Chapter 10

A knock on the bathroom door startled me, and I immediately hugged myself defensively.

"Miss Coleman, I've left the clothes outside the door," Mr. Lee's voice came through.

My heart, which had leapt into my throat, slowly settled back down. "Thank you," I said timidly.

Another set of footsteps approached outside, and suddenly a wave of fear washed over me. Living in constant fear had become a habit, and I couldn't trust anyone anymore, not even James, whom I once liked and who had brought me back.

My mind suddenly flashed back to a few years ago when this presidential suite was my favorite place to be.

Because James was often here.

Back then, everyone knew about my crush on James.

Even though I knew James didn't like me, I still arrogantly drove away all the girls who liked him.

My feelings were written all over my face; no one could miss how much I liked him.

Pain flared up all over my body. I looked at my fingers, permanently bent even after healing. Ugly and unbearable, a constant reminder etched into my bones and blood.

The past days consumed me like a bloodthirsty beast, burying my body deep in an abyss.

I could never go back to who I was before - not since I was sent back home, thrown into the bathroom by my birth father, my clothes violently torn off.

What remained of Charlotte Coleman was just an empty shell, soulless but desperately clinging to life.