22.

It fascinated her, what Noah had said about his tattoo, and what he had said about people's choices had scared her. It was as if he had been talking to her directly. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the memories of the past that threatened to engulf her. As she stared out of the window, her mind wandered back to what Noah had said. They had been a brief, but those words had struck a chord deep within her. The idea of a different life, one where she could have been loved and cherished, seemed like a distant dream.

She had walked out of there after that, but only because she wanted to pounder more about it all. The pain inflicted upon her by her ex-husband had scarred her both physically and emotionally. It had shattered her self-esteem, leaving her questioning her worth and doubting her own judgment. She had once believed she had found solace in him, mistaking his possessiveness for love. But now, she saw the truth: he was a psychopath, someone who reveled in causing pain and