Sold, Framed, Now She's Free

d with saccharine concern, her eyes, however, sparkled with malicious g

re I could even formulate a response. "She's no longer part

e formal announcement, the public denunciation. He outlined my supposed crim

ed me everywhere. I felt a surge of white-hot anger, propelling me forward. I pushed through the crow

cracked, raw with emo

pt, raked over me. The whispers grew louder, sharper, cutting through the thin veil of m

The shame was a familiar companion, but the sheer c

. His touch, once a comfort, now felt like a brand. "Stop making a scene, Charl

shoulder, but I didn't care. I wouldn't let him

ng finger at Brenda, who recoiled with a theatrical gasp. "This was my home, Chandler! My parents' ho

AC

o the side, a searing pain blooming across my cheek. My vision

g with fury. He pulled Brenda closer, shielding her with his bod

were! She is more daughter to this family than you could ever hope to be!" His words were poison, twisting the knife deeper into

very instance of Brenda's calculated cruelty. The porcelain doll she "accidentally" broke, blaming me. The forged diary entries "confessing" to her imaginary torments. T

nce, always defending me, always believing me. Always. Until thre

ection, in his love. I had believed he would always be my safe harbor. N

" he said, his voice laced with a st

one knee, a velvet box in his hand, his eyes shining with adoration. "Marry me, Charlotte. I promise

ce as cold as ice. "Apologize to Brenda. Publicly

da' s, a grotesque symbol of their twisted alli

will not beg for what is rightfully mine." My eyes, burning with a new, fier

money?! Fine! Have your damn money! But know this, Charlotte Grav

with tension. Chandler' s eyes, dark and menacing, bored into mine. "Do y

r of something in his, a moment of confusion, of desperate d

mask of tearful distress, and flung herself at my feet. "Oh, Charlotte! I'm so sorry! I never meant for any o

, wailing descent. Halfway down, she stumbled, a theatr

his hands trembling as he cradled her head. A widening crimson stain b

ce was a choked gasp, a desperate

an unholy wrath. "You! You did this! You pu

e Graves! And God help you, Charlotte, if Brenda and our child don't make it