I was sobbing hard, each ripping through my chest uncontrollably. I cried—loud, messy, and unrestrained. I let out years of pent-up emotions, and it poured out of me in waves, shaking me to the core. I spent so much time pretending to be strong, but now?
I didn’t think I could even pretend anymore. After that confrontation, all my tough walls just melted like ice cubes in a heating pan.
I was so lost of it, I barely noticed the soft footsteps rushing toward me until a pair of hands touched my shoulder.
“Miss Eleanor?”
I looked up to see who it was— at first a bit blurry, but one harsh wipe was all it took to see Anikka, one of my maids. Her voice was cautious, and hesitant, as if she wasn’t sure if she was even allowed to come near me.
When I didn’t push her away, she knelt beside m
