Chapter 1: The Return
Sarah Collins had promised herself she would never step foot in that house again.
The grand estate loomed before her like a ghost from a life she had barely escaped—a life filled with quiet cruelty, suffocating expectations, and Eleanor Whitmore’s cold, calculated control. But today, she had no choice.
Her suitcase.
Just one suitcase left behind. That was all she needed.
At eight months pregnant, every step felt heavier—not just because of the child she carried, but because of the memories pressing down on her chest. Her hand instinctively rested on her belly.
“It’s okay,” she whispered softly. “We’ll be out of here soon.”
The door opened before she could knock.
Eleanor stood there, elegant as ever, her sharp eyes scanning Sarah from head to toe—lingering on her swollen belly with unmistakable disdain.
“Well,” Eleanor said coolly, “I didn’t expect you to come crawling back.”
“I’m not staying,” Sarah replied, her voice steady despite the tension. “I just need my things.”
May you like
Eleanor stepped aside slowly, a faint smirk forming. “Of course. Let’s not pretend this isn’t… entertaining.”
Sarah walked in, every instinct telling her she had made a mistake.
