Chapter 10

• “You are stronger than you think, Cleo,” he murmured, his voice a soothing balm to her anxieties. “Each small victory, each act of defiance, chips away at his control. You are reclaiming your life, one step at a time.”
• His words resonated deeply, bolstering her resolve. She realized that escape wasn't merely about fleeing Julian; it was about reclaiming her own sense of self, her own identity, her own life. It was about becoming the woman she was meant to be, not the victim he had molded her into.
• The change wasn't just internal; it was reflected in her external demeanor as well. She started to dress differently, selecting clothes that reflected her growing independence, shedding the subdued colors and demure styles Julian preferred. She started to express her own style, even if the expressions were small and subtle, almost hidden. She chose bolder colors, styles that emphasized her figure without being provocative. It was a subtle way of rebelling, of reclaiming her own aesthetic sensibility.