Shattered Bonds: The Ruthless Heiress Returns

ned

A folder slammed onto the bedside table with a thud, the plast

death in a filthy alley, her breath freezing in the air. She could

e her head was not a

ofing panels have a perfe

nd despair. It was the smell

ned, forming a painful knot. She wasn't dead. She wa

gnized t

gnized t

the world

ne month left before the

bove her, wearing an impatient mask. Her thin lips were pres

Form. The handwriting was blu

the agreement, and in the e

e stood at the foot of the bed, his arm

, the kind he always used before making demands

made her stoma

d they wanted to ta

er vulnerable and helpless when heat waves hit and the

. Fever, weakness-her body was completely ro

se of this. Be

eped deep into her chest. It dispelled fear

N

throat parched from long silence. It was soft, bu

genuinely shocked, her carefully constructed mask of fa

came

ade Elena's teeth ache. "After all we've done for you! You ungrateful

immed, a practiced performance of grief. She grasped Elena's hand. Her g

rse from feigned tears. "Think of Brandy. She

culously made-up, sorrowful f

last food. Brenda's hand snatched it away. As Elena collapsed

ght began to take root in

hand away from

m and landed on the nurse cal

voice now a little stronger. "I

exchanged a glance, a hint of annoyance mixed with someth

her tone shifting to casual conversation. "If you don't sign

this. Then, when her parents, Robert and Helen,

me tag that read Reynolds, entered th

you," Elena said, her eyes fi

na's gaze quickly fell on the small medical tray on the bedside table. A

r elbow. The scissors slipped from the tray and fell silently in

to bring her here. This body was no longer the ravaged, emaciated form of her former life.

cup. The cold plastic felt s

e rim of her glass to meet Dale's. "The one you booked for them. I

ished. His eyes widened in genui

wondering h

ed her parents

lipping away, charged forward again. S

hissed, grabbing Elena's wrist. Her finge

ear instantly coursed through Elena's body. The feeling of being sho

t it hap

ever com

ore surged through her limbs. It

it a sudd

ted life and all the anger of her sto

ipped over her own foot, and fell hea

le

at Elena, who was now sitting even straighter, the blanket concealing the sc

ce was gone. Looking bac

oice low and menacing. "You little bitch. You'll regret this. I'll

r past life, she had dreamed of water. She had begged for water. She had f

eptible nod, her gaze flicking towards

the scissors

ed, struggling to her feet. "I'

d not wa

re it in half. Then she tore it into four pieces. The sound of

to sign? Ke