Chapter 22 – The Night of Fire
ELLE’S POV
I woke before dawn, my heart pounding for reasons I couldn’t explain. Maybe it was nerves, maybe it was the thought of finally stepping away from the life I had been clinging to for survival. Today wasn’t just another day. Today was my last show. My last night in that club. My last night as the woman who stripped for money instead of being home with her children.
I moved quickly around the apartment, cleaning, preparing food for the twins, making sure everything was in order before Doris arrived. The silence of the early morning was broken by the sound of her soft knock on the door.
“Hey, Elle!” she greeted with her usual bright smile.
“Hey, Doris.”
Her eyes softened as she stepped inside. “Um… yesterday, the kids’ father came here.”
I sighe
