Chapter 25| Malice

The sun rays filtered through the linen curtains smoothly bestowing the small room with a subtle orange glow. The night was long gone but her concerns never left her. The fear, the feeling of betrayal, his touch was still there. The marks were still on her body. Regret and sorrow were still buried deep within her heart. With puffy eyes and a bloated face from hours of crying, she woke up.

Was it a dream, Emma wondered but then, there, on the couch laid the shredded red silk dress along with the ruby studs placed on it as what? A kind of reminiscence, perhaps. Flashes from last night rushed into her mind again. It wasn't a nightmare but a reality that was much worse.

The door opened with a creak and Mina appeared, a small smile crept up on her face seeing the younger one up. Mina stayed the night as she thought Emma might need her.

"Are you better now?" It was the first thing Mina asked as soon as she entered the room. She had witnessed Emma's terrible state last night. It's heart-wren