My cruel husband locked me outside in the pouring rain while I was barefoot and

…swiftly. It was a lesson I’d learned early in life, and one Michael was about to learn the hard way.

With Eleanor’s firm grip guiding me, I stood up, my legs still trembling from the cold. The warmth of her presence seemed to cut through the chill like a beacon of hope.

“Are you alright, dear?” she asked, concern softening the edges of her voice.

“Not really,” I admitted. My voice cracked, but there was a strange comfort in admitting the truth. “But I will be.”

Eleanor nodded, her eyes gleaming with a fierce protectiveness. “Let’s get you warm and dry.”