Rising From His Ashes of Betrayal

nor

erstood the trauma that haunted me after my family was murdered. I clung

he called innocent. I saw the manipulation

He threw me against a wall, his

gust me,

the chaos, he accused me of murder. "You killed my chi

helicopter, choosing to save her instead. I was the mon

wore to protect me beco

h crocodile tears while building a new life with my replacement. Now, I'm back to re

pte

of ambition and possessiveness. What they didn't see was the constant tremor beneath my skin, a relic of the night my old life burned do

cross him, to even glance at him wrong, felt its oppressive weight. I knew it wasn't pretty. People whispered "madness," but

whole, bound by a past no one else could understand. He was the anchor I desperately needed, and

d the quiet sadness of a lost fawn. Adrien brought her home one evening, after a charity ga

nt. She'd accidentally spill a drink near him, always managing to appear utterly devastated and apologetic, drawing out his protective i

ng. Then, it was the way his voice softened when he spoke to her, a tone he reserved for soothing my nightmares. He started to

car. The faint scent of jasmine, not my perfume, clinging to his shirts. I stared at these fragments, my stomach churning, but my

jewelry, no makeup. I wanted her to see me, stripped bare of the gilded cage Adrien had built around me, to see the wo

the pavement, a sound that cut through the city's hum. She flinched, then looked up, her eyes wide. I approach

but. My eyes bored into hers, daring her to look away. She trembled, her hands clut

ilent plea. My smile stretched, a grotesque parody of amusement. "Oh

er, fear finally painting them. "I'm only going to say this once," I hissed, my voice a venomous whispe

re. "Listen," I commanded, my grip tightening on her hair. "You think you're clever, playing the

driver slammed on his brakes, the screech of tires a deafening protest. Daphne screamed, a raw, pi

lashed out, cutting through the chaos. He appeared out of nowhere, his face contorted with rage, his eyes locked on me. He ran to Daphne, scooping her up f

bs were loud now, real, burrowing into his shoulder. He didn't even spare me a glance

, my fingers digging into his suit jacket. "Adrien, no," I choked out, a desperate plea. The w

othing more than a bothersome fly. My hand slipped, my nails tearing at the fabric

e sure neither of you live to see tomorrow! I will burn this city down, starting with her!"

s eye. It was ice. A glacial blue that reflected no warmth, no recognition, only a chilling indifference. "Try it, El

m me. Away from us. They disappeared into the crowd, leaving me alone on the chaotic street, the smell of burnt ru

lower vendor's cart, overflowing with vibrant blooms. With a guttural cry, I overturned it, sending petals and soil scattering across the grimy pavement. T

e. He wouldn't see it. He wouldn't even know. This wasn't about him anymore. It was about her. What could I do that would hurt him, truly hurt h

ce? He wanted a simple, uncomplicated life? I would give him nothing less than hell. The only

t, but my influence, even now, still had teeth. I walked into her room, my face a mask of calm. She lay pale and s

the small bouquet of flowers Adrien had sent. The petals shriveled, the water dripping onto the pristine white sheets. Then, w

, but I didn't flinch. I let the drip run,

side her bed s

ng. Then, as quickly as it started, it stopp

chest. This wasn't about violence. This was about consequenc

the nurses screaming. I wanted to see his face when

e one I had decorated with so much love, so much hope. His face was a thundercloud, dark a

he storm raging inside these walls. "You touched her," he said, his voice barely a whi

ng. "She's a liar, Adrien

h, but firm enough to convey absolute power. My eyes watered, not from pain, but from the sudden, stark realization of what I had unleashed. "Y

hud, and a sharp, searing pain shot through my skull. Stars exploded behind my eyes, then faded

t anger started to bubble in my gut, pushing back against the fear. "You hit me," I whispered, disbelief lacing my vo

own, his face a grim mask. "You are unstable, Eleanor. A madwoman. You tried to hurt an

hest. He squeezed my arm, dragging me to my feet, his grip like iron. "You want to

tore at my dress, the delicate fabric ripping with a harsh sound. My mind raced, trying to find a way o

ded, dragging me to the full-length mirror. My reflection stared back, hair disheveled, eyes

ighed, his voice laced with a weariness that chilled me to the bone. "So tired of this... t

ried to fix you, to piece you back together. But you're broken, Eleanor. Irrep

?" The words were barely a whisper, a desperate p

ave your demons, Eleanor. She doesn't carry the weight of a shattered past." He paused, a cruel sm

he world spinning around me. "No," I gasped, the word ripped from my throat. "No, you can't. You can't leave me. I did it for you, Adrien

You murdered our child. Your 'madness,' your 'loyalty,' your twisted love... it cost us everything. It cos

salvation. My peace. And you, Eleanor, you are nothing but a reminder of the dar

ice. "Because if you do, your personal hell will become a public spectacle. And trust me, I excel at spectacle." He walked out, the cl