A Fragile Escape.

The door to Annabella's room closed behind her with a soft click, but the shock in her chest didn't ease. Her legs felt weak, and she leaned against the door for a moment, her heart still racing from the earlier confrontation with Andrew.

He's right, she thought bitterly." I don't have a choice."

Her eyes roamed the room, a space far too expensive for her to ever feel comfortable in. The four-poster bed, the elegant furniture, the rich curtains—all of it felt like it belonged to someone else. It was beautiful, no doubt, but it wasn't hers.

Annabella sighed, pushing herself off the door and walking over to the corridor. She caught a glance of herself in the mirror and barely recognized the woman staring back. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear and exhaustion. The stress of the day had left her looking dull, and her clothes hung awkwardly on her frame after a night of sweating through dinner.

She ran a hand through her hair, shaking her head. She needed to freshen up.

Maybe a bath will help me forget…

She grabbed her brush from the corridor, her hands trembling slightly, and made her way to the bathroom. The massive bathtub sparkled in the soft light, already prepared with neatly arranged towels and scented soaps. It was all so perfect, so unlike anything she was used to.

Annabella set her brush down and slowly began undressing, slipping out of her sweaty and dirty clothes. She turned the shower, letting the warm water fill the tub.

 The Bathtub

She dipped her toes into the water .Slowly, she lowered herself into the tub, letting the water soothe her aching muscles.The pain in her shoulders began to ease, but her mind became calm.

 "How am I going to survive this"?.

 Andrew's words echoed in her head—You don't have a choice. You're mine now.

Annabella leaned her head back against the edge of the tub, closing her eyes. The scent of rose filled the air, calming her senses. 

But the peace didn't last long. The weight of reality pressed down on her again, and she knew she couldn't hide in the bath forever. she stood up, water dripping from her body as she reached for the towel. She dried off quickly, wrapping the towel around her as she stepped back into the bedroom.

 Exhaustion pulled at her as she crossed the room to the bed. She hadn't realized just how tired she was until now. The weight of the day—the fear, the anxiety, the overwhelming sense of helplessness—it all came crashing down on her at once.

She grabbed her brush again, running it through her scattered hair .

As she sat on the edge of the bed, Annabella felt her eyelids grow heavier. She glanced at the clock on the bedside table—it was late, far later than she should have stayed up, but she couldn't bring herself to care. She was too drained to worry about anything anymore.

Slipping into the soft sheets, Annabella pulled the covers over herself, her body sinking into the plush mattress, that was soft . The bed was far more comfortable than anything she'd ever slept on.

I don't belong here, she thought again. I never will.

But the exhaustion was too much to fight. Within moments, her eyes closed shut.

The Next Day.

When Annabella finally woke up, the sunlight was already penetrating through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. 

 "What time is it?"

She turned her head to look at the clock on the nightstand, and her heart skipped a beat.

 "It's late."

Annabella shot up in bed, panic surging through her. The clock read 9:30 AM, far later than she ever would have allowed herself to sleep. She was supposed to be up hours ago—she had promised herself she would maintain some control in this chaotic situation, and yet here she was, already failing.

"What if Andrew's waiting? She couldn't bear the thought of facing him again, especially after what had happened yesterday night.

Her heart raced as she came out of bed, throwing on the first clothes she could find. She wasn't sure what the day would bring, but she knew she couldn't afford to make any more mistakes. Not in this house. Not with Andrew.

A knock on the door startled her, and her head turned around to face it.

"Miss Rose, breakfast is ready," came the soft voice of one of the maids. She didn't have a choice. She would have to face the day, whether she was ready or not.

"I'll be down in a minute," she called, her voice steadier than she felt.

As the maid's footsteps retreated, Annabella stood in the center of the room.This is your life now, she reminded herself. You can't let him see you fail.

With one last look at the clock, she headed toward the door, ready to face whatever the day had in hand.