Beyond Betrayal: A Second Chance At Vengeance

' s lines. I sat at the head table, a glass of water in my hand instead of champagne, and I watched. I

. She clutched it, not like a fashion accessory, but like a talisman. I knew what was inside. A small, intricately carved wooden charm, a gift from Derek, she had told me. An "ancient good luck charm."

ed, raising his glass. "May their union

was as loud as a gunshot. I saw Mrs. Peterson, a woman whose face was a testament to expensive cosmetic procedures, give her husban

aiming he wanted to say a few words. He

fish grin on his face. "And I' ve never seen her hap

g in the air. The guests chuckled,

s an admirable thing. But dreams don' t pay the bills, do they? It' s a good thing he found Chloe. A very

cruel, condescending mockery. In my past life, I had felt my fa

d gave him a small, slow nod, as if to say, 'Thank you.' My complete lack of reaction seemed to bother him more than a

Mr. Peterson tapped his glass for att

hen significant assets are involved on one side," he gestured vaguely to indicate his own family's wealth,

ckening clarity. I had been so eager to please, so desperate for their approv

d it up and read i

any and all of my future creative works, inventions, and business ventures. It stipulated that any income I generated would be managed by their financi

re-nup," I said, my voice neutral. I looked up at Mr.

"Darling, it's just lawyer stuff. You know how they are. I

had soothed my tiny, flickering doubts. A painful echo

. And then I saw it. Something I had never noticed before. The cufflink on his right sleeve wasn't just

od ran

bol carved into the woode

family being greedy. This was a conspiracy between them and Derek Stone. They we

of nausea. I needed to get

t back on the table, next t

ding up. "All this excitement... I feel a bit over

er. "Ethan, what' s wron

I said with a disarming s

could feel their eyes on me, Chloe's confused and annoyed, Mr

, past the confused-looking staff, and out the massive front doors. I

an was unfolding perfectly. But I had the one thing they couldn't acco