Natalie's POV Lucien looked down at me, his hands still resting on my shoulders."Natalie?"The moment I met his eyes, everything I'd been holding inside me finally broke.I threw my arms around his neck and buried my face against his chest. The tears came before I could stop them, spilling down my cheeks as the weight of everything I'd endured settled over me.I cried for the fear, the lies, the nights I'd spent wondering whether I would ever escape the nightmare that had become my life. I cried for the person I'd been before all of this happened, and I cried because, despite everything, I was still standing and Lucien held me tighter."It's okay, Natalie," he whispered, stroking my hair. "I've got you. You're safe now."I shook my head against his chest, unable to find the words I needed. "It's over," he murmured. "You don't have to fight anymore."For so long, I'd forced myself to be strong. I'd swallowed my fear, hidden my pain, and kept moving because stopping had never felt lik
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