Chapter 21: The Empty House
I went back to the mansion.
It felt different now.
Empty.
I walked through the halls.
Ran my hand over the marble banisters.
Stopped at the spot where Andrew had hit me.
I touched my cheek.
The bruise was long gone.
But the memory wasn't.
Rosa appeared behind me.
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
"Liar."
"I'm okay."
She walked over and stood beside me.
"What are you thinking about?"
"The night it happened. The way he looked at me. The way he hit me."
"Mariana—"
"I used to think I deserved it. That if I was better, he'd love me."
"You were never the problem."
"I know. I know that now."
"Then why are you still here?"
I looked around the mansion.
"Because this is where it started. And this is where it ends."
"Meaning?"
"I'm selling it. Every piece of it. I'm done."
May you like
Rosa hugged me.
"Good."
