Chapter 19 : Shattered Glass , Shattered Bonds Chapter 19 : Shattered Glass , Shattered Bonds ( Samantha's POV ) Something inside me snapped . The crystal goblet in my hand flew across the room , shattering against the marble floor with a satisfying crash . The sound echoed through the high - ceilinged living room of Blackwood Manor , fragments scattering like diamonds across the polished surface . Margaret's eyes widened , her perfectly manicured hand flying to her throat . Her mouth opened in shock as she stumbled back . " Are you done? " I asked , my voice dangerously calm . " Or do you have more insults to throw my way ? " For a moment , Margaret seemed intimidated by my sudden outburst . She took a small step backward , her expensive heels crunching on the scattered crystal fragments . " You … you could have hit me ! " she gasped , clutching her designer purse to her chest like a shield . " Trust me , if I wanted to hit you , I wouldn't have missed , " I replied coldly , feeling a strange sense of liberation in finally standing up to her . The fear quickly vanished from her eyes , replaced by that familiar look of contempt . " How dare you ! This is exactly the kind of unhinged behavior that proves you're unworthy of my son . " I laughed , the sound hollow and bitter . " Unworthy ? I've spent five years trying to be worthy of the great Blackwood name . Five years of fertility treatments , pack politics , and your constant criticism . " " And failing spectacularly , she sneered , regaining her composure . Her jewelry clinked as she straightened her shoulders . " Now sign the papers and leave with some dignity . At least then people might remember you as someone who knew when to bow out gracefully . " My gaze dropped to the crystal shards glittering on the floor . I bent down and picked up one of the larger pieces , feeling its sharp edge against my fingertip . " Get out of my house , " I said quietly , a drop of blood forming where the crystal bit into my skin . Margaret's lips curled in disdain . " This isn't your house . Nothing here is yours . Not the furniture , not the name , and certainly not my son's heart anymore . " Something in my expression must have alarmed her because she suddenly backed toward the door . I followed , the crystal shard still in my hand , blood now dripping onto the pristine white carpet . " You've never accepted me , " I said , advancing slowly . " Not even when I was breaking my body with treatments to give your son an heir . Not when I supported him while he built his empire . " " Because you were never good enough ! " she spat , fumbling for the doorknob behind her . " A nobody from a nothing pack ! My son deserves a proper Luna , someone who can strengthen our bloodline ! " With a swift motion , I threw the crystal shard . It sailed past her head , missing by inches and embedding itself in the wooden doorframe with a solid thunk . " Next time , I won't miss ," I promised , my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me . Margaret fled , the door slamming behind her . The sound echoed through the empty house , a hollow punctuation to her exit . 1/3 Chapter 19 Shattered Glass My legs gave way and I slid down against the sofa , tears mixing with the blood from where the crystal had cut my palm . I hadn't even noticed the pain until now . It hadn't always been this way with Margaret . When Ethan and I first mated , she'd been civil , even warm at times . She'd helped plan our mating ceremony , advised me on pack protocols , even shared family recipes . But as Ethan's position as CEO solidified and Blackwood Enterprises thrived , her attitude changed . Suddenly I wasn't good enough for her precious son . Nothing I did was ever good enough . My clothes were too simple , my manners too unrefined , my conversation too dull . And worst of all , my womb too barren . The final straw had been last year's Winter Solstice dinner . After hours of snide comments about my inability to conceive , I'd finally snapped overturning the entire dinner table in a rage that shocked even me . The memory of flying crystal and china , of red wine staining Margaret's white designer dress , still brought me a shameful tisfaction . The look of absolute shock on her face had been worth the weeks of tension that followed . The front door opened , and Ethan's familiar scent filled the room . He must have seen everything through the security cameras . His footsteps were hurried , almost frantic . " Sam ," he whispered , kneeling beside me . His eyes were filled with worry as he took in my tear stained face and bleeding hand . " What happened ? Are you hurt ? " I reached up , touching his lips with my fingertips . People said thin lips signified a lack of affection . I'd always dismissed such superstitions , but now I wondered if there was some truth to it . " Ethan , " I said softly . Not " my love " or any of the endearments we once shared . Just his name . It used to fill him with joy to hear me say it . Now it seemed to fill him with anxiety . " I saw Mother leaving ," he said , gently taking my injured hand in his . " She looked terrified . What did she say to you ? " " She brought divorce papers , " I replied flatly . " One million dollars and I walk away with nothing else . " His jaw tightened . " She had no right . I'll speak to her . " " Don't bother , " I said , pulling my hand away from his . " Let me go , Ethan . This isn't about children anymore . It's about us . " His face crumpled . " What do you mean ? " " Our relationship was flawed from the moment you convinced me to quit my healing practice , " I said , the words flowing now that I'd finally found the courage to speak them . " You severed my professional connections throughout the Northern Territories . " " That's not true ," he protested , his voice rising . " I supported your decision to focus on pack duties ! " " My decision ? " I laughed bitterly . " You manipulated me into it . Made me feel guilty about helping others when I should be focusing on you , on us , on having children . " Ethan's eyes widened in denial . " I never manipulated you . Everything I did was because I love you so much . I couldn't bear sharing you with anyone . " " You were threatened by my male colleagues , " I continued , finally giving voice to truths I'd buried for years . " By the way people adored my healing abilities . By how they needed me . " His hands clenched into fists , " I wanted you all to myself , " he admitted , his voice breaking . " Is that so wrong ? To want your mate to be yours alone ? " " When it stifles who they are ? Yes , " I said firmly . " That's not love , Ethan . That's possession . " < Chapter 19 : Shattered Glass . +15 Puntos > I thought of a story my grandmother once told me about a bird that plucked its own feathers and starved to death because it loved its owner too much . I'd become that bird , sacrificing essential parts of myself to please Ethan . " I need freedom , " I said , wiping away tears with the back of my uninjured hand . " I need to heal people again . To pursue my own dreams . " Ethan pulled me into a tight embrace , his face buried in my hair . His body trembled against mine . " I can't lose you ," he whispered , his breath hot against my ear . " You're everything to me . We can work this out ." " I'm not a bird you can keep in a cage , " I replied , not returning his embrace . " Even if the cage is made of gold . " He pulled back , his eyes still filled with that desperate infatuation that had once made me feel special . Now it just felt suffocating . " Let me tend your wound ," he said , reaching for my bleeding hand again . " Please , at least let me do that . " I showed him the scar on my back from the accident years ago , lifting my shirt slightly to reveal the jagged line . " This is nothing compared to what I've already endured . " His fingers traced the raised tissue of the old scar , and I shivered involuntarily . The touch brought back memories of better times , when his hands on my body meant comfort and desire , not control . " I can be both ," I said firmly , pulling my shirt back down . " The gentle woman you fell in love with and the strong healer I was born to be . " Ethan's hand fell away from my back . " What are you saying ? " " I'm going to reclaim my healing practice ," I declared . " I'm going to rebuild my life . With or without you . " His eyes darkened with a mixture of fear and possessiveness that I'd seen too many times before . His jaw clenched , a muscle twitching at the corner . " I'm not a bird you can keep caged , Ethan ," I repeated , my voice stronger now . " I never was . " My words hung in the air between us , challenging the very foundation of our relationship . H 48 Comentarios Mira videos gana puntos ( 0/10 ) > Votar 3/