. Tears welled up, spilling down her cheeks in silent streams as her breath came in shallow gasps. Her v

if they spoke-there was no way Ethan would let her go. The fear in Sofia's eyes was palpable as she shifted uncomfortably, her hands

ted in meeting with y

ouldn't be possible. Ethan loved her. He had always loved her. She shook

se, venom dripping from every word. "Do you thin

er eyes wide with shock,

er voice shaking the room. "You orphan girl! I showed you mercy, took you in, and raised you when your

of her past, the years of being indebted to the Taylors, pressed down on her chest, making it hard

king the very walls of the mansio

*Get out?** She couldn't comprehend it. The place that had been her home, the place where she had built every dream she had-she w

een torn apart. And there

nds clenching her chest as if to hold herself together. "Wh

, cutting through the air like a blade. "That is none

ids around her, their eyes filled with sorrow and helplessness. None of them dared move or speak, but their sympathy was

mous smile. "Soon I'm going to be Ethan's wife. And

al, the pain-it all became too much. Her knees gave way beneath her, and with a soft, broken gasp, she collapsed onto the cold, unforgiving floor. The marble felt like ice a

he hall, filled with irritation. "

ver her cheeks. Her voice cracked, barely more than a whisper, "I h

f her was trembling, her body a vessel for the pain that felt like it would never stop. She glanced around, des

mach, as if to remind Cloe of the life she claimed to carry. Cloe's gaze fell on Sofia, her chest tightening as t

ce a cruel echo through the hall. "You

ign of mercy. But there was none. All that remained was a crushing silence and the unforgiving glare of the woman wh