Fragments of a Broken Woman

Sophie I’ve spent three years beside a man I do not love. A man with whom I share nothing more than the cold obligation of a contract that should never have been called marriage. Every night, when his hands roam over me as if I belonged to him, my mind escapes. It seeks refuge in memories that still burn beneath my skin. Memories of that man…the only one who ever knew how to read my body without words. I can still feel him. The way his hands awakened every corner of me, as if he knew secret paths no one else had ever found. His kisses… sweet, deep, intoxicating enough to make me forget who I was and where I was. And then I return. To this empty reality. To this man who touches me without knowing me, who looks at me without seeing me. To this life I never chose. Memories are all I have left. My only escape. My way of keeping a shred of sanity inside this perfectly constructed cage. And somehow… I know my husband senses it. He may not know his name. But he feels his presence in every silence, in every distance, every time my body is here… but I am not. Perhaps that’s why he hates me. Before… my life wasn’t like this. I was the typical rich girl. Spoiled, pampered, surrounded by luxuries that seemed like love. I lived under the constant watch of my parents and my older brother, naively believing it was protection. But it wasn’t. They weren’t protecting me… they were protecting the secret. My fragile mind. My episodes. The things that must never see the light of day. The family’s most guarded treasure. And yet, my whole world began to crumble the day I turned sixteen. My parents, along with other high-society families, organized a grand event. A tradition, they said. The presentation of their daughters to the elite of Starfall. The most powerful families would be present… watching. Choosing. Now I understand. It was never a celebration. It was a showcase. An elegant, cruel exhibition where we were displayed as if we were collectible pieces, ready to be handed to the highest bidder. Alliances disguised as romance. Business deals hidden behind promises of marriage. But that night… I didn’t know. That night, I was excited. I remember my white dress, delicate, perfectly fitted to my figure. It made me feel beautiful… almost unreal. As if I could still believe in fairy tales, happy endings, love chosen—not imposed. There were six of us to be presented that evening. Among them was my best friend, Camille Carter. Camille… as strong as she was broken. Daughter of an influential family, marked by her parents’ divorce. She stayed with her father, who quickly replaced her mother with a woman who seemed to belong in a cruel story: cold, calculating… repulsive. A true stepmother. For years we learned to ignore her, to survive her. I did what I could to lighten Camille’s burden, trying to make her world a little less hostile, a little more bearable. We were two girls playing at freedom… unaware that we were already trapped. That day, I remember the anxiety of all of us. Briana was sweating as if her life depended on it, praying she wouldn’t stumble or fall on the steps during the presentation. I, on the other hand, felt calm. It seemed almost like a joke, but my mother had rehearsed with Camille and me every afternoon since she learned of the celebration. For us, it was easy: maintain an upright posture, move gracefully, wear a discreet… “innocent” smile. We knew many eyes would be on us. I suppose that’s what was truly frightening. One by one, we walked with our escorts. In my case, it was my older brother, Michael. Two years older than me, sweet and reserved, the best brother I could have imagined… though life would soon prove otherwise. Camille’s escort was Stephan Russo, son of one of Starfall’s most prestigious families. His father, influential, owner of a great legacy and multiple businesses across cities: sharp, cold, calculating. But fortunately for us, Stephan was the complete opposite. Cheerful, charismatic, charming. Someone you could talk to for hours. He was our best friend. So if anyone could prevent Camille from face-planting or causing a scandal… it was him. After the presentation, we laughed in relief—or at least we thought we did. We enjoyed dinner and then moved to the dessert table, while the ladies sipped coffee, catching up on the latest gossip… or perhaps using the chance to destroy one of the newly presented girls. The men shared drinks, talking business. And that was when my future began to be decided. As I walked through the halls, I accidentally bumped into a firm chest. Looking up, I found a tall young man, serious face, brown hair, sharp features, full lips, and honey-colored eyes.