(Lina)
I leaned into Kieran's embrace, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat against my ear. The silence between us felt warm and comforting, but I was still thinking about what happened before.
They drifted to the past, pulling me back through the moments that had made me into the person I am now. Everything I had been through, every decision I had made—it was all still fresh in my mind.
Nicholas. His name still sent a shiver through me, though now it was more from relief than fear. I had won that battle, but the memories of his cruelty remained in my mind.
The things that he did to Isabella before I was reincarnated made me wish I could do this all over again, just to see him suffer.
I remembered the way he used to talk to me, belittling me and making me feel small and worthless. Every harsh word, every cold glance, made me wonder how Isabella was able to endure that for so long.
