Catherine stood in front of the mirror, her damp hair clinging to her back, droplets of water trailing down her bare shoulders. The robe she had hastily wrapped around herself felt heavy, as though it carried the weight of the evening’s events. Her gaze dropped to her hands, trembling slightly as she rubbed them together, scrubbing at the memory of that man’s touch. No matter how hot the water had been, it hadn’t been enough to erase the filth she felt clinging to her skin.
Her reflection stared back at her with hollow eyes. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, fighting against the wave of self-doubt that threatened to consume her. For a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to feel small, to feel weak—an emotion she loathed more than anything else. The confident, comp
