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justcom Lewis

justcom Lewis's Book(1)

The Price of a Toxic Love

The Price of a Toxic Love

Romance
5.0
Dora had never believed in fairy-tale love stories. She had always kept her heart guarded, cautious of the fleeting passion that often ended in heartbreak. But everything changed the day she met Donald-a charming musician from a well-known family, whose persistence and undeniable allure slowly chipped away at her defenses. What began as an innocent, exhilarating romance soon spiraled into a toxic love that would consume her life, testing the limits of her endurance, self-worth, and ability to heal. Donald was not like the other men Dora had met. He was relentless in his pursuit, showering her with affection, grand romantic gestures, and sweet promises. He made her feel cherished, adored, and irreplaceable. Despite the rumors of his past and warnings from friends, Dora chose to believe in the man he presented himself to be. With each passing day, she fell deeper into his world, intoxicated by the idea of love and the promise of forever. For a while, their love felt perfect-like a dream she never wanted to wake up from. Late-night serenades, spontaneous road trips, whispered confessions under the stars-it was everything she had imagined love to be. But beneath the surface, cracks were beginning to form. Donald's possessiveness, at first masked as deep affection, soon turned into something darker. He wanted all of her-her time, her energy, her devotion. And Dora, blinded by love, willingly gave it to him, even as the price became too high. As the months passed, Donald's true nature began to unfold. He was not just possessive; he was controlling. The sweet words were slowly replaced by manipulation, and the warm touch that once comforted her turned cold. It started with small things-questioning her whereabouts, isolating her from friends, making her doubt herself. Then, the lies and betrayals surfaced. She ignored the warning signs, convinced that love was about patience, about understanding. She believed he would change, that their love was worth fighting for. But love should never come at the cost of one's sanity, one's dignity. Dora learned this the hard way. Donald was never faithful. While she remained loyal, giving all of herself to him, he entertained other women in secret. The very same lips that whispered sweet promises to her were speaking the same words to another. When confronted, he was an expert at deception-twisting words, shifting blame, making Dora question her own reality. And when words failed, he turned to something far worse-violence. The first time he hit her, she told herself it was a mistake. The second time, she believed his apologies. The third time, she realized she had lost control of her own life. Despite the bruises on her skin and the wounds in her heart, she stayed. She stayed because she loved him. Because she had invested too much of herself in this relationship. Because she was afraid of being alone. She stayed because leaving meant acknowledging that everything she had believed in was a lie. Then came the ultimate betrayal-Dora discovered she was pregnant. But instead of joy, her heart was filled with fear. Donald, unwilling to take responsibility, coerced her into an abortion. And it wasn't just once. Time and time again, she found herself at the mercy of his decisions, her body suffering the consequences of his recklessness. Until one day, the doctor's warning shattered everything: One more abortion, and you may never be able to have children again. Or worse, you may not survive. That was the moment she realized she had to escape. With nothing left but shattered dreams and a broken spirit, Dora walked away. She left behind the man she had sacrificed everything for, the city that had witnessed her downfall, and the life that had nearly destroyed her. She moved to a new town, enrolled in a university, and started anew. It was not easy. The ghosts of her past haunted her, the scars both visible and invisible a constant reminder of what she had endured. But she was not broken. Not completely. Through sheer determination, she rebuilt herself. She found solace in education, in self-discovery, in the quiet moments of healing. And slowly, she learned to love herself again. She learned that love was not meant to hurt. That true love does not strip you of your self-worth but nourishes it. Years later, Dora stood at the pinnacle of success, a woman reborn from the ashes of her suffering. She had graduated, achieved her dreams, and most importantly, she had found a love that was pure, kind, and real. A love that did not demand sacrifices of her soul but instead celebrated her strength. And as fate would have it, she crossed paths with Donald once again. But this time, she was not the naive girl who had once given her all to a man who never deserved it. This time, she was a woman who had conquered her pain, a woman who no longer needed closure because she had already found it within herself. Donald, once the man who held her heart captive, was now just a distant memory-a