Perverse

The Scars She Hid From The World

REGINA MCBRIDE

The heavy iron gates of the Wilderness Correction Camp groaned as they released me after three years of state-sponsored hell. I stood on the dirt road, clutching a plastic bag that held my entire life, waiting for the family that claimed they sent me there for "rehab." My brother, Brady, picked me up in a luxury SUV only to throw me out onto a deserted highway in the middle of a brewing storm. He told me I was a "public relations nightmare" and that the rain might finally wash the "stink" of the camp off me. He drove away, leaving me to limp miles through the mud on a snapped ankle. When I finally dragged myself to our family estate, my mother didn't offer a hug; she gasped in horror because my muddy clothes were ruining her Italian marble. They didn't give me my old room back. Instead, they banished me to a moldy gardener’s shack and hired a "babysitter" to make sure I didn't embarrass them further. My sister, Kaleigh, stood there in white cashmere, pretending to cry while clinging to her fiancé, Ambrose—the man who had once been mine. They all treated me like a volatile junkie, refusing to acknowledge that Kaleigh was the one who planted the drugs in my bag three years ago. They wanted to believe I was broken so they wouldn't have to feel guilty about the "wellness retreat" that was actually a torture chamber. I sat in the dark of that shed, feeling the cooling gel on the cigarette burns that covered my arms, and realized they had made a fatal mistake. They thought they had erased me, but I had returned with a roadmap of scars and a hidden satellite phone. At dinner, I didn't beg for their love. I simply rolled up my sleeves and showed them the price of their silence. As the wine spilled and the lies crumbled, I sent a single text to the only person I trusted: "I'm in. Let them simmer." The hunt was finally on.

Modern Revenge Scheming

Download the Book on the App

"Hmm..." Sadie Hudson murmured in a gentle whisper, her eyes fluttering open into a drowsy blur, only to be met with the intense gaze of another pair of eyes.

Her husband, Noah Wall, had quietly returned, his presence subtly marked by the faint aroma of alcohol.

He sealed their reunion with a kiss that was unyieldingly dominant, compelling her into a reluctant acquiescence.

A wave of unease surged through Sadie's chest, and reflexively, she attempted to withdraw.

"Stay still." Noah's voice rumbled, deep and seductive, tinged with a compelling charm that was hard to resist.

For a moment, Sadie's body tensed, caught in a struggle between resistance and submission.

Today was significant—their second anniversary—and she was determined not to spoil the celebratory spirit.

With a sigh, she closed her eyes, allowing herself to melt into his embrace.

The robust scent of his cologne masked the alcohol, swirling around her and piercing her heart with its potent allure.

Noah's eyes darkened with desire as he observed her yielding, his actions becoming bolder and less restrained.

Just as Sadie was about to regain her composure, she gasped softly, her plea laced with a tender fragility. "Please, not too harsh... because I..."

She couldn't complete her revelation of being pregnant. The sharp ring of a phone sliced through the thick tension, abruptly severing the intimate moment between them.

Noah's eyes, still ablaze with longing, flickered as he caught sight of the caller ID.

He got up and began to dress, his movements betraying none of the fervor that had engulfed him just moments before.

"Are you heading out?" Sadie inquired, her voice tinged with a mix of confusion and concern as she tightened the grip on her nightgown.

"Yeah," Noah answered, his tone breezy and dismissive, as if evading further inquiry.

"But..."

"Go back to sleep," he interjected smoothly, his voice soft yet detached. He leaned forward, his lips briefly caressing her forehead in a fleeting, tender gesture.

Without a single backward glance, he strode out of the room.

Sadie's eyes lingered on the empty doorway, her heart sinking slowly.

She convinced herself it had to be an emergency at work.

Understanding was essential; any sign of displeasure could drive him further away.

After all, she had loved Noah for over a decade, and becoming his wife was a dream realized. She could hardly expect more.

With a sigh, Sadie quickly freshened up and returned to bed, her hand resting gently on her belly, a hopeful smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"Sweetheart, Daddy didn't mean to leave us by ourselves. Please, don't hold it against him, alright?"

No sooner had she uttered these words than her phone buzzed with an unexpected news alert, startling her.

"Wall Group CEO Spotted at the Airport Late at Night, Allegedly Picking up Mysterious Girlfriend."

The photo that accompanied the headline captured Noah at the airport's private terminal entrance, clad in a black suit. He stood with impeccable posture, exuding an undeniable aura of authority.

His eyes conveyed a softness, a tender warmth that Sadie had never observed before.

Shock flashed across Sadie's face as her heart thudded painfully in her chest, the sharp sensation nearly stealing her breath.

It took a considerable effort for her to regain her composure. Clutching onto a sliver of hope, she clicked on the article, her fingers quivering.

As she had feared, a familiar face filled the screen—Kyla Wade.

The woman Noah had seemingly been unable to forget was evidently back in his life.

Read Now