Naya sat on the floor, her back pressed against the cold wall, breathing uneven and shallow. Liam's words still echoed—I own you. Get that into your thick skull. The weight of them pressed down like a chain she'd been dragging for years.
For a long moment, she said nothing. The tears had dried on her cheeks, but the ache remained deep, heavy, raw.
Then, with a voice barely above a whisper, she said, "You don't own me."
Liam stopped pacing and looked at her, eyes narrowing. "What did you say?"
She swallowed hard, voice fragile but steady. "You don't own me."
He laughed, but it was bitter and sharp. "You're saying that now because of him, aren't you? That Mr. Hale got in your head. Made you think you're worth more."
Naya's heart clenched. How could he see so clearly what she barely admitted to herself? "Maybe I am," she whispered. "Maybe I finally see that I deserve more than this."
His face twisted with rage. "You're a fool if you think you can just walk away. You don't know what you're up against."
She met his glare, the years of fear and silence building inside her like a fragile dam. "Maybe I don't. But I know I can't stay here anymore. I'm tired of being afraid."
Liam took a step closer, voice low and threatening. "You think you can just break free? You're mine, Naya. And I won't let you go."
She looked down, trembling. "I don't want to fight you anymore. I just want to be free."
For a heartbeat, the room was silent except for her uneven breathing.
Then Liam's voice broke through, cold and hard. "Free? You're not free. Not ever."
Naya closed her eyes, a single tear slipping down. But inside, something new had been born,a little courage, fragile but real.
She wasn't sure where this road would lead. She wasn't sure she'd make it. But for the first time, she knew she wouldn't stay where she was.
Naya's heart pounded so hard she could hear it in her ears. Her mouth was dry, but something deep inside her, something long buried forced the words out in a trembling whisper.
"Leave my apartment, Liam."
For a moment, he didn't move. His head tilted slightly, as if she'd just spoken a foreign language. "What did you just say?"
This time, her voice was stronger. "I said you should leave my apartment."
The silence that followed was sharp enough to cut skin. He stared at her, unblinking, before his lips twisted into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. Then came the laugh.... slow at first, but quickly spiraling into cruel, mocking bursts.
"Did you just ask me to leave you?" he said, almost in disbelief.
"Yes," she said, steady now. "I want you to leave. We're done."
He scoffed, shaking his head. "You're just hungry. I think you should go get something to eat before you start talking nonsense."
Her voice sharpened. "Liam, I'm not joking. I don't want to do this anymore. Leave my apartment. I don't want to see you again. Take your things and go."
His smirk faltered. She kept going, the dam finally broken.
"I'm tired of you using me like I'm some filthy rag. I'm tired of being spoken to like I don't matter. I've given you every part of me, and all you've done is grind me down until there's barely anything left. But not anymore."
Her throat burned. "I can't do this. I won't do this."
For a beat, he just looked at her, breathing heavy, his jaw tight. Then he stepped closer, his shadow stretching over her. "You really think you can discard me Naya?
No one can save you from me"
"I don't need anyone to save me," Naya said quietly. "I'm saving myself."
His nostrils flared. "This isn't over," he hissed.
Then, in one sharp movement, he spun toward the door. It slammed so hard the sound rattled her bones, as if he'd tried to take the frame down with it.
Naya stood there, the echo of the slam ringing in the air, before her knees finally gave way. She sank to the floor, curling into herself, her face buried in her knees.
It was official, she had no one to call her own.