I laid in the bed that used to feel like safety, now wrapped around me like chains. Damien’s arms were still loosely around me even in sleep. The move back to our old bedroom should have brought some comfort, but it only made everything feel more twisted. This wasn’t reconciliation. This was him tightening the cage while pretending it was home.
My body still ached from days of barely eating. The forced meals had kept me alive, but the weakness lingered. I stared at the ceiling, trying not to think about Sofia. Or the threat Damien had made. Or how easily he had crossed every line I thought he respected.
The buzz of his phone on the nightstand pulled me from my thoughts. Damien stirred behind me, his arm tightening instinctively before he reached for the device. I stayed perfectly still,
