Chapter 48

Maxine's POV

Finally, I was able to catch up with Tobias, he always makes me happy. We laughed, reminiscing about the good old days, and just enjoying each other's company. It felt nice to have a moment of peace. The peace we truly deserve.

Strangely enough, in the absence of Liam, my life began to sparkle again. It was like a burden had been lifted off our shoulders, and suddenly, there was room to breathe again. Without his constant presence dominating me, I felt free to do as I pleased, to live my life without the constant worry of whether or not I was meeting his expectations.

I spent my days training, indulging in good food, and just enjoying the simple pleasures of life. It had been so long since I had felt this alive, this... free. And I hoped, deep down, that Liam would stay away for a little while longer, at least until I had grown stronger, more capable of standing on my own to defend myself fully against his bullying.

While I was e