Elena's POV
The weight of exhaustion clung to my limbs like heavy chains as I forced myself to move. Every muscle in my body ached from the endless chores I had done throughout the day—scrubbing, cooking, and cleaning, tasks I had never once needed to do before Adrian had decided to make me his personal servant. My fingers felt raw from all the scrubbing, and my back throbbed from bending over to wipe the kitchen counters and mop the floors.
I had barely caught my breath before my shift at the bar loomed before me.
The idea of collapsing into bed was so tempting that for a moment, I actually debated skipping my shift. But that wasn’t an option. I needed money. If I didn’t work, I couldn’t enroll. If I couldn’t enroll, I’d be stuck under Adrian’s thumb forever.
So, with sheer willpower
