On my way. Noah replied immediately.
Dragging herself to the bed, she lowered her body onto the mattress, but lying down made the bruises scream louder. So she sat upright, clutching her knees as tears finally broke free. And this time, she didn't try to hold them back.
She cried for the twenty one year old girl who had fallen in love with Damien, too naive to see the warning signs. She cried for her marriage, the two and half wasted years she could never get back.
She cried for the baby she lost.
At the time, Damien had begged for forgiveness, swearing that hitting her during that pregnancy had been an accident. But now, staring at the reality of her broken body and broken heart, Jossy knew better. He hadn't just hurt her that night, he had killed their child. The weight of that truth crushed her chest, leaving nothing but bitterness and self hate. She had handed him the power to destroy her, and he had used it.
Her sobs filled the silent penthouse until another sound cut through, the faint creak of footsteps echoing down the hall. Her heart leapt in panic. She grabbed her phone from the nightstand, her hands slick with sweat.
It vibrated before she could type, and she answered immediately.
"I'm here"
Noah's voice came through the line, urgent and firm.
She released a shaky breath, clutching the phone as though it was the only lifeline she had left.
"Come to the bedroom," she whispered, her voice breaking. "The last one in the hallway."