Chapter 5: The Unraveling

The silence shattered into absolute chaos.

The marks of his coercion were undeniable. Ugly, blooming maps of black, purple, and sickly yellow circled both of my upper arms.

Finger-shaped shadows—the unmistakable imprint of a violent grip—stained my ribcage, starkly visible against the thin white silk.

A jagged cut near my collarbone, previously hidden by a high lace collar, was sealed with a stark white medical bandage.