I slowly sit up from the bed and quickly head to the bathroom. When I look in the mirror, a scream escapes my lips at the sight of my body covered in bruises and hickeys. Now I understood better why Alexander had been so enraged. Yet, somehow, I didn’t feel guilty—after all, he had betrayed me first with Arlette.

As I walk toward the sink, a sharp pain shoots through my body, especially my stomach, as if knives were piercing me. It’s so intense that I can’t help but collapse to the floor, falli