Ashton's Betrayal, Her Unyielding Vengeance

is

stant wail of sirens. My eyes fluttered open, struggling to focus on the ceiling above. The b

lodie clung to his side, her white gown stained with smoke, but otherwise unharmed. Her father, Senator H

hat in God's name happened here?" He pulled Elodie protectiv

lm, controlled. "They underestimated us. They will pay." His gaze, cold and hard, swept ove

c kneeling over me. "And her!" he spat, his voice dripping with disgust. "She was supposed to ensure se

is words echoed every fear, every insecurity

lash of something complex – memory, perhaps, or a ghost of a conscience. But then, it was gone, r

said, his voice flat, emotionle

ullet. He was sentencing me. To ap

o push myself up, tried to speak, but my body wou

essed a cloth to my bleeding head, his face a mask of conc

weakly. The wo

a. She pointed a manicured finger at me. "She attacked me! Sh

isbelief. A lie. A b

azing with fury, landed on my face. "What did you

asped, struggling against Co

en jealous, darling! Ever since you announced our engagement! She wante

was the one who had been used as a shield

s anger. He pulled out his pistol, the familiar gleam of chrom

led, stepping in front of me,

on commanded, his voice deadly calm

my voice hoarse. "You know me! Y

y recognition, stared through me. "I loyalties lie with my

er face contorted with malice

asn't just choosing Elodie. He was choosing to believe her lies.

ed the

air, deafeningly loud in t

rched, propelled backward by the impact. I fell, g

his city. From this family. If you ever return, I will kill you myself. Consider

They walked away, hand in hand, leaving me to die. My heart shattered into a million

around the edges of my vi

, etched with grim determination, leaned close. "Not

eckage. We stumbled out of the ballroom, into th

hat blended into the night. It was not one of Asht

I gasped, clutching

his eyes fixed on the road.

the man who had betrayed me, behind. My world was in ruins, but a tiny spark, a fier