A Journey from Bitterness to Truth

Chapter 9

Glancing upward, the sight that met his gaze was a stark and jarring one: Matilda’s right hand was marred by the absence of a part of her little finger – a shocking imperfection laid bare

before his eyes,

In that instant, the strikingly handsome man could no longer contain his voice, which erupted in an anguished cry. “What the hell happened?”

Matilda’s laughter was wild and unrestrained, as if she had been possessed by madness, her eyes reflecting Yvan’s stunned expression.

“Isn’t this the very gift you gave to me? Yvan, I’ve had my fill of the bitterness you’ve doled out in my life. Please, just let me gol” she begged.

Yvan stumbled backward, his grip on her hand slackening as disbelief lifted his gaze to meet hers.

In her fractured eyes, there was no love left, only a deep–seated loathing that seemed to burn within her very marrow.

Pain spread through him unguarded, like reaching out to grasp something fiercely only to find it. shattering into pieces the next moment. The unexpected sting began to prickle and spread throughout his body.

to lock her away, to make her rue her life choices, but how had it

her in prison, who had stripped her of

at Matilda, a sudden intense fear gripped him; he was terrified that

did she feel like such a

that Matilda had endured for over five years. That despair had killed her countless times,

she looked up again, her eyes were filled with nothing but vehement hatred.

him. He stood outside, hunched over,

What had happened to her in those five years…

he should have been pleased to witness,

Matilda’s body slid

agony.

as

12:05

Chapter 9