EMILIA POVMy first day as Donna.I woke before the alarms, my heart hammering a frantic, erratic rhythm against my ribs. The morning light was a muted grey, filtering softly through the heavy velvet curtains. Beside me, Axel was already awake. He was staring unblinkingly at the ceiling, his jaw clamped so tight a muscle ticked violently in his cheek."You okay?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly in the quiet room."No," he said, his tone flat, entirely stripped of its usual warmth. "But I will be.""We're doing the right thing, Axel.""Keep telling yourself that, Em."It wasn't encouraging. But it was honest.I forced myself out of bed, shoving the lingering dread deep into the pit of my stomach. I showered, washing away the phantom scent of hospital bleach, and spent twenty minutes in front of the closet. I needed a suit armor. I chose a tailored, charcoal-grey power suit—professional, conservative, and sharp enough to cut glass. I d
Last Updated : 2026-05-20 Read more