Her Secrets

She took a deep breath, her voice trembling as she tried to maintain her composure. "Some men attacked me two nights ago," she confessed. "When I was leaving the bar, they jumped me and beat me up." She tried to keep the fear and vulnerability out of her voice, tried to sound strong and defiant. But it was hard, and she could feel the lump in her throat growing bigger with each word.

Alexander's eyes narrowed, studying her closely as she spoke. He could see the fear and anxiety in her eyes, the way her fingers gripped the rope around her body. He could sense that she was lying, that there was more to the story than she was telling him. But he didn't say anything, not yet. He waited for her to continue, his gaze unwavering.