely eating. The weight of his question sat between us. Did I? Did I want to be better, or was I just pretending because I was tired of seeing his disappointment? My lips parted, but I hesitated. And then, slowly, I nodded.Mike studied me, unreadable. He took a deep breath and leaned back slightly, his gaze moving toward the ceiling as if debating something. When he finally spoke, his words were unexpected."Run away with me. Leave this town."I saw him blink. I scoffed—a weak, breathy sound barely above a laugh. "Don't be ridiculous, Mike."He didn't correct me. He just watched as I shook my head and brushed it away like it was nothing. Perhaps, to him, it wasn't nothing. But to me, it was absurd. Leaving the place that held every shattered piece of me was never an option. I could barely dream.This was my punishment. Stayi
