Until I Loved You

Elara spent her twenties confusing cages for safety and destruction for passion.
For seven years, she shrank herself to survive the explosive, suffocating jealousy of her first love, Liam. When he abruptly abandons her for a younger woman, Elara seeks refuge in the arms of Julian, a wealthy, calculating man who offers a life of flawless, sterile perfection. But Julian's sanctuary is a gilded cage. He doesn't just want to protect Elara, he wants to completely control her, systematically stripping away her identity, her vibrant wardrobe, and her voice until she is nothing but an obedient object in his high-rise penthouse.
When a devastating discovery exposes the chilling depths of Julian's obsession, Elara finally breaks free. Armed with her fractured sense of self and the support of her fiercely loyal friends, she begins the grueling work of putting her own pieces back together.
Enter Marcus, a steady man who offers a love that doesn't hurt. But to a mind rewired by trauma, peace feels like a threat, and silence feels like a loaded gun. Terrified by this unfamiliar safety, Elara self-sabotages, finding herself dangerously drawn back toward the familiar chaos of her past.
To finally build a life of her own, Elara must stop bracing for the storm and learn to trust the solid ground beneath her feet. Until I Loved You is a raw, gripping exploration of coercive control, the messy reality of healing, and the immense courage it takes to break the cycle.