I walked away, feeling a mix of anger and defeat swirling within me. This place wasn’t my home anymore, nor was the lavish Larsen estate, where I had once dreamed of belonging. The world outside felt just as hostile; even the stray dogs on the street barked at me as I passed. I clutched my wedding gown tightly, my steps unsteady as I sought refuge in a dimly lit corner, sinking down to sit on the ground. I felt invisible, a shadow cast aside.
I remembered a time when I picked up a discarded cup that Leta had thrown away. She had been furious, snatching it back and declaring that a ‘trash’ like me had no right to take her thrash.
Shawn had intervened, his brow furrowed in anger at her behavior. “You need to stop being so spoiled,” he had told her before turning to me with a polite smile, saying, “I’m sorry for her. Please forgive her.”
His kindness had been a small beacon in my darkest memories, a light I had clung to. But now, as I sat alone in the shadows, it felt as though all the light had been extinguished.