His Last Betrayal, Her New Beginning

zing. Mark tried calling from jail, his number showing up as a blocked ID. I ignored it every

worry. "Mark called. He said he made a bad investment and needs you

d spin any lie and make it sound plaus

but firm. "Mark didn't make a bad invest

h on the other end. "What? No, th

sed the money to buy a diamond neckla

to process the information, her matern

re you sure? Maybe there's

for themselves. But I couldn't have them getting in my way, tryi

ation. A month-long cruise to Alaska. It leaves tomorrow. My treat. Pl

k's influence. It was also a way of repaying their past kindness to me, a final gesture before I cut

longings, and put them in storage. I stayed with a friend, Jessica, who

riend's birthday party, insisting I needed to get out of the house. I didn't want

nversation louder. I was nursing a glass of sparkling water when I

a

them was what chilled me. It wasn't just anger or confusion. It was pure, unadulterated hatred. A hatred so deep and pers

st have mortgaged their house. He was financially ruined, publicly shamed, and he was looking at me as if I was the sole author o

Could he re

terrifying thought, a com

like a predator. They landed on me, and she marched

ing through the party chatter. The music see

artless

, close enough that I could smel

arrested! He was in jail, and you, his f

hing us from across the room. His expression wasn't one of embarrassment or annoyance

ceiving from him for thirty years.

't cause me pain. It was just... confirmation. It solidified my

t a step further, grabbing my ar

, and you didn't even answer his c

I saw it then. This was a performance. A calculated move to paint me as the villain, to use public

to pay for th

nicured hand on my arm. Then I met

ut carrying in the sudden lull. "He was in jail beca

d it to buy you a necklace, Brittany. So don't y

ent comple