MARRIED TO THE CEO WHO RUINED ME

s Dorm Roo

tossed inside as if fleeing a battlefield. The walls, once warm with laughter

slumped, hands trembling as she folded the las

behind her, fists clenched at her sides. "You need to stop crying. This wasn'

own her cheeks. Her eyes were glassy and hollow as if

Her voice was frayed like an old ribbon pulle

aving?" Her voice rose, sharp with d

ing it tightly. "I don't dare to walk through those halls ag

He used you! Humiliated you-and now you're going

r bag. "And maybe... maybe I deserve to be. I let myself believe in him. In his lies

ion. "What are you going to tel

brushing her hair behind her ear with a trembling han

Cora said. "You know it. Sh

ttle control she had left. "She warned me. Told me not to get clos

s sweater. She stared at it for a long

me," she whispered. "

ht of betrayal, the sting of humiliation. She pressed a palm against

ears. She stepped forward, pull

whispered into her friend's hair. "Y

alf-packed bags, two girls clung to each other-one trying to

er, the door

hispered against the floor as she stepped into the corridor, head hel

y weren'

scroll through their phones, whispering behind their han

ching, even as her heart cracked with ev

alking thr

would ris

at the edge of the dorm steps and turned to look ba

t h

," Cora promised,

le but real. "Thank you-

the afternoon sun. Every step away from the dorm was a s

ebuild from nothing,

. ...

lino Ap

t, leaving Marceline Valino standing alone at the

tcase tighter, the metal biting in

changed. Like she hadn't been shattered into a hundred jagged pieces. Like she hadn

y, each one heavier than the

ng's fine. Smile. Brea

mocking her. A cruel sound for someone

door

rcel

e-eyed, blinking like sh

arceline's lips, brittle

ennie asked, her voice caught

interrogation?" Marceline tried to tease. H

stepped aside. "Ri

olish and jasmine surrounded her-once comforting, now suffoca

tiled floor as she set it down, posture

furrowed. "You

ding her sister's eyes.

ped closer. "They're all sw

r, a voice sliced throu

you back

ned instinctively, as though every ne

n a robe, her arms crossed, her express

arceline lied smoothly. "Tho

er for a long, su

hing wron

ord cracking slightly.

suspiciously. "Jennie, get y

ance, she disappear

breath she hadn't rea

grin, "you said you'd bring your bo

ched like a fis

about that right n

hen softened. "Okay. I'll get

l oblivious to the wreckage Marcelin

rs-each step echoing like a funeral bell. Her

-

Bat

licked shut

, the folded towels, and the scent of lavender soap.

cked th

colla

edge of the sink as if it could anchor her. Her reflection stared

sting. Just li

ross. His words were engra

s until sharp pain grounded her in the present. But even th

ven him e

Her trust

r whole world was crumbling-he hadn't a

ost their

nto her shirt. No wails. No sob

at hollowed a person

the sound that almost escaped. Not here. Not

r hours. Time did

ally, s

into the mirror until she didn't see a girl shatter

che hadn't. But she was upr

w, she thought. L

would regret the day

... .

eek

nted on a smile like a mask stitched to her skin-graceful, cheerful, composed. No one saw the

bones. Guilt clung to

he asked about her sister's schoolw

shattered quietly. Agai

ome a louder torment tha

idn't care enough to wonder

agony in her chest, like a hot iron buried deep in her ribcage. Moving hurt

all-her body was beg

r emotions swung between fury and despair with no w

ination. A cruel trick played by her

tside this house who knew the truth-she'd gone out quietly an

her bed like a ticking bomb. Unto

oice snappe

u haven't start

n untouched. She hadn't even realize

he murmured, forcing a smile so br

wned but sa

as studying her wit

said sharply. "Wha

ion hit li

other?" she asked, vo

ange," Amanda said. "Thi

lm. "I'm fine, Mother. Just a litt

to her mouth and for

antly reg

rd she nearly dropped the spoon. Her thr

her chair scraped

n sh

ore she dropped to her knees, clutching the t

r hands trembled. Her body didn't feel like her own anymore.

ried t

ision turned black.

orld tippe

llapsed to t

a's voice, distant and echoing, fil

line! C

n si