Anna hadn’t even realized how she managed to walk out of the building.
One mont she had been standing in that suffocating living room, drowning in lies and half-truths, and the next she was in her car, the door slamd shut, her hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she struggled to calm her racing heart.
Breathe.
The silence felt unreal after all the shouting. No accusations. No guilt. No expectations.
Just her.
The years of pain, ignorance, and quiet neglect she had carried like invisible weights finally began to loosen their hold. Cutting ties with her parents hadn’t felt dramatic in the mont—but now, sitting alone, the reality of it crashed over her in waves.
It was over.
The mont she had agreed to listen to Roseline earlier, she had known it was another attempt to pull her back into their carefully crafted narrative. Another chance for them to reshape her into sothing obedient. Sothing useful.
But she had had enough.
Knowing now that Hugo had never been the man she believed him to be—that his weakness had been nothing but performance—made it easier to walk away. Let him face his ss alone for once.
And Roseline...
Anna closed her eyes briefly.
She had lost her faith in her mother long before today, but now she couldn’t even recognize her anymore. The woman who once promised to protect her had spent years protecting the man who hurt her instead.
Both of them had their motives.
And neither included Anna as a person—only as a resource.
"I’m so proud of you, Anna," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the quiet car.
For the first ti in her life, she felt the chains break. The invisible ones she hadn’t even known were there. The ones that tied her to a family who fed on her loyalty while calling it love.
Cunning predators.
The words felt harsh, but honest.
She rested her forehead against the steering wheel, breathing slowly now, the adrenaline finally fading. Her body felt lighter, but her mind was still spinning, trying to adjust to a future where she wasn’t constantly bracing herself for disappointnt.
That’s when it hit her.
Daniel.
Her eyes snapped open. Her phone was still in her bag, unanswered ssages buzzing faintly against the fabric. He had been waiting. She had promised she would be with him all the ti during the session. She had walked into that building thinking it would be a short conversation. But it took longer than expected.
’God, what if he was worried?’
What if he thought— Anna straightened abruptly, panic replacing exhaustion.
She grabbed her phone, heart pounding again as she unlocked it. Three missed calls. Two ssages.
Are you okay? Please tell where you are?
A lump ford in her throat. She had left the clinic when Daniel was in the middle of the session without anyone knowing. So when she saw Daniel’s worried text and missed call she realized what she had done.
Without thinking, she shoved the key into the ignition. The engine roared to life, too loud in the quiet parking lot.
"I am coming"she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.
***
[Bennett Enterprise – Hugo’s Office]
Hugo continued to pace the length of the office like a trapped beast before suddenly slamming his fist onto the table so hard the glass surface rattled violently.
Roseline flinched, her shoulders stiffening as she watched him spiral, his face contorted with rage.
"How did she find out?" he roared, spinning toward her. "Tell . How did she find out?"
Roseline’s eyes narrowed, disbelief flashing across her face. "What are you trying to do now—bla ?" she shot back. "You’re the one who lost control, Hugo. You’re the one who let your temper destroy everything. And now you want to pretend this is sohow my fault?"
Her voice trembled, not with fear, but with suppressed fury.
"I warned you to stop," she continued. "I begged you not to say anything. But you didn’t listen. You never do. And now you stand here asking how she found out?"
Hugo scoffed bitterly. "Don’t turn this around on ."
"I didn’t tell her," Roseline said sharply. "Not then. Not ever."
"Don’t lie to !" Hugo snapped, slamming his palm against the desk again. "She didn’t wake up one day and magically figure out she wasn’t mine. Soone had to tell her. And the only person who knew was you."
Roseline laughed hollowly, the sound brittle and strained. "And now you think I told her?" she said incredulously. "Are you even listening to yourself, Hugo? Why would I do that?"
Hugo’s eyes darkened.
"Because you wanted leverage," he said coldly. "You wanted to secure your position by marrying her off to Daniel."
Roseline froze, shock flashing across her face. "What?"
"You heard ," Hugo continued, stepping closer. "You thought if she beca Daniel’s wife, she’d be untouchable. That you’d be safe no matter what happened to ."
"That’s insane," Roseline whispered. "I never used her like that."
Hugo let out a humorless laugh. He couldn’t believe what he was saying because seeing him lose everything was already taking a toll on his mind.
Roseline shook her head, her voice trembling now. "No. I wanted to protect us"
"Protected us? " Hugo snapped. "How! Your daughter refused to help now that she has Daniel"
Roseline’s breath hitched.
"You knew what Daniel was capable of," Hugo pressed on, his voice dropping dangerously. "You knew what would happen if he ca after us. So you sent Kathrine away, didn’t you? Helped her flee. And then you conveniently pushed Anna into marrying him."
Roseline stared at him, horrified. "You think I’d sacrifice one daughter to save the rest of us?"
"I think you’d do anything to survive," Hugo said bluntly. "Just like you always have."
Her hands clenched into fists. "I was trying to keep everyone alive."
"Then why didn’t you tell you helped Kathrine and that you knew she wasn’t ready!"
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