Trauma-Made Queen

owerful and wealthy Cole Group. He had been everything she had ever dreamed of-handsome, charismatic, and surprisingly grounded for someone who grew up with the weight of billion

ad been there for him through it all, supporting him like she never thought she could support anyone. The doctors gave Brian a grim prognosis: without a kidney transplant,

wn kidneys. It was a gesture of love, of devotion, and, at the time, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. Brian had protested at fi

ove. However, as she stood by his bedside in the sterile, white-lit hospital room, Abbie couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted. It was almost as if Brian's gratitude had

ft only gre

bbie had been excited about the meeting, imagining that this was a step toward solidifying her place in Brian's li

was nervous but excited as they drove to the Cole family estate, a sprawling mansion that had more rooms than she cared to c

her eyes, and Abbie couldn't help but feel like she was being sized up, measured, and found lacking. Still, she smiled back, determined to make a good impression.

rother's life," Jenny said, pulling back to l

ouldn't call it amazing..

re excusing herself to the kitchen, leaving the two younger women and Brian to chat. Jenny, ever the talkative one, began asking questions about Abbie's l

r. Abbie couldn't quite put her finger

when necessary, and Brian seemed distant, as though his mind was elsewhere. Jenny kept the conversation go

was served that the trut

's with a knowing look before she slipped out of the room. B

id softly, her tone oddly c

down, his gaze fixed on his m

" Judith i

omen's eyes on her, but it was Brian's gaze that she felt the most. There was something there-something that made her uneasy.

ithdrawn than before. The conversation was brief and st

ng her something was off. She thought back to the way Jenny had looked at her-the way her words had seemed to carry hidden me

had gotten from his family. She needed answers. After all, she had given him a

of whiskey in his hand. He looked more tense than usual, but he smil

d softly. "Wh

er voice trembling slightly. "About last night... yo

esembled guilt-or maybe it was something darker. He set his glas

could tell by the way his jaw tightened tha

ere's something... I don't know. It feels like they wer

clearly struggling with his words

she asked, her heart rac

Abbie turned, her heart leaping into her th

r hands trembling. Abbie's stomach dropped as Jenny whispered,

lized that nothing was as it appeared. The betrayal had

with wide eyes, the words barely leaving her

t... with Br

d Abbie's world began to