005

Chapter 5

 Daniella’s POV  

The knock on the door felt distant, almost surreal, as though it was coming from a world far removed from my reality. My body felt light and I felt pain all over as I lay sprawled on the cold floor. 

“Daniella? Are you in there?” 

I wanted to answer, but my lips wouldn’t move, and my voice wouldn’t come. Another knock came, it was louder this time, then followed by the jangle of keys. I heard the lock click, then the sound of the door creaking open.

I heard Grace gasp and her footsteps hurrying as she rushed to my side.

“Daniella!” she cried, dropping to her knees beside me. Her hands cupped my face, tilting it gently to look at her. “What happened to you?”

I blinked at her, my vision blurring with unshed tears. “Grace…” My voice was barely a whisper.

“You look awful!” she scolded, though her voice cracked with emotion. “How long have you been like this? You didn’t answer my calls, and I just knew something was wrong.” She shook her head, her braid swinging over her shoulder. “This is why I came.”

I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness hit me. Grace caught me before I could collapse again. “Easy,” she murmured. “Don’t you dare try to get up, I will be right back.”

She disappeared into the kitchen, returning with a glass of water and a cold, damp towel. She pressed the towel against my forehead and coaxed me to drink. “Sip it. Slowly.”

I obeyed, feeling the cool water slide down my parched throat.

“You’re freezing,” she muttered, pulling a blanket from the couch to wrap around my trembling form.

“I’m fine,” I rasped, though it was a blatant lie.

“Fine?” she repeated, her green eyes blazing with fury as they searched my face. “You look like you’ve been dragged through hell, Daniella! And for what? For him?”

Tears welled up, spilling over before I could stop them. Grace’s expression softened as she crouched in front of me. “Oh, Daniella,” she murmured, pulling me into a tight hug. “What has he done to you this time?”

The words were enough to break me and everything came flooding out. “He doesn’t care, Grace,” I choked. “He never cared. I was just convenient.”

Grace pulled back, her hands gripping my shoulders. “No, Daniella. Don’t you dare blame yourself for his selfishness. You gave him everything, and he took it all without a second thought. But enough is enough. You can’t keep doing this to yourself.”

I shook my head weakly. “I don’t know how to stop.”

“You start by letting go,” she said firmly. “Of him, of this… this prison you’ve built around yourself. It’s time to take your life back.”

Her words hung in the air, a lifeline I wasn’t sure I had the strength to grab.

“Come on,” Grace said, standing and pulling me to my feet. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

**************

The bathroom was warm and steamy, a stark contrast to the cold that had seeped into my bones. Grace worked methodically, her movements gentle but efficient as she wiped the dried blood from my hands and arms.

“This isn’t you,” she said softly, more to herself than to me. “The Daniella I know wouldn’t let anyone reduce her to this.”

I closed my eyes, letting her words wash over me. I wanted to believe them, but my choices made it hard.

Once I was clean and wrapped in fresh clothes, Grace helped me to my room, tucking me into bed like a child. “I’m making you something to eat,” Grace declared, her tone leaving no room for argument.  

I murmured a weak protest. “I’m not hungry…”  

“I don’t care,” Grace snapped, her eyes flashing. “You’re eating. And after that, we’re talking.”  

An hour later, with a bowl of soup in my hands and Grace sitting across from me, I finally started to feel a sliver of normalcy. But it was short-lived.  

“What happened?” Grace demanded. “And don’t you dare say ‘nothing.’”  

I hesitated, staring into my soup as if it held the answers. Finally, I whispered, “It’s Liam.”  

Grace’s jaw tightened. “Of course, it is. That man is poison, Daniella. I’ve told you a hundred times to walk away from him.”  

“It’s not that simple,” I said, my voice cracking. “He was all I had. And now…now I don’t even have that.”  

Grace leaned forward, her eyes blazing with fury. “Listen to me. You are better than this. Better than him. He doesn’t deserve you, and you don’t deserve to live like this—like a shadow of yourself. You need to let him go, Daniella, for good.”  

I nodded slowly, tears slipping down her cheeks. Grace reached out, taking my hand and squeezing it tightly.  

“You’re going to get through this,” Grace said firmly. “But only if you start fighting for yourself.”  

**************

The next morning, I woke with a newfound resolve. I wasn’t sure where it came from, but Grace’s words echoed in my mind, giving me the strength to move.  

I dressed quickly, then headed to Liam’s flat to pack up my things.  

When I arrived, the familiar sight of his building made her stomach twist. I had spent years walking through those doors, always with the hope that maybe, this time, things would be different. But they never were.  

I keyed in the entry code on the security panel, but it flashed red.

Frowning, I tried again, only to be met with the same rejection.

A sense of unease crept over me. I pressed the buzzer, waiting for the doorman to answer, when the door swung open.

Matilda.

She leaned against the doorframe, her designer dress hugging her curves, her lips curled into a smug smile. “Oh, it’s you.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Matilda leaned against the doorframe, a smug smile on her lips. “Oh, didn’t you know? I’m staying here now. Liam said it was time to make things official.”  

I stared at her, my heart sinking. “I’m here to pack my things.”

“Your things? Oh, darling, I had the maid take care of that. I couldn’t have your rubbish cluttering up the place. It’s already been thrown out.”  

I stared at her, disbelief and fury warring within me. “You had no right.”  

She tilted her head, feigning pity. “It’s not like you ever lived here, anyway. Liam never let you, did he?” Her smile widened. “But I’m sure you’ll find some other charity case to cling to.”

I turned on my heel and walked away, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a response.

—

At work the next day, I stormed into Liam’s office, clutching my resignation letter.  

He looked up from his desk, his expression one of mild irritation. “What is it now?”  

I placed the letter on his desk, my hands trembling. “I’m resigning.”  

Liam leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re just throwing a tantrum because Matilda told me you went to the flat and took all your stuff.”

Daniella’s jaw tightened. “I didn’t take anything. She threw my things away.”

He laughed a cruel sound that sent a chill down my spine. “So that’s what this is about? Do you think resigning will make me grovel? Make me admit you’re my girlfriend? You’re nothing but a passing fling, Daniella. You’ve always known that.”

His words were like a slap to my face, but I refused to let him see how deeply they cut.

“You’re wrong,” I said. “This isn’t about you. It’s about me. I’m done being treated like I don’t matter.”

He stood, towering over me as he sneered. “You won’t last a month out there without my protection. You’re nothing without me.”

I met his gaze, my lips curving into a small, defiant smile. “We’ll see about that.”

 “You will be in my bed sooner than you think” He glared at me

 “You wish,” I shouted and stormed out of his office.

 For the first time in years, I felt like I was finally taking control of my own destiny.