PTE

d back into the empty mansion. Surprisin

d for a moment, the scent tempts me to breathe it in but I restrain myself. Everything in here screams

remembered the happy life we used t

ly came here for my daughter, Rose -the sweet da

that means she must be here, ri

ere Derrick would never find us. A place whe

of a marri

called o

ught my attention. My eyes were drawn to the images displayed on the large scr

g, was trending mostly because I dared to point a gun at t

now married t

an endless stream. People who didn't know m

aken back to prison f

a gun to the wedd

n a snake. Now th

ther-in-law and still act

ugh my disheveled wav

so tightly that my knuckles turned pale. My throat fe

nk into memory, into the cruel twis

y trembled like a boy who was caught stealing toys from his father'

s mil

You have to help me. You'r

en birth to

is eyes. And though every instinct told me something

asked, cradling our newborn

eve in me or my ideas. He treats me like I'm nothing compared to my brother. But I

ds out.. if he knows I took it.. he'll strip me of everything. He'll give

ees beside me and

ed me to marry you because you're the adopted daughter of his rival. He'll believe it was you. He'll arrest you, yes, but I'

ken and terrified of the c

no sense for a man to claim to love me yet want me

agr

He ordered my arrest like he h

myself it was worth it. Tha

lind

dragged myself off the couch to get some water. I

s away, and I staggered, trying t

ough, I hea

d similar

Ri

Maybe the pain of the heartache and betra

out it was a faint sound coming from the room

y tracks as my

gh every muscle in my body and all my

y fingers were trembling as I reached the door. I

hoes through the room, whipping my b

wly crept open, causing my eyes