Chapter 18

Taking a deep breath, I began to recount the series of events that led to my departure, sharing the painful moments and the glimmers of hope that had shaped my journey.

I told them the whole story of how I was maltreated and made to believe in false hope.

I told Samantha about Isabella, the Alpha's distant cousin who would always ridicule me.

Samantha listened intently, her expression shifting from concern to awe and back again as she absorbed each detail.

"Lia, I can't believe what you've been through," she murmured, her voice filled with compassion. "No one deserves to be treated that way, especially not by someone who is supposed to protect you."

Nathan's grip on my hand tightened, his features contorted with a mixture of empathy and anger. "I had no idea, Lia," he said, his voice laced with regret. "If I had known what you were enduring, I would have done everything in my pow