ia's

My hands rested on the counter, trembling slightly as I stared at the steam rising from my untouched cup.

, spiraled into this storm of heartbreak and betrayal? My thoughts pulled me b

felt when Daniel was around. We were inseparable back then, best friends since childhood, bo

beyond the sleepy town. I loved him long before I ever admitted it to myself. And when he finally kissed m

build something greater as a power couple. Daniel had always spoken of the city wi

red the morning I wok

his house, pounding on the door until my knuckles a

I asked, breathles

ng onto the porch. "He left early this morning. S

e city?" I whispered, disbelief clawing at

ds only made it worse. "He didn't te

t carried me away from the house without thinking. I went to the stream, our favorite place, half-expecting to

r heads, but one old man stopped long enough to say, "Saw him heading towa

ear the market square. He was gone. No good

as waiting for me in the parlor, her sharp gaze sweeping

ne for days while I hoped that

athy. "I always knew he'd leave you behind. Boys like that don't stay in places like

her face that broke me. She wasn't surprised

this?" I asked, m

ve wave. "Daniel was never going to marry you. You were ju

her, but I couldn't. The devastatio

and my mother wasted no

a glossy photo across the dining table. "Richard is a good man

lder than me, with a cold, calculating smile that made my skin crawl. "Mum, he

id sharply. "And you'll marry hi

," I said, my

n icy whisper. "If you don't, you can pack your things and leave

e else to go. No money, no allies. Daniel was gone, my o

arm was tight, his presence suffocating. I felt like a lamb being led to slaug

d did everything a "good wife" was supposed to do. But i

night, throwing a plate across the room

orse with each passing day. He belittled me, controlled me

mother, despe

I said, tears streaming down my fa

ou have a roof over your head and a husband who provides

t h

en married you. You'd better learn to be grateful

e I had left. I was alone, trappe

to the present. I blinked, realizing I was gripping

d healed. The man who had abandoned me, the man who had left without a word, no

arable, but I couldn't afford to fall apar

t know how I was going to fight Daniel or save the café, but one

rk contrast to the storm brewing inside me. For his

hought nagged at the back of my mind: What

o take Mark aw