From Burden To Unstoppable Queen

Bass

. There was no lump in my throat, no aching regret in my chest. Only a profound sense of liberation. My steps were light as I walked past t

felt like a sanctuary. I kicked off my sapphire heels, the expensive fabric of my dress pooling aroun

g every obscure preference. He often complained about being stressed, about needing a break. "I just want to relax, Alina. Is that too much to ask?" he'd si

ing to the Hamptons." And just like that, my meticulously planned getaway was rep

utique halfway across the island. Caleb, of course, had sent me. Alone. The storm had worsened. My car had hydroplaned. The crash was brutal. I spent weeks in

g in my belly now. I would not relive it. The first step towa

es of clothes, my small emergency fund, and, most importantly, the folder containing my legal

heart hammering a furious rhythm aga

t are you do

be loosely tied around his waist. His expression was a mixture of annoyance an

ted, my voice flat

you' re having one of your little melodramatic episodes again." He took a step towards me, his hand reaching for t

from his grasp. "Wha

it? Do you think I'll chase after you? Or are you just trying to get attention again? Like that time you threatened..." His voice tr

contempt, hit me like a physical blow. But thi

voice firm. "I'm

conversation bored him. His eyes scanned the ornate

hair a little messy, her silk nightgown clinging to her slender

otice my presence, then gasped softly. "Oh, Alina! Are you... leaving?" Her voice was sugary sweet, dripping with fake s

Always like this. Remember that time she locked herself in the bathroom for days and pretended to... well,

is parents had panicked, realizing the PR nightmare it would be. They had forced Caleb to break off a budding relationship he had with a young artist, an affair he was quite serious about at the time. After that, his resentment towards me festered

my voice steady despite the tremor in my ha

an just walk away from a Holder? Don't make m

Caleb cares about you." She took a step towards me, her hand outstre

uldn' t quite decipher. Hope, fragile and fleeting, sparked within me.

ed, her hand shot out, not to comfort me, but

efore I fell. But Erica wasn't so

Her heel caught on the edge of the top step. Her body twisted, and she t

stomach with both hands, her eyes wide

een about to say some