The Woman He Almost Killed Lives

Bridge

nd rage. He took a step towards me, his hand raised

the hall table, its painted flowers suddenly ugly. I hurled it against the wall near hi

s of suppressed pain and anger fueling each syllable. "Let's talk about how you brought her,"

e finally crumbling. "Allie, how dare

on't pretend you're innocent, Mrs. Pate. You knew exactly what you were

ed, his face purple. "And you have no ri

at him. "Half of this estate, this 'pedigree' you're so proud of, belongs to

and on my father's arm. "Darling, please. Not now. We have guests arriving soon fo

off, presumably to compose himself. Mrs. Pate gave me a tight, triumphant smile before following him, leav

felt like a reminder of my utter failure. The image of August's cold eyes, Caroline's n

ke a hollow drum. I dragged myself downstairs, hoping to slip out unnoticed, but the house w

I saw

gu

axed charm. My father, who had condemned me just hours ago, was beaming at him, his

voice dripping with artificial sweetness. "August, dear, everyt

's engagement party. A cold dread seeped into my

descended the staircase, her smile bright and innocent. She looked directly a

of seeing directed at me. He walked towards her, extended his hand, and she took

ticing my presence. His eyes, the same eyes that had watched me tear up his blank

round Caroline, his proud gaze on August. "Allie, darling," Mrs. Pate purred, her eye

rld spun, the room tilting viol

r announced, his voice booming with pride.

to steady myself. The humiliation, the absolute, soul-crushing betrayal

This was a joke. A c

him, her hand resting delicately on his arm, a diamond sparkling on her finger. And my

my place in my father's heart, now stood poised to claim the man who had effort

y her. And now, the man who had promised me security, the man I had given my heart to, wa

good practice." He had practiced on me, molded himself into the man he thought Carolin

lone, adrift in a sea of deceit and betrayal. My own family, the man I loved, all conspiring agains

ad known. This wasn't just a coincidence; it was part of his calculated cruelty. He wan

of strength began to coalesce in its place. A strength born of absolute desolation. They had pushed me to the

g with a sickening joy. They thought they had won. They thought they had cru

n't over. Not by a long shot. The game had just begun. A