ManyWriters

To take the fall for my childhood sweetheart, I served five years in prison.
The man who promised to marry me was rolling around with his agent on the day I got out.
He said, "Freesia, don't be so dirty-minded. Men and women can have purely platonic friendships too."
This same man, who spoke so self-righteously, violently choked me and called me a slut when he saw Carlisle bandaging me up.

Childhood Sweetheart Pays For Childhood Sweetheart

"Terminate the contract with Ms. Astor, cut off all contact, never cooperate again!"


Each word fell like a hammer blow, each syllable piercing straight to the heart.


His words from the past had all been torn apart into a bottomless abyss of hell, waiting for me to take one step in and fall forever.


Everyone around was looking up at this live interview broadcast, their ears absorbing every word.


"So much for childhood sweethearts, she's nothing but a female con artist after all."


"That woman is truly disgusting, taking advantage of Brother Zachary's kindness, even dragging him down with her."


"She'll get what's coming to her, surely she'll face retribution."


The plastic bag in my hand suddenly went slack, its contents scattering across the ground, drawing no small amount of attention.


I felt my scalp tingle as I took one step back after another, fleeing from the crowd, from Zachary on the display screen, from everything.


Chapter 6