CHAPTER 58: HE DIDN’T THINK IT WOULD BE THAT EASY

~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~

I don’t know how we ended up in this conversation. But I’ve never felt so brittle and fragile in my life. Alone, dark, behind hospital, night. No one wanted me. Then David did, but on his terms. My value came from his whims, his wishes, and his desires.

Sure, I used his contracts and the benefits he gave to survive and hide. His absence gave me space to reflect, heal, and focus on self-improvement. But I still had problems with my self-esteem. It didn’t help that David would reinforce those issues without knowing what he did. I never expressed my feelings or explained my presence. It’s all to protect myself. I wouldn’t risk my safety now that I’d found it. I’d serve a man, even if I had to be submissive.

It didn’t help that I ended up falling for the jerk. I admit it. David may not have shared his emotions with me. But I saw and responded to his needs. I felt how he’d struggled with his situation. My condo provided David