C2 Was He going to hurt me?

The tears flowed like an open dam, gushing down my face like a waterfall.

The pain in my heart was intense, I did not know what I was going to do. Everything I had planned all gone, my freedom is gone, my escape is gone.

All my life as the Stark first child has been nothing but sorrow the moment my mother died. My father had married another woman as soon as she died, the lady who had a grown up daughter already.

It was a shock when I saw Aurora and her evil mother step into our mansion. Even though I was hurt by the fact that my father was already having an affair long before my mother died, I still welcome them with open arms.

Because that's what my mother taught me, I was the eldest, the heir to the Stark coperations, I must have the etiquette of one. I took care of Aurora, but she backstabbed me every time I tried to help.

Like when I taught her how to ride the scooter, she fell and lied that I pushed her. That was when the beating started, my father made sure to beat me calling me a disgrace, saying I reminded him of my dead mother, that I am awful. My step mother would even join in, adding pepper to the injury.

That had been my life for the last ten years, and when I met Jaxon in college. A prince from the northern isles, he loved me, he protected me. He was the best thing to ever happen to me. My father for the first time felt proud as the company would sky rocket.

And now like everything else I have owned, Aurora had stolen it as well.

I found it so hard to breath as I cried, my makeup flowing down my face. The room felt as if it was pressing down on me.

I didn't realize that someone was knocking on the door until I heard Hailey's voice, my only best friend and maid of homor "Ember, are you alright in there?"

Inhaling deeply to steady myself, I replied, "Yeah, Hailey, I'm okay."

No I wasn't, my life had been destroyed. Every meticulous wish and plans, all vaporized.

The door swung open, revealing Hailey's astonishment at the room's disarray. Don't ask, please don't ask.

I begged from my mind but she asked "What on earth happened here?"

And it all came crashing down. The tears I have been trying to hold in started flowing again.

" Hailey," I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper. Tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill over. "I-I just don't know what to do anymore. Everything's falling apart, and I feel so lost." I paused, taking a shaky breath, my nose running.

Hailey's face shifted to disbelief as she stepped closer to me placing a hand on my shoulder. "You are not making sense. What happened?"

"Jaxon... he is having sex with Aurora at the very moment," I angrily wiped the tears with the back of my hand. "I thought we had something real. I thought I was strong, but now it just hurts so much. I don't think I can handle this." My words wavered, the fragility in my voice echoing the cracks in my broken heart.

"I-I just can't believe it, Hailey," I stammered, tears streaming down her face.

"I thought Jaxon and I had something, you know? And then I walked into that room, and... and he was kissing her. Having sex with her. Right there, on our wedding day in his wedding suite. " I didn't care if I was repeating myself. I just...can't take it.

Hailey reached out, me "I can't imagine how painful that must be, Ember. It's okay to let it out. Cry if you need to."

"But this... it's like the ground beneath me disappeared. I feel so lost."

"It's okay not to be strong all the time," Hailey whispered. "Let yourself feel, Ember. I'm here for you."

I exhaled the tension I hadn't realized I was holding. Even when I was beating beaten, even when Aurora taunt me for the fact that I was color blind, even when I was bullied I never cried. But today, everything I had been through had flowed down my eyes.

"Help me out of this wedding dress, please. I don't want to think about it anymore"

After a brief hesitation, Hailey stepped forward to assist. As the layers of lace and silk fell away.

As I changed into a more comfortable pair of slacks, I made sure to leave the room and leave the entire hall to walk aimlessly until I end this horrifying life that I was born into.

But my feeble attempt at solace was abruptly disrupted by a tentative touch on my arm. I turned, finding my father, Joshua, standing there. A glimmer of hope fluttered within me, desperate for his understanding.

"Dad," I mumbled, my voice tinged with a mix of frustration and relief. I hoped he would notice me without my wedding dress, know that something was wrong and help me.

I really do hope he would understand even though he never had.

His gaze bore into me, an expression of stern concern etched across his face. "Ember, where's your wedding gown?"

A jolt of irritation surged through me, and I hesitated before responding, "I... I tore it."

His frown deepened, and he grasped my hand, the pressure turning uncomfortably painful.

A twinge of discomfort alerted me that something was amiss. Before I could voice my unease, he started pulling me with a forcefulness that left me feeling powerless, inching towards the exit.

"Wait, Dad, what are you doing? You are hurting me." I protested, my heart racing with confusion and growing fear.