Chapter 10

• Chloe pressed herself against the cold stone wall of the hallway, her breathing shallow as Astrid’s harsh words replayed in her mind. “Useless… spoiled princess… from a second-rate kingdom.” The venom in Astrid’s tone lingered, poisoning Chloe’s heart. Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall—not here, not now.
• For as long as Chloe had been in the palace, Astrid had treated her as though she were a burden, an outsider who didn’t belong. From the way she ignored Chloe during meals to the veiled insults she delivered with a saccharine smile, Astrid had made it clear that Chloe was unwelcome. But this—this was different. Astrid’s cruelty had gone too far. Chloe clenched her fists, the pain of betrayal twisting into something else entirely: determination.
• Silently, Chloe slipped away from the hallway and made her way back to her chambers. She needed to think.