Seeds of Fury: The Discarded Wife's Rise

lute felt col

smile too wide, too bright under

, dripping with Southern sweetness, carried acr

th the drink. "A little something to mark the occasion. My grad

ne. I'd heard

k, silver dress. Victoria Vance, his Ivy League "ideal." He

xpensive shoes, the ba

t. I took a sip. Sweet, fruity, with a

r had spoken of. Her letter, locked

envelope. D

, then hot, washed throu

li

freedom, sharp

my belly, dou

oom t

mother, a woman whose smile never reached her e

r arm linked with Victoria's now. They look

time. I felt a sickening w

the cheap fabric of the dress Ethan

s mother hissed, stepping back.

ace a mask of irritation. "Elara, what's wro

s for the scen

People were staring, whispering, movin

a pen at me. "You've held onto him long enough. Yo

ook as I t

arms during a Louisiana winter, too scared to even si

oice raspy. "Who taugh

ething that might have been fear, then harden

lines from an old etiquet

dn't be he

you better," I manage

out by a few whispers f

a crimson trail on

ther's worn book of Cajun remedies was torn, its dried herbs scattered. On the bathroom mirror, scrawl

the pristine, untou

. Chloe must have found

amiliar cursive. "Ma chère petite

shed for years

ten years wer

nothing but what I could carry an

en less. Just myself.