Chapter 42

Valerie

As I stumbled out of his office, each truth he uttered shattered more than just my composure; it shattered the fragile remnants of hope I had held onto. The weight of his words pressed down on me, leaving me in a daze as I navigated the world outside. All I wanted was to escape, to flee from the pain that gnawed at my insides like a relentless beast.

I was no stranger to heartbreak. It had been a constant companion throughout my life, weaving its way into the fabric of my existence from a young age. I had felt its sting when my father betrayed my mother, tearing apart the very foundation of our family. I had tasted its bitterness when I discovered my mother's lifeless body, robbed of her warmth and love. And I had endured its cruelty when my father drowned his sorrows in alcohol, bringing a parade of strangers and chaos into our home.

But there were other heartbreaks, too. Smaller ones, perhaps, but no less painful. Like the time Drew walked away, leaving me to pick up the piec