Chapter 84

Bella POV

After three long years of being locked away, I was finally allowed outside. I could hardly believe it at first—he had actually listened to my pleas. I thought he’d never let me go beyond these walls again. But now… this was my chance.

I needed to find help. To escape this miserable place. To run, no matter what it took.

When the maid came to tell me I’d be going out today, joy flooded through me so strongly it brought tears to my eyes. But beneath that joy, my mind was already racing, calculating, planning. This was the moment I had been waiting for.

I gathered a few pieces of jewelry and tucked them safely into my purse. I’d need money, or something I could trade if I managed to get far enough from them. My hands trembled as I held the purse close to my chest. When the maids came in to prepare me, I refused to let it out of my sight. They didn’t question it; they’d long learned not to care about what I did.

Soon, they settled me into m