LOGINThe next morning, I was gone.I hadn't allowed myself to stay in Gavin's house any longer than necessary after signing those divorce papers. The moment I handed him the signed documents, I knew there was nothing left for me inside that mansion—not a single memory worth saving, not a single reason to remain.That house had taken enough from me. So when morning came, I packed the last of my belongings into my duffel bag and waited.Kym arrived shortly after sunrise. The familiar sound of her car pulling up outside the estate made my heart pound, but this time, it wasn't fear tightening around my chest.It was anticipation. Freedom was waiting for me right outside those gates.I dragged my duffel bag downstairs, my footsteps echoing through the enormous hallway that had once felt like a prison. For a brief moment, I stopped near the front door and looked around.The expensive furniture.The cold marble floors.The walls that had witnessed every tear Gavin had forced me to shed.For years
Before I knew it, two whole days had slipped by. I had spent every waking moment frantically setting my affairs in order while Gavin was away.But the next morning, my fragile peace was shattered by the roar of a car engine outside and the sound of voices. They were back.I sat frozen in my room, letting the minutes tick by before I finally forced myself to go downstairs to grab some breakfast.But the moment I reached the bottom of the stairs, I stopped dead in my tracks. Gavin and Olivia were already in the dining area, eating lunch together. The sound of their utensils clinking sharply against the porcelain, paired with Olivia's soft, occasional giggles, made my skin crawl. I tried to move like a shadow, slipping quietly into the kitchen to grab a glass of water and whatever leftovers I could find, desperate to escape their notice."Alia," Gavin's cold, authoritative voice sliced through the air, freezing me right where I stood.I slowly turned around to face them. He didn't even b
"Are you absolutely sure about this?" Kym asked, her voice tight with worry. "You know I’ll always have your back, but going back there? I don't think it's a good idea." I took a deep, steadying breath. It had been two weeks since Gavin last made a scene at my place. The days following that nightmare had been surprisingly quiet. He was probably too busy playing house with his darling mistress to remember I even existed. Honestly, his amnesia was a blessing; it gave me the perfect window to quietly get my affairs in order. "I have to go back, Kym," I replied, my voice sharper than I intended. "If I vanish completely, he’ll get suspicious. Besides, I left some important things behind. We were in such a frantic rush to get me out last time that I barely packed a thing. But I promise you, I’ll be careful. I’m just going to play along with their little circus until the time is right." I had spent countless sleepless nights mapping this out. Even though every instinct screamed at
"Happy birthday!"Before I could even properly open my eyes, I winced and quickly covered both ears at the sheer volume of Kym's screech."What on earth..." I began, but the words died in my throat at the sight before me.I didn't know what to say. I just stared, jaw-slack, at what she was holding."Tada! Of course I wouldn't forget your birthday. Get up and blow out the candle, and don't forget to make a wish!" She set the cake down on the coffee table of the guestroom where I had spent the night.She was also holding a candle and a lighter. Even though I was still half-asleep and processing what was happening, I slowly pushed myself up."It's my birthday today?" I asked, completely bewildered."Look at this girl. See? This is what happens when you spend all your time enduring that demon of a husband—you even forget your own birthday," she said with a roll of her eyes.I pouted, unable to argue because she definitely had a point."You know, freedom is the ultimate gift you can give yo
Not even thirty minutes had passed when I heard the screeching of tires outside. A rapid succession of heavy bangs followed, threatening to break down the wooden door. It was Kym.My knees shook as I went downstairs to open up for her. The moment the lock clicked open, Kym burst into the house. When she saw my face—my swollen eyes and the reddening mark of the slap on my cheek—she literally gasped."Fucking piece of shit," she cursed heavily at what she saw, her eyes brimming with protective tears.She didn't waste a single second. She grabbed my shoulders, her grip tight but incredibly careful."Alia, look at me. You are not staying in this house for another minute. We are leaving. Right now. Like, right now!""K-Kym..." my voice cracked."No arguments, Alia! Pack your clothes because we are getting out of here!" she demanded, pulling me up the stairs.I followed her like a lifeless robot while she quickly threw my clothes into a large bag. She was furious, her hands shaking as she zi
I just stared blankly into the mirror. I had just finished showering, and a towel was wrapped around my body, which I clutched tightly so it wouldn't slip off.My tears are forming in my eyes as I stare at my face. My eyes are swollen and my nose is red. My body ached, especially those parts Gavin gripped on. Even my cheek still felt numb.Seeing myself like this, I couldn't help but feel a deep, overwhelming pity for myself.Why do I have to suffer this life? I've never done anything wrong in my life... so why me?"Aren't you finished yet?"I jumped in fear, my heart suddenly racing.I thought he left. Didn't he leave the house?He reached out as if to touch me, but I immediately dodged his hand, which caught him slightly off guard. I kept my head down to avoid meeting his eyes and instinctively stepped away from him."The fuck is your problem, woman?" he asked irritably, making my heart beat even faster."Y-you can use the shower now... I'm leaving," I stammered, unable to look him i
The sunlight didn’t just wake me; it executed the morning. It cut through the heavy velvet curtains like a serrated blade, exposing the wreckage of a room that had become a crime scene.I reached out, my fingers trembling as they brushed the cold, expensive silk where Rogue should have been. The s
Feeling completely drained, I decided to sleep off the pain after taking a cold bath. My plan was to wait until the others were finished before heading down to eat. I was eventually jolted from my sleep by a soft, hesitant knock on the door. Still barefoot, I climbed out of bed and quickly fixed m
As Rogue’s command echoed in the empty kitchen, I was left with the debris of a life I no longer recognized. I cleaned everything—every plate, every stain, every shattered remnant of my pride. When the house finally fell into a haunting silence, I retreated to the master bedroom, clutching a chemic
I had no idea where Rogue stayed the night. But I already knew the answer: probably tangled up in that woman's sheets. That night, I cried myself to sleep because the pain in my chest was too much to bear. The sun in the morning didn't bring light; it just showed the damage from the night before.







