TIARA THORNELLS
His voice exploded through the room. The force of it hit me in the chest, and for a brief moment, it felt like I couldn’t breathe. My chest tightened painfully but I forced myself to stay calm. I drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, refusing to let his anger crush me.
I clenched my hands at my sides, struggling to steady my voice as I spoke.
“What was I supposed to do?” I asked gently. “You stopped coming to the cottage... ” I paused, heart pounding, my voice thick with the bitterness I had been holding back for far too long.
“And then, when I finally get here... the first thing I’m welcomed with... is that.”
I looked straight at him now, refusing to let him look away.
“I went to your bedchamber. And instead, a woman opened the door... she introduced herself as
