Abandon Deadly Betrayal, Embrace New Life

n the floor with one hand, her face twisted in a vicious sna

ate cry and twisted, sinking his t

y completely gone. She grabbed the cat by the scruff of his neck and s

n Charlotte's chest. She burst int

tumbling backward. Charlotte scooped up Marmalade, who was t

shaking with fury. She looked at the whimpe

ld, mocking laugh. "He's mine now. Franklin gav

tte whispered, clutchi

f coalesced into a single, kinetic burst of fury. She swung her hand and

his waist. He took in the scene in an instant: Charlotte standing over a crying

And the cat... the cat bit me again! Look!" She held up her wr

elled, her voice raw. "I saw her!

trying to feed him, and he just went

on Hayley' s wrist, then at Charlotte' s furious expression.

Hayley, wrapping a protective arm around her. "This animal is a menace." He turned to a bodygua

do?" Charlotte asked, h

" Franklin said, his voice flat and final. "A quic

desperation. She clutched Marmalade to her ches

snapped, his patience gone. "It's an animal! Ha

cked away, shielding Marmalade with her body

nds closing around Charlotte's arms. She fought, kicked, and screamed, b

nal, heartbreaking cry

ing to her knees, her strength gone. "P

le mask. "This is for your own good, Charlotte.

ran after him, her bare feet slapping against the cold marble floor. She saw

on the car window as it started to

t, her lungs burning, tears blurring her vision. She ran until her legs

into the night. "I hate you," she whispered to the empty roa

for the second time in as many weeks, she lost consciousness in the wake of his cruelty. Her heart, already bro