Amelia POV

The faint rays of dawn seeped through the thin curtains of my small, drab room, but they brought no warmth, no comfort. The cold emptiness of the Cole estate mirrored the hollowness in my chest. Another day awaited, another cycle of humiliation and loneliness.

I clutched the delicate teacup Rosa had brought me the night before, its warmth long gone, just like my hope for this marriage. The thought of facing Rebecca again made my stomach churn, but I had no choice. This was my ...