Alicia's POV
I ran without thinking. I didn't even know where I was going—I just kept running until I finally stopped and looked around.
I realized I had wandered deep into the woods behind our house. My feet were bare.
When had I lost my shoes?
I couldn't remember—and honestly, I didn't care.
The pain in my chest was far worse than anything I felt in my feet.
How did everything fall apart so quickly?
How did I not see this coming?
Jonathan and Clara… together?
It made no sense. They had been close, sure, but I never imagined—never thought—they would betray me like this.
Jonathan told me he loved me.
But now I knew the truth.
He only loved my name. My family. Our wealth.
He never loved me.
And Clara? She had been my best friend. Or at least, I thought she was.
Tears spilled down my cheeks. My heart felt like it was shattering into pieces.
And my parents...
They hid the truth from me. If I'd known we were in trouble, I never would have thrown a big party.
Maybe they just wanted me to have one last happy memory.
But it didn't work.
It had all turned into a nightmare.
"AHHHHHH!" I screamed in agony, my voice echoing into the empty night.
"Why?! Why me?! What did I do wrong?!" I cried out, collapsing to my knees. "Why now? Why like this?!"
I sobbed until my chest ached, pounding my fists against it in desperation.
"Please, Moon Goddess… please make this go away," I whispered through my tears. "Let this be a dream. I can't take this. I won't survive."
But no answer came.
I don't know how long I stayed there, crying and begging.
Eventually, I heard footsteps behind me.
I turned and saw my parents walking toward me.
"Alicia…" they called softly, but I didn't let them finish.
I stood up and walked right past them. I didn't want to hear a word they had to say.
Back in my room, I stood before the same mirror I'd smiled into that morning.
But now... I barely recognized myself.
My dress was torn and filthy.
My makeup smeared.
The pins that once held my perfect hairstyle were now falling out, one by one.
I stared at my reflection—and laughed. Bitterly.
"What a joke," I whispered.
Then I screamed, ripping the dress from my body and yanking out the rest of the pins, letting my hair tumble wild around me.
I watched the pins hit the floor—one after another—like everything else in my life.
Two days had passed since my fall from grace, and I still hadn't left my room.
The maids brought food, but I barely touched it. I hadn't spoken to anyone.
I just stayed in bed. Silent. Numb.
I hadn't even touched my phone since that night.
But then—foolishly—I opened it.
The first picture I saw was of me at my party, my mouth frozen in shock.
Next to it was a photo of Jonathan and Clara, holding hands and smiling at the camera.
Above it was a caption that shattered what little was left of my heart:
#NewPowerCouple as former Belle Alicia fades into extinction
I dropped my phone, my chest tightening with a fresh wave of pain.
How could people change so fast?
The girl who posted that had once begged me for stories. Now she'd moved on to Clara like I had never existed.
I clenched my fists.
And right there—sitting in that bed—I made a silent vow to myself:
One day, I will rise again.
I'll make every single one of them regret turning their backs on me.
But fate wasn't done with me yet.
Just then, my mother entered the room. She looked pale and tired.
"We've found a way to fix things," she said softly.
I didn't answer. I was still angry with them. I felt like they still saw me as a child, someone they had to shield instead of trust.
"You have a role to play," she added.
That got my attention.
"What role?" I asked, already feeling a knot twist in my stomach.
"You have to marry into the Dome family," she said, avoiding my eyes. "It's not a choice."
"What?!" I shouted, jumping to my feet.
They had told me that the Dome Empire was the one we owed money to—but I didn't think they'd go so far as to trade me to save themselves.
"You sold me?" I asked, my voice shaking with disbelief and pain.
"I'm sorry, Alicia. We had no choice," she said. "They agreed to cancel the debt if you marry into their family."
And with that, she turned and walked out—without waiting for my response.
I shook my head in denial.
No.
I wouldn't let this happen.
I wasn't a pawn to be exchanged like property.
That night, while my parents were asleep in their room, I quietly packed a few clothes into a duffel bag.
Over the years, I had saved some money—it wasn't much, but enough to run.
I put on a hoodie and a face mask to hide my identity. Then I slipped out of the house and took a taxi to the bus station.
I was walking toward the bus when I heard the screech of tires behind me.
I turned—too late.
Strong hands grabbed me and shoved me into a car.
"Let me go!"I screamed, struggling with all my strength.
But then I felt a sharp sting in my neck. Something cold rushed through me.
My vision blurred.
The last thing I saw before the darkness pulled me under was a pair of glowing blue eyes.