Chapter 32

I’m a mess. The suitcase sprawls open on the bed, half-packed, mocking my futile attempts to hold my life together. Each item I throw into it feels like I’m tearing a piece of my heart away, discarding memories, dreams, and hopes. My hands tremble, fingers slipping on zippers and clasps, as I struggle to breathe through my sobs. This again. My heart is getting torn out for the second time in as many months.

“Megra, stop! Please, just stop and think about what you’re doing.” Liza’s voice cuts through the air, soft yet desperate. She stands in the doorway, her eyes wide with worry. “Wait for Nathaniel to come back from work. You two need to talk before making such a hasty decision. You can't just leave. Why would you let that vile woman come in and destroy everything?”

I shake my head, tears streaming down my face. “I can’t, Liza. If I see him, I won’t be able to leave. He’ll remind me of our contract, and I won’t have the strength to go. And he chose to betray me.”

Liza steps closer, h