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621,345	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":620806}'	No	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	379314961589930	New Diabetic Nerve Pain Treatment Options!	New Diabetic Nerve Pain Treatment Options! People with Prickling/tingling, burning, numbness, poor balance, restless legs, sharp electrical pains, or muscle cramping may have Diabetic Nerve Damage. 𝐓𝐚𝐩 [𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞] 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐍𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠…	LEARN_MORE	http://fb.me/	100142465944418	Integrity Spine and Wellness	https://facebook.com/IntegritySpineATL	202	1	778,885,050,414,706	2024-03-19 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	Learn More	Integrity Spine and Wellness	120207148640160617	fb.me	NONE	dco		http://fb.me/	2024-03-18 08:09	https://scontent.fphx1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433783115_396874526437283_1595498629987213237_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SI2imfBL6C8AX-BRJ0C&_nc_ht=scontent.fphx1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBSKr3KIv9mnoqnhjohzbIV3cf-kWhw_xIQe47os-4e6Q&oe=65FF3B8C	person_profile	Integrity Spine and Wellness	https://scontent.fphx1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433273914_1342875907103065_1198332477047011355_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iJP-vhShIUQAX_thxgq&_nc_ht=scontent.fphx1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDDJpgb4TX6dBHdt_IjBxL8zI_H2b-6_o7Z7ePCVa87cg&oe=65FF7527	3	Integrity Spine and Wellness	2024-03-18 02:00	View Edit Delete
622,007	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":620991}'	No	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	1135576314543071	Healthy Sugar Levels	Why would you pay $100s to big pharma when you can control your blood sugar naturally? ✅ Stabilize blood sugar naturally ✅ Eat the foods you love ✅ Save money on expensive meds ✅ Start losing pounds ✅ Regain Control	WATCH_MORE	https://cinnachroma.com/ptn/fb/102	100907449346918	Healthy Ensure	https://facebook.com/100083339900942	324	12	2,761,689,700,651,448	2024-03-17 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	Watch more	Healthy Ensure	120208517103340012	cinnachroma.com	NONE	video		https://cinnachroma.com/ptn/fb/102	2024-03-17 03:16	https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432042194_7432208406873598_8990570707733110312_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gQuDX51H7PwAX-4GlC_&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDzLee4n9aRGR8YGz-h9OkT7aNvrwrg8W2tPdG5J2WCug&oe=65FEE586	person_profile	Healthy Ensure	https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432056960_649474153947815_7831206552321637947_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=h8v1GP9nm00AX-qt8E5&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAhtcWw9nw-WJu_I9umlYihUZctlelUn-Mx6AjHTb637w&oe=66001375	3	Healthy Ensure	2024-03-17 02:00	View Edit Delete
621,596	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	1470192813877681	Read the full version now. >>>	💔💔💔The day Grace was released from prison, two men were waiting for her. One of them sent her to prison, and the other one convicted her.<br /> <br /> The snow was very heavy that day. They looked like two snowmen waiting outside the prison.<br /> <br /> Grace vowed in her heart, she’d make everyone pay the price for putting her there.<br /> <br /> "Get yourself a job and be a good person out there."<br /> <br /> That’s what the warden said to Grace as he opened the gate and set her free. <br /> <br /> Grace nodded. Through the iron bar on the prison window, she could see two black cars parked out of the gate. Waiting for her. <br /> <br /> One of them was Grace’s ex-boyfriend, and the other one was her childhood best friend.<br /> <br /> In front of them, two men from her past… Jacob and Sean.<br /> <br /> The two men stood quietly in front of their cars, snow falling gently from above<br /> <br /> Sean held a black umbrella and stared at the gate as it slowly opened. Jacob kept looking at his watch.<br /> <br /> They looked exactly as they did the day she went to prison. Tall, handsome, strong. If they hadn't sent Grace to prison and told the other inmates to “take good care” of her, maybe she’d run into their arms. <br /> <br /> Three years ago, Grace went to confront the richest girl in town Lily Atkinson for her cruelty, and her sister Jennifer was also there. In an unfortunate turn of events, Jennifer died in a car wreck. Although it was a terrible accident, everyone put the blame solely on Grace. <br /> <br /> Lily dragged her sister’s lifeless body out of the burning car and called the police. Sean arrived soon after. <br /> <br /> Lily sat on the ground and cried out, "Sean, your girlfriend killed my sister!"<br /> <br /> Sean's first reaction was to push Grace down onto the ground in case she ran away.<br /> <br /> But Grace was already hurt from her own injuries in the accident, and she was too weak to resist. What’s more… she was pregnant with Sean’s baby. <br /> <br /> Then Jacob rushed over, his eyes bloodshot as he questioned Grace, still laying on the ground. “Grace… how could you do this?” <br /> <br /> She couldn’t believe it. The two most important men in her, now thought she was an evil monster. She didn’t get the chance to explain the truth before the police took her away in handcuffs.<br /> <br /> Her heart took yet another blow when she walked into court and saw Jacob on Lily’s side, serving as her lawyer. <br /> <br /> Jacob argued to the court that everything was Grace’s fault. And they believed him. She was convicted of reckless driving and involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to three years of imprisonment.<br /> <br /> After the judge announced her sentence, he walked past her and said, "Grace, you deserve this. Everyone has to pay for their mistakes."<br /> <br /> Once in prison, she quickly realized that life behind bars was going to be brutal. She was beaten by other inmates in places cameras couldn’t see so the guards never interfered. Her cell mates would grab her by the hair and shove her into toilets. She had bruises and cuts all the time. But she was stubborn, and never cried. That only made them beat her harder.<br /> <br /> One night, they even broke the bones in her fingers, one by one. She felt helpless and alone, with no one to turn to for help.<br /> <br /> At first, Grace didn't know why she was targeted. But after a while, she discovered the real reason. Grace sucked up to one of the female guards in prison, washing her feet, giving her massages, and even doing her laundry. Finally, she gained her trust, and she told Grace the truth. <br /> <br /> "You poor little thing… Someone paid us to beat you.” <br /> <br /> Grace knew immediately who was responsible.<br /> <br /> The man who she loved. The man who she thought would never betray her. The man who swore that he would always protect her. <br /> <br /> Sean Stevens. <br /> <br /> She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw their cars outside the gates. Grace begged the warden to let her leave from the back entrance. She couldn’t bear to see their faces. <br /> <br /> What if they still hated her? What if they wanted to hurt her even more?<br /> <br /> To them, I’m nothing. I can’t fight back against them. Grace thought to herself. <br /> <br /> Grace remembered her confrontation with Lily Atkinson. Lily stood in front of Grace while holding her dog and shouted, "Did you know? My dog is worth 70,000 dollars. Bet that’s more than your grandfather’s life is worth."<br /> <br /> Grace was three when her mother died, and her father remarried and abandoned her. After that, her grandfather raised her all by himself. <br /> <br /> He worked night and day collecting junk, just to get enough pennies scrap by. <br /> <br /> When Grace was in junior high, they moved to the city from the countryside and lived in a small rental apartment. Her grandfather told her that they could make more money in the city because there was more junk to collect. <br /> <br /> But Grace knew the true reason why her grandfather wanted her to go to school there.<br /> <br /> The girls in the city had shiny hairpins, and Grace wanted them too.<br /> <br /> Grace’s grandfather once stood outside a small jewelry store for hours, before finally going inside to buy a shiny new hairpin for Grace. He wanted her to fit in, and be just like every other girl.<br /> <br /> The school she attended offered financial aid to students from lower-class families. Grace’s teacher Mrs. Green helped her apply for it. That’s when Grace met Jacob, Mrs. Green’s son. The two became fast friends. <br /> <br /> Jacob had the best scores at school, and he occasionally helped Grace with her studies. Because of him, her grades quickly improved.<br /> <br /> Grace’s grandfather was very grateful to Mrs. Green for helping his granddaughter. He had no money to repay her, so he offered to help tend her garden. <br /> <br /> Mrs. Green lived in a small cottage. After school every day, Grace’s grandfather tended the garden while Jacob and Grace did their homework and played in the yard. <br /> <br /> Once, Mrs. Green joked to Grace’s grandfather, "Your granddaughter is so sweet and adorable. Maybe she and Jacob will make a cute couple someday."<br /> <br /> He rubbed his hands nervously and said, "We’d be lucky to have Jacob with us. He’s a gifted boy."<br /> <br /> Jacob blushed deep red, but he kept his head down and pretended not to hear. <br /> <br /> Later, Grace was accepted by a top university, and her grandfather returned to the countryside. He didn't let Grace go back with him, but sometimes she would visit secretly. <br /> <br /> That’s when Grace saw him begging friends for money to cover her college tuition. <br /> <br /> Her grandfather always did his best to give her everything. She vowed in her heart that she would grow up to be a rich lawyer, so he would never have to work again. <br /> <br /> He was the best grandfather that anyone could have asked for, but then… he died.<br /> <br /> The year after graduating from law school, Grace started dating Sean Stevens. His family was rich and powerful, a well-known name. Suddenly, her father wanted to be in her life again. <br /> <br /> The day she took Sean to meet her grandfather, he said to her, "He is a good man. You should keep him."<br /> <br /> He held her hand and patted it. "Now that you’re with a rich man, you need to look the part. Wear beautiful clothes and jewels. Otherwise, his family will look down on you.."<br /> <br /> Afterwards, her grandfather continued to collect junk to make money behind her back. Grace told him not to, many times. He was getting too old, and she was worried about his health. But it wouldn’t be poor health that took him away…<br /> <br /> It was winter, three years ago. He was tackled by an unleashed dog in the park when he was collecting junk.<br /> <br /> He fell headfirst on the concrete, blood spilling everywhere.<br /> <br /> Grace would later find out; it was Lily's dog. The one she said was worth 70,000 dollars.<br /> <br /> Her grandfather was rushed to the hospital, but the damage was already done. He became paralyzed. <br /> <br /> Grace owed a lot of money to the hospital, so she went to Lily for compensation. It was her dog after all. <br /> <br /> Lily stood in front of Grace and said arrogantly, "You are Sean’s girlfriend? What, you didn't get money from him, so you came crawling to me?" <br /> <br /> Everyone knew Lily had always liked Sean. But he chose Grace over her, and she hated her for it. <br /> <br /> "My dog's leg is broken because of your idiot grandfather, I should be the one asking you for money!" She sneered down her nose, and said, "You and your grandpa are just a bunch of country bumpkins. You’re both worthless!"<br /> <br /> Grace couldn’t hold back the rage inside her. She slapped Lily across the face. <br /> <br /> The two started to fight, pulling and clawing at each other. Jennifer, Lily’s sister, saw this and came to help. <br /> <br /> By this point, Grace was already pregnant, too weak to fight them off both, so she ran to her car to drive away. Jennifer and Lily chased after her in their fancy convertible. The car chase was too fast, and it spun out of control. That’s when the accident happened. <br /> <br /> After her arrest, Grace didn't even try to escape. She knew she was doomed, so she cried to Sean and Jacob from across the courtroom, hoping that at least one of them could take care of her grandfather.<br /> <br /> But they were on the side of Jennifer and Lily. <br /> <br /> Inside the prison, she was informed that her grandfather had been discharged from the hospital, because he couldn’t afford to stay.<br /> <br /> He was an old man, and now paralyzed. He didn’t want to be a burden to Grace anymore. A few days later, she was told he took his own life. <br /> <br /> That same day, Grace laid alone on the ice-cold ground in her cell, and lost her baby.<br /> <br /> She couldn't save her grandfather… or her baby. Her whole family was gone.<br /> <br /> Some time later, Lily went to see her in prison. <br /> <br /> She whispered to Grace, "My dog is trained. Do you really think he tackled your grandfather by accident?” <br /> <br /> Trained dogs know nothing, only to follow their owner’s orders, and his owner’s heart… was cruel. <br /> <br /> Grace had a lot of time to think while she was in prison. She blamed herself for the death of her grandfather. Lily would’ve never harmed her grandfather if she didn’t date Sean. She wasn’t a good granddaughter to him. Just a piece of garbage.<br /> <br /> If she could turn back time, she wouldn’t want any shiny hairpins or any nice dresses, and she most certainly wouldn’t want Sean Stevens. <br /> <br /> The only thing she wants… is just to have her family back. <br /> <br /> But they were all dead. <br /> <br /> Chapter 1<br /> <br /> Grace opened her eyes and woke up from her daydream with a gasp. It was another dream of everything that happened all those years ago. Or, more like a nightmare.<br /> <br /> She looked down at her calloused, misshapen hands. After three years of imprisonment, and the multiple fractures to her bones, her hands would never look or feel the same way again. <br /> <br /> They healed oddly because the prison doctors hadn’t bothered to properly reset them. Her joints looked distorted, and she still had residual pain and nerve damage. She still struggled with some more complicated movements, and her fingers ached especially when it was cold or humid outside. It was a constant reminder of her time behind bars.<br /> <br /> Grace flexed her hands and breathed deeply. <br /> <br /> It’s okay. You’re okay. <br /> <br /> Today is a new day. <br /> <br /> She repeated the mantra as she stood up and resumed working. <br /> <br /> Sometimes, the memories were too much for her. <br /> <br /> She’d lost more than just her freedom in that accident. Her future. Her boyfriend. Her grandpa. Everyone and everything she’d cared about was gone in an instant. <br /> <br /> Jennifer Atkinson was the daughter of one of the most powerful families in the country. She was even engaged to Jason Reed—the richest man in the city. <br /> <br /> It’s okay. You’re okay. <br /> <br /> Today is a new day. <br /> <br /> You don’t need anybody.<br /> <br /> Grace finished mopping the cafeteria, wiping the sweat off her forehead.<br /> <br /> She caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror on the wall. She wore the bright-colored work suit of a janitor, her long hair tied into a simple ponytail. Her delicate face was slightly reddish due to the cold weather, and her mouth was pressed into a thin line. <br /> <br /> If you were to only look at her face, you’d think she had just graduated from college. But the glow of youth and innocence was gone. She’d seen how cruel the world could be. <br /> <br /> The eyes that stared back at her were old, far older, and duller than they used to be.<br /> <br /> She sighed and rolled her cleaning cart toward the exit. <br /> <br /> With an eye on the time, she moved quickly and efficiently to clean the rest of the building. <br /> <br /> The life of a janitor wasn’t glamorous, but after she left prison this was the only job she could find. <br /> <br /> As she packed her things to leave, she heard two people watching the news on their phones.<br /> <br /> “Did you hear? Lily Atkinson is engaged to Sean Stevens!” <br /> <br /> “God, she’s so lucky! She’s basically a superstar and rich already, , now she is going to marry into the even wealthier Stevens family."<br /> <br /> Grace shuddered, and then she hurried out of the office building.<br /> <br /> She took a deep breath, and repeated her mantra again, pushed the thoughts of her ex-boyfriend and his new fiancée far from her mind.<br /> <br /> This time of year, the cold winter wind blew harshly, sending pain through her hands. <br /> <br /> She had forgotten to grab her coat on her way out, too fixated on escaping any more ‘good news’ about the happy couple that made her life hell.<br /> <br /> Suddenly, a Ferrari stopped in front of her. Three men and a woman got out of the car, all obviously drunk. <br /> <br /> One of the men looked at Grace, and through his drunken haze he recognized her. “I know you! You’re Sean’s ex-girlfriend, aren’t you?”<br /> <br /> Grace paled. The man in front of her was another trust fund baby in Sean’s social circle. She cussed out once when he made a pass at her, knowing she was dating Sean. She searched her mind for his name: Christopher Peterson.<br /> <br /> In hindsight, many of Sean’s friends were elitist creeps. She should’ve paid more attention to that. Birds of a feather do flock together. <br /> <br /> "Aren’t you supposed to be a lawyer?" He walked towards her with staggering steps. <br /> <br /> Another man stepped forward after Chris. Grace didn’t recognize him. “Hey, didn’t you know? She went to jail after killing the Atkinson girl."<br /> <br /> “Ha, look at her rags!” The woman pointed at her clothes and laughed. "She’s just a poor janitor now!”<br /> <br /> Chris stepped closer, alcohol on his breath. “Pretty girl like you… There are better ways for you to make money. You should come with me tonight. Beats sweeping the streets." <br /> <br /> He held out his big, fat hand and the other three burst into laughter.<br /> <br /> But Chris wasn’t asking permission; he was already moving in on Grace. She flinched away from his hand, but there was a building right behind her and he was blocking her exits. He grabbed her arms and pressed her against the wall.<br /> <br /> It was late at night, and no one passed by this part of the city. <br /> <br /> She screamed but she knew there was nothing left inside the building who could hear.<br /> <br /> Chris’ friends got back into the car. They didn’t care what he did to her. <br /> <br /> She tried struggling and pushing against his chest. He got angry, and knocked her head back against the wall, dimming her vision. <br /> <br /> He wrapped a hand around her throat and tightened, while she clawed at his arm. “L-let me go…”<br /> <br /> Grace kicked out hard, kneeing him in the crotch. <br /> <br /> He growled in pain, then backhanded her so hard her ears started ringing. <br /> <br /> When she kicked again, he jumped backward, and it was just the chance she needed. Grace slipped from his arms and took off running. <br /> <br /> Christopher blocked the way back into her building, so she had no choice but to run down the street. <br /> <br /> Construction on the road limited the traffic and the late hour ensured there was no one to help her—or to hear her scream.<br /> <br /> She heard the sound of a car engine starting and tires screeching, and she knew he hadn’t abandoned the chase. She stuck to the sidewalk thinking she could evade them, but when she turned down a side street, the car jumped the curb and followed. <br /> <br /> When she came out the other side and circled back down the next street, thinking she could run back to the office for safety, the car cut around her and clipped her, sending her to the ground. <br /> <br /> She collapsed and struggled to lift her head off the pavement. <br /> <br /> Chris leapt out of the car. His two friends fanned out on either side. She could only make out their shadows, headlights blinding her. <br /> <br /> She scrambled to stand as Chris shook his head at Grace. “You didn’t think I'd forget the way you insulted me, did you? You told Sean what I did to you, and it cost my family millions!”<br /> <br /> He advanced on her like a predator. “But Sean isn’t here to protect you anymore...” <br /> <br /> Grace finally got back on her feet, but she was slow, still disoriented. <br /> <br /> When Christopher lunged, her body couldn’t react quick enough, and he pinned her to the concrete. <br /> <br /> “Stop! Let go!” Grace cried on the top of her lungs. <br /> <br /> “I think you should listen to the lady.” A cold voice said from behind them. <br /> <br /> Chris froze. Grace turned her head to the man standing beside them. She didn’t know where he came from. <br /> <br /> “Mind your own business!” Chris told him. He wasn’t scared of the man. It was three against one. <br /> <br /> Grace whimpered. She had no reason to think this newcomer would risk himself for some stranger on the street. And if he did, she had no doubt he would lose…<br /> <br /> Terrence Klein shifted in the driver’s seat and considered his options. <br /> <br /> His boss, Jason, had approached the scene near the sports car in the middle of the road. A woman on the ground and the three men above her. <br /> <br /> He glanced around, gauging if there were any traffic cameras on this deserted stretch of road or if there were any other bystanders who might witness Jason committing a crime. <br /> <br /> Terrence had seen his boss lose it before. He only hoped he wouldn’t go too far.<br /> <br /> But he knew Jason, and what he was capable of. <br /> <br /> This was going to be bloody. <br /> <br /> Jason wanted to be alone tonight. But these goons with the ferrari had disturbed his peace. And by the looks of it, they were tormenting an innocent woman.<br /> <br /> Every year on this day, Jason always closed this whole road and drove along it by himself, wearing his old clothes from his younger days.<br /> <br /> No one dared to ask him for his reasons.<br /> <br /> Even Terrence, who had worked for Jason all these years, didn't know the reason why. <br /> <br /> But he never questioned his boss. Not even now, as he watched Jason lift a heavyset man with ease and slam his head against the wall over and over.<br /> <br /> He got out of the car.<br /> <br /> Beating up some thugs was one thing. Killing them… that wouldn’t be so easy to overlook. Or clean up.<br /> <br /> And the men on this road were driving a Ferrari, and wore designer clothes and watches. Which meant they weren’t ordinary street thugs. They had money.<br /> <br /> He saw his boss pull the man on the ground off the woman and began punching him over and over, until his face was twisted and bloody. He started toward Jason and then paused when just as suddenly, his boss stopped his attacks… Because the woman on the ground told him to.<br /> <br /> “Stop. Please.” Grace touched the stranger’s arm. "He’s had enough. If you keep doing this, he’ll die."<br /> <br /> "So?" the man said. But despite his protests, he let Chris go, who slid down the wall. <br /> <br /> Grace was stunned. It wasn't until this moment that she really was able to see the man clearly.<br /> <br /> He was handsome. With dark eyes and a strong jaw. Full lips and a strong body. <br /> <br /> His hair was longer on top and just slightly messy in the most perfect way. <br /> <br /> When Chrisgot to his feet, the man took a menacing step toward him.<br /> <br /> “Don’t,” she said. “He isn’t worth it.”<br /> <br /> The man’s dark eyes returned to her. He had killing intent in them, as if these people's lives meant nothing. <br /> <br /> Grace took a deep breath. "It’s not worth being imprisoned for a lowlife like him."<br /> <br /> The man didn’t move or say a word, but she sensed him relaxing. <br /> <br /> Chris ran to grab his injured friends and get back into his car. “You’ll pay for this!” he screamed.<br /> <br /> Grace didn’t know if he was addressing her, the stranger, or maybe both. <br /> <br /> But she wasn’t scared. There wasn’t much he could do that she hadn’t already experienced in prison. <br /> <br /> The woman who’d been with these bastards stuck her head out of the car. “Wait… I think I’ve seen that guy at a party before…”<br /> <br /> The other three men looked at her like she was insane. One asked, “Are you crazy? That’s just a random homeless guy."<br /> <br /> Grace understood their confusion. <br /> <br /> The man—her savior—wore old ragged clothes. He looked… as broken as she did. <br /> <br /> This was not a rich person like them . His jacket was threadbare, and his face looked haunted by his past.<br /> <br /> Chris peeled out with his buddies. Grace watched the car as it disappeared down the street. When the road was once again quiet, she looked back at the man. <br /> <br /> She hesitantly said, "Thank you… for saving me back there."<br /> <br /> He grunted in response. <br /> <br /> He walked across to the other side of the road, he sat down with his back against a brick wall.<br /> <br /> It was cold and windy. And the temperature was due to drop even lower. If this man had nowhere to stay, he’d freeze to death out here.<br /> <br /> Grace started walking over to him. He’d saved her life. She couldn’t leave him here alone.<br /> <br /> “Hey, it’s pretty late. Aren’t you going home now?” She crouched down to him. “Where is your family? Do you have their phone number? I can help you call them and ask them to pick you up.”<br /> <br /> He slowly raised his head and Grace saw… pure darkness.<br /> <br /> It was the same darkness she’d seen in her own eyes too many times. <br /> <br /> The kind of darkness that spoke of nothing to live for. No hope. <br /> <br /> "If you have nowhere to stay," she said softly. “You can come with me.”<br /> <br /> Grace did not expect to bring a stranger back to her apartment. She wasn’t impulsive by nature, and she certainly hadn’t dated anyone or even considered hooking up with a man since being released, especially after her experience with Sean.<br /> <br /> But this man had saved her from a horrendous situation. She shuddered at the thought of what could’ve happened if he wasn't there. <br /> <br /> Those men, the three of them were soulless… and how could that woman watch on while she was beat up? As an attorney, she would’ve fought hard to see all of them in prison for their crimes or complacency in it. But life had taught her that the innocent rarely prevailed. <br /> <br /> And life was never fair. <br /> <br /> So why bring this man home?<br /> <br /> Perhaps she wasn’t ready to concede just yet. <br /> <br /> Her apartment was small, just one room with a small kitchen and bathroom. She grabbed a blanket from the closet and laid it on the floor. She took her pillow and placed it on the floor.<br /> <br /> “The bathroom is just through there,” she said.<br /> <br /> He walked in and closed the door behind him. The water kicked on a moment later. <br /> <br /> When the man came out of the bathroom, his hair was wet. He had washed his hair and face. His sleeves were rolled up.<br /> <br /> Looking at the man's wet hair, Grace fetched a towel and said, "Bend over, please."<br /> <br /> The man eyed her suspiciously.<br /> <br /> "I just want to help you dry your hair with a towel," she said. "You could catch a cold."<br /> <br /> He still gazed at her, but after a few moments he asked in a deep voice, "Are you really so concerned about me?"<br /> <br /> "Yes." Grace did not avoid eye contact with him. "After bringing you to my home, I don't want you getting sick."<br /> <br /> With his eyes taking her in like she was some oddity, he slowly bent over.<br /> <br /> Toweling his wet hair, Grace asked, "What's your name?"<br /> <br /> He remained silent for a long time. "Jason," he said<br /> <br /> "Jason." She repeated his name. It was a very common name, so Grace didn’t think much about it. <br /> <br /> “My name is Grace. Where do you live? Where’s your family?"<br /> <br /> "I don't have any family," he responded.<br /> <br /> She suddenly stopped. <br /> <br /> She knew how it felt to be alone.<br /> <br /> She had people before—but they’d turned their backs on her. <br /> <br /> "Looks like we're in the same boat," she said with a bitter smile on her face as she continued to towel his hair dry.<br /> <br /> She rose and got a comb and came back to him. It felt so intimate, to touch his hair and smooth it away from his face. But this stranger—Jason—had risked his life for her. It was the least she could do.<br /> <br /> As she pushed his hair back, the true features of his face were revealed. He was a devastatingly attractive man. Strong jaw. Full mouth. Dark eyes. <br /> <br /> Eyes that were inches from hers and staring deeply into hers.<br /> <br /> “I…” she stammered, lost in his eyes. "Um… Are you hungry?”<br /> <br /> He tilted his head. “What?”<br /> <br /> She wrung her hands together. “I'll uh… make you something to eat.” <br /> <br /> Grace moved to the tiny stove and threw some instant noodles and eggs into a pot. She didn’t have any meat, but she chopped what vegetables she had and added them too.<br /> <br /> She set the tiny table and poured them both a glass of water from the sink. He moved cautiously to take a seat when she set the bowls down.<br /> <br /> "Be careful, it's quite hot," she said.<br /> <br /> She didn’t mean to treat him like a child, but his presence made her nervous. But at the same time, there was something incredibly calming about him. <br /> <br /> He lowered his head and ate his noodles quietly. Grace stared at him in silence. <br /> <br /> Normally, she’d come home and hate the feeling of being alone, confined in this tiny space. Now, the loneliness that she’d usually feel was gone. She felt somewhat… happy. <br /> <br /> After he had finished eating, Grace cleaned up his bowl and cutlery. "I usually sleep with the lights on. I hope you don't mind," she said. It was an old habit from prison. Lights made her sleep easier, when she could see who’s coming.<br /> <br /> “That’s fine," he said.<br /> <br /> Grace took her pajamas into the bathroom and shut the door to brush her teeth and change. Was it weird having a man alone beside where she’d sleep? Yeah. Probably.<br /> <br /> But she didn’t feel scared by his presence. If he’d wanted to hurt her, he wouldn’t have defended her on the street. <br /> <br /> When she got out, he was laying on the pillow on the floor. <br /> <br /> The room was silent save for the sound of the heater. If she listened hard enough, she could hear each breath he took. <br /> <br /> It was a steady rhythm, peaceful even.<br /> <br /> Grace closed her eyes and focused on sleeping. This was her routine every night, because it was almost impossible for her to relax. Even being out of jail, at night she would always dream of her time inside.<br /> <br /> She would be beaten, shamed, and abused... and every finger would burn with the pain of being broken and the nails being torn off…<br /> <br /> She’d wake up screaming, fingers curled, terrified and heart-pounding. <br /> <br /> However, oddly, that didn’t happen tonight.<br /> <br /> She wasn’t visited by her usual nightmares. She slept until sunrise.<br /> <br /> As she awakened, she rolled over to look at the figure lying on the ground beside her. Still here.<br /> <br /> Was it because of him? Because she was no longer alone?<br /> <br /> Before she even knew it, she had gotten up, squatted down, and placed her hand on his cheek. Her hand felt warm.<br /> <br /> He was real.Not something from her imagination. <br /> <br /> Last night, she really had taken a strange man into her apartment.<br /> <br /> When she came to herself, she found that he was already awake. His beautiful eyes were fixed on her.<br /> <br /> "S-Sorry." Her face heated with embarrassment. "I... I just... that... If you don't have anywhere to go, you can stay here."<br /> <br /> She spoke in a hurry, but after she had said it, she felt relieved.<br /> <br /> His eyes widened slightly.<br /> <br /> "If you don't want to, just pretend I didn't say anything," she added, biting her lip.<br /> <br /> His mouth finally opened and he spoke quietly. "Do you want me to stay?" <br /> <br /> If this had been said by a man like Chris, it would've sounded different. It would’ve sounded wrong.<br /> <br /> But when the words came from him, it was just an honest question. She didn’t read any hidden meaning or intent into his words, and even if there had been, she realized her answer would be the same. Grace pursed her lips. "Yes, I do."<br /> <br /> He stared at her, and a smile slowly formed on his lips. "Good."<br /> <br /> This was the first time she had seen him smile. Although it was very light... It was beautiful.<br /> <br /> Jason remained at the tiny table while Grace got ready for work. She left money on the table for him to buy himself some food.<br /> <br /> He sat staring at the twenty dollar bill for a long time after she was gone. The room was eerily still. <br /> <br /> None of her light vanilla scent or somewhat nervous energy to fill the space. He rolled up the quilt that he’d slept on and then washed out the coffee cup he’d used. <br /> <br /> Normally he’d be tempted to look around, maybe snoop a bit. But he didn’t want to intrude on her space.<br /> <br /> After he was done, he stepped out of the apartment. There were several people waiting for him outside. <br /> <br /> They respectfully greeted him, “Mr. Reed.”<br /> <br /> "Let's go," Jason responded faintly.<br /> <br /> A black Bentley was parked in front. Jason got into the backseat and looked at the twenty dollar bill in his hand. It had been many years since someone had given him money like this. On the contrary, for as long as he could remember, people only wanted to take money from him.<br /> <br /> Terrence met his gaze in the rearview mirror. “The woman who was with you last night is a contract janitor working cleaning offices. She started renting her current residence here a month ago, and was just released from prison two months prior."<br /> <br /> "Prison?"<br /> <br /> "Yes, her name is Grace Cummins. She's the ex-girlfriend of Sean Stevens of the Stevens family. She was convicted of manslaughter in the death of Jennifer Atkinson. She was sentenced to three years of imprisonment and had her law practice license revoked," Terrence said as he carefully observed Jason's reaction.<br /> <br /> Jason kept his face even. “Grace…” he whispered. “Well, this is interesting.”	USE_APP	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.s	107981368921916	Kiss-Fantasy Fiction	https://facebook.com/100091259960084	4,339	1	389,600,917,121,344	2024-03-18 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	1	Use app	Kiss-Fantasy Fiction	120205162875930250	play.google.com	NONE	image	Enjoy all book genres in Kiss - Read & Write Romance.	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stardust.kissreader	2024-01-29 01:32	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/423225619_923980725685884_564640052574131954_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aN5p-mEwlqMAX_cTEjK&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBfsJj3CRODZ4Vs5Tfl1y4dFDV4-0gb6_tm3_lw9su-zw&oe=65FFCBBB	person_profile	KISS: Read & Write Romance	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/423133017_390515016856139_4379796263557609984_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ctFzXASvrhUAX-CUPaa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAn5Fu85ZUkOMCRCLwDvxkLR7QYRyfGOy7tGLY3aopmOg&oe=65FEA02E	3	Kiss-Fantasy Fiction	2024-03-18 02:00	View Edit Delete
621,666	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":621654}'	No	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	781367287203764	24+ Tattoo Fails That Can't Be Unseen	These tattoo fails are legendary, and we can't unsee them no matter how hard we try	LEARN_MORE	https://parentztalk.com/shop-below-chair-ua/	104238192067446	Fox'oclock	https://facebook.com/100076064792214	2,822	1	876,342,790,928,138	2024-03-17 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	Learn more	Fox'oclock	120207809247240560	parentztalk.com	NONE	image	So, you have finally decided to do it! You have gotten your nerve up and you have found your way to the tattoo shop. You sit in the waiting room eagerly nervous to get in that chair for your very first tattoo. But wait, what are you going to get inked? You freeze for a moment rummaging through your....	https://parentztalk.com/shop-below-chair-ua/	2024-03-17 14:38	https://scontent.fbtr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433621717_431538702598354_129022513139585008_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FELiydKUBPwAX_GfQXU&_nc_ht=scontent.fbtr1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAK4mz5noaD8JIU5tuhCUJGjs9GM-TKHdcl8lc0my3aDQ&oe=65FEC127	person_profile	Fox'oclock	https://scontent.fbtr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432412552_25022223684092903_9106780785785162982_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9eO8f5WqX3wAX_r0kX5&_nc_ht=scontent.fbtr1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBnPIO6tAPquIX5GYazEOJLo-RC-UOLSbhynWckDsuPDA&oe=65FF53C2	3	Fox'oclock	2024-03-17 02:00	View Edit Delete
621,963	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":620991}'	Yes	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	1613597342786541	Healthy Sugar Levels	Why would you pay $100s to big pharma when you can control your blood sugar naturally? ✅ Stabilize blood sugar naturally ✅ Eat the foods you love ✅ Save money on expensive meds ✅ Start losing pounds ✅ Regain Control	WATCH_MORE	https://cinnachroma.com/ptn/fb/102	100907449346918	Healthy Ensure	https://facebook.com/100083339900942	324	0	948,625,609,697,215	2024-03-17 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	Watch more	Healthy Ensure	120207920157770118	cinnachroma.com	NONE	video		https://cinnachroma.com/ptn/fb/102	2024-03-17 06:07	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483503_989284089504350_5487277997325854310_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jqBD23FpNTEAX9Tds3c&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDPEoQcbrAmlO3mZ5jHhnhzdlsJVqPuzyJlZL2zQB4NEA&oe=66004470	person_profile	Healthy Ensure	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431424847_323123380744533_2690915767760017619_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WmGBjqxLtbQAX8OjoFL&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDwuiHJyTk6mkZRq7pnpfAU3h9R8U9sB7QLd1iafuUaMQ&oe=65FECA84	3	Healthy Ensure	2024-03-17 02:00	View Edit Delete
621,186	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":621889}'	Yes	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	717823287090177	Forgive Us, My Dear Sister	When she and her brother were kidnapped in the last life<br /> everyone chose to save their brothers first, and she was<br /> eventually killed by the kidnappers. This time she was born<br /> again, and none of her five brothers could escape.<br /> -------------------------------------------------------<br /> <br /> Simone Gray opened her eyes, surveyed the surroundings, and looked at the familiar room from her memories. She had indeed returned. Reaching out to grab her phone from the nightstand, she checked the date before a smile appeared in her eyes. What perfect timing.<br /> <br /> Just as she was thinking, a knocking sound echoed. She got up to open the door and saw a handsome man standing there, questioning her immediately, "I called you earlier. Why didn't you answer?"<br /> <br /> Simone replied calmly, "I didn't feel like it."<br /> <br /> Standing before her was her second brother, Titus Gray, who was also her current agent.<br /> <br /> He was momentarily stunned, visibly not expecting his sister to say that. He furrowed his brows and lectured impatiently, "Stop causing trouble, will you?"<br /> <br /> She raised an eyebrow. "Say something new. I'm tired of hearing the cliche from all of you."<br /> <br /> Since returning to the Gray Family, her mother and five brothers kept telling her not to cause trouble.<br /> <br /> Titus choked. "Is this amusing to you? Jo wants to be in that variety show. What harm would it do if you just let that happen? Must you make the whole family unhappy?"<br /> <br /> Simone looked at him coldly. "This is an opportunity I fought for myself. I won't give it up. It's your business if you're unhappy."<br /> <br /> Simone did not grow up with her family from a young age. Instead, she got lost at four when Aaron Gray, her fifth brother, took her out to play. After that, the Gray Family adopted a girl of similar age and even changed her name to Jodie Gray.<br /> <br /> A year ago, the Gray Family found Simone and brought her back home. However, they overly favored Jodie and looked down on Simone. Whenever she clashed with the adopted daughter, it was always Simone who was considered troublesome.<br /> <br /> Before entering the entertainment industry, she worked hard and used her talent to climb from an unknown to a C-list actress in just over a year. After being recognized by the family, they brought her home, asked her to terminate the contract with her original company, and transferred her to the entertainment company owned by the Gray Family. In the meantime, Titus became her agent.<br /> <br /> Jodie, who originally studied music, suddenly wanted a part in the entertainment industry. She also joined the company and was mentored by Titus. In the past year, she received all the good resources, directly jumping from an unknown to a C-list actress.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, the resources Titus provided Simone were the ones that Jodie rejected. Last month, she saved the wife of a director and gained a spot as a guest on a highly anticipated new variety show before it even aired.<br /> <br /> Similarly, Jodie showed interest in the show and expressed her desire to join. However, the guests were already confirmed, and it was not easy for someone of Jodie's popularity to be added under special circumstances. Hence, Titus and the family suggested that Simone give up her spot to Jodie.<br /> <br /> She knew that Jodie intentionally wanted to snatch her opportunity, so she refused and was then condemned by her entire family. Last night, she insisted on not giving up her spot and returned to her room after arguing with them.<br /> <br /> Titus had appeared now because Jodie had not given up and pretended to be pitiful in front of him; that was why he came to her again. He took a deep breath. "I'll find you a better opportunity. Just give this up for Jo."<br /> <br /> Simone sneered. "I don’t care about your better opportunity. Just give it to your beloved Jodie." She did not want to waste any more words with Titus and simply shut the door.<br /> <br /> His eyes showed some disbelief when he looked at the closed door. That was the first time Simone had shown him disrespect since returning home, his expression dark. "Simone, you're being unreasonable."<br /> <br /> He knocked on the door again, but she did not open it. Only then did he leave with a stern face. After shutting the door, Simone's heart could barely stir up emotions. In her previous life, she yearned for family affection, and after being recognized, she had always tried to please the Grays.<br /> <br /> For instance, she took care of their various needs, made their meals, gave massages, accompanied them in acting and dancing, and so on. She tried to fulfill whatever tasks or requests they had, but in the end, she failed to make them love her. When she and Jodie were kidnapped, everyone chose to rescue Jodie first, and she ended up losing her life.<br /> <br /> At that moment of death, she completely lost hope and severed her ties with the Gray Family. However, she did not expect to be bound by a system that took her to various mini timelines to fulfill tasks. Upon completion, she would be rewarded with life points, and only by accumulating them could she return to this world.<br /> <br /> Simone extended her right hand and looked at her palm; her lifeline was short. It meant that she had less than a year left, only until the time of her death in her previous life.<br /> <br /> The system informed her during the unbinding process that she needed to be adored by more people to extend her life. The more people who favored her, or the more people she helped to gain popularity, the longer her life would be.<br /> <br /> It was similar to exchanging faith for life points but would not affect those who liked her. Otherwise, she would not harm others for the sake of extending her own life. Now, saving her life was crucial because she needed more time or energy to continue getting entangled with the Grays.<br /> <br /> She packed up her belongings and put them in a suitcase. Since returning to the Gray Family, everything was bought for her by the housekeeper, and she did not take anything. As such, she calculated the expenses since coming to the Gray Family and noted them down.<br /> <br /> At the same time, she took out the bank card her father gave her when she returned. Luckily, she had not used any money in it. She opened the door as she carried the suitcase and went downstairs.<br /> <br /> At that moment, everyone was in the living room. When they saw Simone with her bags, they were displeased. Salma Johnston frowned and looked at her. "What trouble are you up to this time? It's been nothing but chaos ever since you returned."<br /> <br /> Simone found it amusing. "Did I insist on returning? I remember you all came to pick me up, right? And what trouble did I cause? Jodie wanted my resources, and not giving them makes me the bad guy? If we're being clear here, aren't all of you the unreasonable ones?"<br /> <br /> Salma did not expect Simone to talk back, so her displeasure deepened. "Jo just likes that variety show. You're the young lady of the Gray Family now, while Jo has lost that status. Shouldn't you compensate her? Moreover, Titus said he'd get you a better opportunity in exchange. Why do you have to fight over it?"<br /> <br /> Luca Gray, the third brother, added, "I think you just can't stand Jo, so you deliberately target her."<br /> <br /> Andrew Gray, the fourth, impatiently said, "Simone, can't you just be good? Why do you have to cause trouble?"<br /> <br /> In her previous life, Simone might have been upset by such unfair accusations, but not anymore. Instead, she sneered and said, "You guys are truly good at blaming others for your own fault. I never knew that defending what's rightfully mine would make me the unreasonable one. First of all, I never stole anything from her in the first place. On the contrary, she replaced me and enjoyed a comfortable life in the Gray Family for years. Secondly, you need to understand that it was you who lost me back then. I don't owe her anything, and I certainly don't owe any of you either. So, what exactly do I need to compensate for?" When Salma was about to speak, Simone added, "As for the young lady of the Gray Family, she can have it. I don't really care about it."<br /> <br /> Salma was stunned for a moment, not expecting Simone to say such things. "What do you mean?"<br /> <br /> Simone replied with indifference, "I mean it literally. I am cutting off all ties with you and leaving the family. In the future, we will go back to being strangers when we meet." She added, "Your beloved adopted daughter will remain the little princess of the Grays. You don't need to worry that I will steal anything from her or try to take your love for her. I am simply making things easier for all of you."<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 Who Needs Such A Brother<br /> <br /> Simone couldn't care less about her biased parents and brothers, treating them as if they had no blood relation to her.<br /> <br /> When she was young, Aaron lost her, and human traffickers intended to sell her. Thanks to her master saving and adopting her, her life wasn't as miserable as it could have been.<br /> <br /> Her words successfully changed the expressions of the Grays. They never expected her to decide to cut ties and leave them.<br /> <br /> Jodie, leaning against Salma, glanced at Simone with a subtle expression. She looked at her while her face showed an apologetic and guilty expression. "No. The one who should leave is me. I'm sorry; I didn't mean to snatch your opportunity. I just liked that variety show, so Titus went to talk to you. I don't want to participate in that variety show anymore. You don't need to be unhappy. I don't want to anger and worry you."<br /> <br /> On the surface, she appeared guilty, but in reality, it was a strategic retreat. This way, she could distance herself from accusations of intentionally competing with Simone for resources while also showcasing her considerate and generous nature. She was playing her act in front of the Grays, subtly implying that Simone was using the threat of cutting ties and leaving the Gray Family.<br /> <br /> As expected, the family members' expressions turned unpleasant.<br /> <br /> Simone looked at Jodie and retorted without reservation, "Don't try to act innocent and pitiful in front of me with that look. I won't fall for that." She spoke her mind without holding back after completely giving up on family affection. "You say you want to leave and have been saying it for a year, but you’re still here. I've long been tired of your act of strategic retreat. Only fools would believe it." She intentionally exposed the truth. "Of course, you wouldn't actively ask me for resources. As long as you say it, they will naturally present you with whatever you want. You don't need to put on a show for them. I don't care about your thoughts since I've already stopped caring about what you guys think."<br /> <br /> These words successfully darkened the faces of the Grays.<br /> <br /> Jodie's expression changed slightly. She suppressed the anger in her heart and hugged Salma with a touch of grievance. "I'm not. Don't say such things about our family."<br /> <br /> In her heart, she wondered if Simone had gone crazy by choosing to confront her head-on and speaking so harshly. Although being rebuked by Simone left her feeling quite displeased, the fact that Simone had created such a scene today would only make everybody dislike her even more. So, she endured her sarcasm.<br /> <br /> As expected, Salma was infuriated. "What are you saying? Where are your manners?"<br /> <br /> Simone shrugged. "I was born to my parents but not raised by them. My manners have long vanished."<br /> <br /> The family was speechless. Salma looked at Simone with disappointment. "Are you still blaming us? It seems we made a mistake bringing you home. We've compensated you a lot this year. What more do you want? Why do you have to compete with Jo? Can't you just peacefully be sisters?" She emphasized. "Although you are our biological daughter, Jo has been by our side all these years in your place. In our hearts, she's an important part of the Gray Family; she's my daughter."<br /> <br /> Simone used to find these words piercing and heart-wrenching, but she truly didn't care anymore. "What did I compete for? Since I returned to the family, you two have been clinging to me. Everything I do is interpreted as vying for favor and wanting things that don't belong to me."<br /> <br /> She took the bank card from her bag and threw it onto the table in front of them. "This is the compensation you gave me, and I haven't used a single penny from it." There were 150 thousand on this card, barely the amount of Jodie's monthly allowance, but that was the compensation for Simone over the years. "I won't take away the things the housekeeper bought for me, but for the things I've used, I will pay you in cash."<br /> <br /> Then, she placed the written paper on the table. "In the year plus that I've been here, I've spent less than 15 thousand, including living expenses. Here's the list. I just transferred 15 thousand to this card. From now on, we settle our accounts."<br /> <br /> What could be solved with money was not a problem. So, on her side, she and the Grays were even, but what they owed her would be forever outstanding.<br /> <br /> Simone's actions made the Grays feel as if she were serious, rendering them somewhat embarrassed. Salma couldn't accept that her daughter, who had been obedient all those while, would do such a rebellious and disobedient thing.<br /> <br /> She slammed the table with her hand, her face full of anger. "Fine. Go ahead. But once you step out of our gate today, don't think about coming back."<br /> <br /> She believed Simone wouldn't act on it. Just as Jodie said, this was a tactic of strategic retreat by threatening them with leaving. If Simone succeeded this time, who knew how she would stir things up in the future?<br /> <br /> Salma let Simone leave, not because she wanted her to but to warn her not to cause trouble again. The others didn't speak, unanimously sharing the same thoughts.<br /> <br /> Of course, Simone knew what they were thinking. I look like I'm bluffing, don't I? "I'm leaving for good." After saying that, she grabbed her suitcase while showing no attachment and turned to leave.<br /> <br /> Seeing this, Steven Gray, her father, spoke, "Stop making a fuss. Jo won't want that variety show opportunity anymore. In the future, I'll have Titus fight for some good gigs for you."<br /> <br /> Regardless of the circumstances, she was still his biological daughter, and he couldn't let her leave just like that. Moreover, leaving home after just over a year since returning would make their family a joke in the eyes of others.<br /> <br /> Simone turned around and looked at her father indifferently. "You think I'd stay for your so-called gigs?"<br /> <br /> He frowned. "I didn't mean that. All I'm saying is that you are now part of the family, so we will naturally compensate you."<br /> <br /> She found it ridiculous. "Thank you for your compensation. For the past year, I have deeply experienced your emotional abuse, complaints, and disdain. So, I'll pass on that."<br /> <br /> Steven was taken aback as he looked at Simone, who seemed unyielding and unapproachable. "What do you want, then?" He was usually busy and had neglected his biological daughter for more than a year.<br /> <br /> She affirmed, "I want to sever ties with you. It's as simple as that. There's no need to contact each other in the future. Goodbye."<br /> <br /> He was infuriated by Simone's attitude, while the Gray brothers also appeared displeasing. Especially Aaron, who regarded her with a complex and indignant expression. "Are you still blaming me? Are you trying to make us compromise and compete for Jo's favor?"<br /> <br /> Simone stared at him icily. "Are you suggesting that I shouldn't hold you accountable? Back then, you lost track of me and allowed human traffickers to abduct me. I was almost sold off to the mountains. Should I express gratitude for losing me back then?"<br /> <br /> Aaron's face flushed and then paled. "I didn't mean to do that, and I wasn't even aware that you were almost sold off to the mountains."<br /> <br /> She raised an eyebrow. " Does saying that erase the fact that you lost me and changed the course of my life?"<br /> <br /> Upon her return to the Gray Family, he exhibited more kindness and concern compared to her four brothers and her parents, but it all seemed like an attempt to make up for his past mistakes.<br /> <br /> However, whenever she had conflicts with Jodie, he always sided with the latter. Therefore, I don't need a brother who doesn't truly love me.<br /> <br /> Chapter 3 She's Had Enough<br /> <br /> Simone's words left Aaron unsure of what to say for a moment. While he had not intended to lose her back then, he indeed caused his younger sister to be lost for many years and deprived her of the life of a wealthy young lady.<br /> <br /> She continued, "I'll repeat. I no longer care about you guys, so I have zero interest in vying for favor with Jodie."<br /> <br /> Titus scowled. "Think it over. If you sever ties with us, don't expect any resources from the company."<br /> <br /> The eldest brother, Reuben Gray, added, "We might even boycott you."<br /> <br /> They hoped that by saying this, Simone would reconsider for the sake of her future. They wanted her to know her limits and back down.<br /> <br /> However, she suddenly burst into laughter. "You speak as if you've given me a lot of resources this past year. Since I joined Gray Entertainment, the resources I received are not even close to what I used to get from that small company that often exploited me. Not only are the resources few and poor, but I've also been attacked online, where you didn't bother calling the PR. You even want to snatch away the resources I managed to secure for myself for Jodie. You truly have the nerve to use this to threaten me."<br /> <br /> At the sight of their darkened faces, she continued, "Fortunately, when I joined the company, I didn't sign any contracts, so I won't need to terminate any."<br /> <br /> At the time, Reuben and Titus had assured her they were all one family, so there was no need to bother signing contracts because they would not make her suffer any losses. Since she did not know what it would be like when she returned to the Gray Family, she agreed, thinking it would be wise to keep some leverage. As expected, she had not made a mistake in keeping her options open.<br /> <br /> Otherwise, if she wanted to terminate the contract, she would have to pay a substantial penalty. If she could not afford it, she was sure they would go as far as blacklisting her if she did not cooperate.<br /> <br /> "From today onwards, I won't serve you anymore. Do whatever you want. You didn't publicly announce my identity, so I won't have to announce it to the public either. Goodbye forever!" She turned away once again, this time briskly leaving with her suitcase. Once outside, she pressed the pause button on the recording on her phone.<br /> <br /> Upon seeing Simone's resolute departure, the Grays felt dissatisfied besides anger. Then, Salma furiously said, "She actually left. It's outrageous."<br /> <br /> Titus said with a scowling face, "Since she's so stubborn, I'll have her know that once she leaves us, she'll be and have nothing." He felt that Simone's sudden rebellion was aimed at him as he asked her to give up her spot for Jodie, angering her. Subsequently, he turned to Reuben and said, "Ben, get in touch with other entertainment companies. Tell them not to sign Simone."<br /> <br /> Reuben nodded. "All right."<br /> <br /> Faced with a once obedient sister who suddenly rebelled, he thought of giving her a taste of reality and making her understand that being willful had consequences. After seeing Reuben's agreement, Titus squinted his eyes. "No matter how independent she is, she won't go far. Soon, she'll be begging to come back."<br /> <br /> He would also inform the agents in the industry not to sign Simone.<br /> <br /> Hearing the words of her two brothers, Jodie felt a sense of joy in her heart. However, she said with a self-blaming expression, "It's all my fault for making Simone angry and leaving. Reuben, Titus, please don't do this. When she calms down, I'll apologize to her, and she'll come back." The more she said this, the more the family felt that Simone was being willful and became more resentful.<br /> <br /> Sure enough, Reuben said, "This has nothing to do with you. She just doesn't know how to be content."<br /> <br /> The other four boys in the Gray Family agreed. "Exactly. She's already obtained the status of the young lady of the Gray Family, yet she always wants to compete with you. It's unreasonable."<br /> <br /> "You don't need to apologize to her. That would spoil her."<br /> <br /> "If we don't show her some toughness, she'll continue causing trouble at home."<br /> <br /> Compared to Jodie, Simone was willful. Salma thought for a moment, patted Jodie on the shoulder, and said, "We know you're kind-hearted, so you don't need to worry about this matter. Your brothers know what to do. She'll behave when she comes back."<br /> <br /> Hearing the words of the others, Steven also felt that it made sense. If Simone could not handle the outside world, she would naturally come back and seek reconciliation. Therefore, he did not object to it.<br /> <br /> Jodie then nodded helplessly. "All right."<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Simone returned to the apartment she had rented after coming to Cebros. Even after returning to the Gray Family, she did not cancel the lease. Whenever she had conflicts with them or felt unhappy staying there, she would come and live there for a few days.<br /> <br /> After cleaning up her apartment, her phone rang. She was momentarily taken aback as a hint of mockery flashed in her eyes. It was someone she had always been unwilling to think about—her childhood sweetheart and boyfriend, Leon Foster.<br /> <br /> When she was adopted by her master, she lived next door to Leon's grandfather, and the two old gentlemen had a good relationship. Back then, when she was abused by human traffickers and dared not step out of the yard, it was Leon who held her hand and walked her out, resembling a ray of sunshine that shone into her heart.<br /> <br /> She emerged from the shadow of human traffickers and started clinging to him, someone five years older than her. When he was in high school, he was brought back to Cebros by his family. To catch up with him, she worked hard to skip grades and entered a university in Cebros. After he entered the entertainment industry for two years, she graduated from college and joined the industry as well.<br /> <br /> Upon her return to the Grays, she took the initiative to confess to Leon, who did not reject. She always thought that he treated her differently. However, in her previous life, he made her feel the pain of betrayal.<br /> <br /> In this second chance at life, she did not want to have any entanglements with him anymore. As such, she answered the phone coldly, "What's the matter?" <br /> <br /> Leon found her attitude today a bit cold, but he did not take it to heart. "Are you not going on that variety show?" <br /> <br /> Simone retorted. "Who said that?" She knew he also hoped she would give up the spot for Jodie, which was why he called to probe her.<br /> <br /> He replied, "I heard from Titus that you're going to give up the spot."<br /> <br /> "There's no such thing. I won't give up the spot for anyone."<br /> <br /> He couldn't help but furrow his brow. "Won't you listen to Titus?"<br /> <br /> She sneered. "Why should I?"<br /> <br /> Leon and Titus were classmates in high school and had maintained a good relationship, staying in touch. That's why Leon came to persuade her to give up her previous life. Initially, she didn't suspect Jodie because she believed Leon genuinely cared for her.<br /> <br /> His frown deepened. "Titus is your agent, so he must have your best interests at heart. Don't be stubborn."<br /> <br /> She coldly snorted. "What am I being stubborn about? Am I being stubborn and unreasonable just because I won't give Jodie what she wants?" She sarcastically added, "If I give in, the Gray Family will think I'm sensible, and you'll happily be with your lover."<br /> <br /> She had reached her limit. In her previous life, she eventually gave up her position due to pressure from the Gray Family and Leon's persuasion.<br /> <br /> With the Gray Family's marketing, Leon's care, and assistance on the variety show, Jodie successfully portrayed herself as a kind-hearted lady and quickly gained popularity. The so-called good opportunities provided by Titus turned out to be a minor role in a drama with few scenes. Ultimately, the drama was never released due to controversy with the male lead.<br /> <br /> What surprised her even more was that Leon had received an invitation to the same variety show, but he had never told her. She only found out when the show premiered, and he was one of the mysterious guests.<br /> <br /> Observing Leon subtly taking care of Jodie, she realized that these two knew each other and that his feelings for Jodie were unusual. However, after watching only the first episode of the variety show, she had to leave for the filming of a drama.<br /> <br /> When she finished shooting, six months had already passed. At that time, she was a bit perplexed and unsure whether she should continue interacting with the Grays and Leon. Through a stroke of luck and a fortunate opportunity, she managed to secure the leading role in a niche film. As a result, she headed to a remote and mountainous area to shoot the film.	LEARN_MORE	https://page.joyreadings.com/h5-book-share-custom4	106077262240533	The novel	https://facebook.com/100085523883301	18,856	2	1,132,762,141,210,680	2024-03-18 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	1	Learn more	The novel	120205648144080765	page.joyreadings.com	NONE	image		https://page.joyreadings.com/h5-book-share-custom4.html?lang=en&id=6821&brand=2&app=0&ppid=2743&pid=FBW2A&campaign={{campaign.id}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&utm_source=FBW2A&utm_medium={{placement}}&utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_term={{adset.id}}&utm_content={{ad.id}}	2024-03-15 02:41	https://scontent.forf1-4.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432584855_1557794591680348_6041043536556258329_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UqMIy9-c0koAX9YouUg&_nc_ht=scontent.forf1-4.fna&oh=00_AfCpTLXedXM4ZSb0MuDNdO2LF42MLHT6gT9mrDQRMYud7w&oe=65FFBFD3	person_profile	The novel	https://scontent.forf1-4.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433047550_334699959060390_1919632110304276611_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ntkmGpJZNRIAX9bYi13&_nc_ht=scontent.forf1-4.fna&oh=00_AfD9Wu3PpfPQ5z33MGFlToAP0MrDNOLJbVBYF2Lg4Ax3cw&oe=65FEFC5D	3	The novel	2024-03-18 02:00	View Edit Delete
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621,696	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":621654}'	No	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	3771908493053222	24+ Tattoo Fails That Can't Be Unseen	These tattoo fails are legendary, and we can't unsee them no matter how hard we try	LEARN_MORE	https://parentztalk.com/shop-below-chair-ua/	104238192067446	Fox'oclock	https://facebook.com/100076064792214	2,822	1	432,082,739,268,866	2024-03-18 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	Learn more	Fox'oclock	120207809133780560	parentztalk.com	NONE	image	So, you have finally decided to do it! You have gotten your nerve up and you have found your way to the tattoo shop. You sit in the waiting room eagerly nervous to get in that chair for your very first tattoo. But wait, what are you going to get inked? You freeze for a moment rummaging through your....	https://parentztalk.com/shop-below-chair-ua/	2024-03-17 14:41	https://scontent.fmem1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433653026_1158787868895199_9047510211846813581_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lBuXbKo4Oz4AX_1RTOA&_nc_ht=scontent.fmem1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIlgxsjhivWsKeCVunnAFiI1m2s_y1WANF4ZTAKa6Heg&oe=65FF0376	person_profile	Fox'oclock	https://scontent.fmem1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433536844_2438755559665545_1696614321886263160_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CWC6xUEa-8UAX-6LZ6x&_nc_ht=scontent.fmem1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDdX9RFcNjked_KhnSUHwWBH0hr2cQz5LxVGD5V688LLA&oe=65FFD417	3	Fox'oclock	2024-03-18 02:00	View Edit Delete
621,582	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":621549}'	No	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	1075967646793028	#1 𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯?	"𝐈'𝐦 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐤'𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐄, 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞! 😍😍"	WATCH_MORE	https://sciatiease.com/fb/sdbem2/?ad_id={{ad.id}}&	100422331945056	Health Report News	https://facebook.com/100076274320152	13,368	18	807,406,594,767,823	2024-03-18 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	Watch more	Health Report News	120208319135360608	sciatiease.com	NONE	video	sold out 7 times at walmart??	https://sciatiease.com/fb/sdbem2/?ad_id={{ad.id}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&source={{site_source_name}}&placement={{placement}}&cpid=fee2f2c2-08d7-4d00-976d-5a8fe0d30de6&lpid=ccc0baa8-4a21-411d-8773-b5ae737d5d4c	2024-03-17 15:05	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432444295_925912285866488_7227487628293160326_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-L95_1oPOHcAX-MLTuO&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCUAp0MVAAjZ1TGEdxonKRqvw14tKYvOxGD_NEXvYd3mA&oe=65FECB37	person_profile	Health Report News	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432447385_1080466656512557_4116736625390896819_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3Sm1Zd7Q0QEAX_LOQS1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfA25knkP3VfOLlcVtFaC-6ZLxE7iloDTuZ75JMAG_igAA&oe=65FE799B	3	Health Report News	2024-03-18 02:00	View Edit Delete
621,881	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":621883}'	Yes	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	1206286700358971	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	"Watch, girl. This was just an hour ago." He pushes play and I helplessly watch as Scarlet, a club bunny, rides Axel while Hendrix pounds into her from behind and Jax thrusts into her mouth.<br /> <br /> It feels like my insides are shutting down. I can't breathe. I'm not sure if I even want to at this point. This isn't real, it can't be happening. They wouldn't ... they wouldn't do this to me.<br /> <br /> There's no hope for me. He's right, no one is coming to rescue me. No one even knows what's really happening. I hate Scarlet, but at the same time I know they think I left them for someone else. They've been manipulated as well. Brent is dead because of me, I deserve this pain.<br /> <br /> They didn't even wait long before replacing me. The voice in my head says.<br /> <br /> My best friend was murdered because of me. My guys think I betrayed them and easily replaced me within hours. My family will think I abandoned them. I have nothing. I am nothing.<br /> <br /> ————————<br /> <br /> Dani pov<br /> "Are you excited about tonight, Dani girl?" Amanda, my pseudo aunt, asks as she helps me finish curling my long blonde hair. I look at her through the reflection in the mirror and she must see the happiness shining in my eyes because she pecks the top of my head. "Right, stupid question."<br /> "Excited isn't a big enough word to encomphip how I'm feeling right now. I'm just... God, I don't know, Mandy." I laugh at my lack of words and she squeezes my shoulders while smiling at me.<br /> "You're going to be an amazing Old Lady to those three boys of yours. This club has watched the four of you fall in love and we are all just as excited for it to be official now." I see tears shining in her eyes but she blinks them away before they can fall. "You, my sweet girl, deserve all the happiness in the world, and I know those boys will bend over backwards to make it happen. The circumstances that brought you into our lives weren't ideal, but this is where you were always meant to be."<br /> I've called the Devil's Disciples club home for eight years now, ever since my father abandoned me at a gas station when I was only ten years old, and told me I'm old enough to fend for myself.<br /> A lot of bad could have happened to me back then, but I was fortunate enough to be found by Snake, the club's president. He put me on the back of his bike and brought me to the club, giving me a family, and a real future in the process.<br /> Snake's son, Axel, and his two best friends, Jax and Hendrix, quickly became my everything. I got to grow up being a spoiled club princess with my three best friends.<br /> To absolutely no one's surprise, our platonic friendship changed into so much more the older we got. If I'm honest with myself, I've been in love with them since the moment we met.<br /> Snake was surprisingly happy for us, but he demanded we not take our relationship further until after I graduated school and turned eighteen. I won't lie, it's been frustrating keeping our hands to ourselves for two years, but tonight is finally the night we've been waiting for.<br /> Tonight Axel, Jax, and Hendrix are being officially patched in and I'm being named as their Old Lady. I graduated a month ago and my eighteenth birthday was last week. It's time.<br /> Hendrix, my big softy, wanted us to all wait to be intimate until after everything was officially recognized by the club. Something about 'The biker version of making an honest woman out of me.' Axel wanted to punch him in the face for being a schlong blocker, but eventually relented because, in his words, I'm worth the wait.<br /> "I'm going to head out, hun. I need to make sure everything is in order for tonight at the club." Mandy says, while grabbing her purse to leave. "The ceremony starts in about an hour, don't be late." She gives me a stern look, knowing I would be late to my own funeral if possible.<br /> "Trust me, tonight is the one night I'll definitely be on time for." I grin at her. She shakes her head in amusement.<br /> "We'll see. Taylor drew you a picture as a keepsake for tonight. When she gives it to you, act like it's the best artwork you've ever seen. She worked hard on it for her favorite person."<br /> <br /> "See you in a bit, Dani girl!" She waves bye and gets in her car. Once I see her headlights disappear, I go back inside and make sure everything is ready for after the ceremony tonight.<br /> Call me optimistic, but I bought a whole box of condoms. I also bought some scented candles and advil. I'm sure Hendrix made a gift basket with all the essentials, but I like to be prepared. It's not every day a girl loses her first time to the three loves of her life.<br /> I'm just finishing my mental checklist when my phone dings, letting me know the guys are active in the group chat. I can't help the bubble of laughter that escapes at their banter.<br /> Axel: Are u ready for tonight, Baby girl?<br /> Jax: Do u really have 2 ask? Our girl has been ready. If Hendrix wasn't such a clam jammer she would have jumped us weeks ago.<br /> Hendrix: Get out, Jax. Little one, you deserve for your first time to be special.<br /> Axel: It's ALL of our first time's, schlong. No matter what it will be special.<br /> Axel: So, who will be first, Baby girl?<br /> Jax: I nominate myself. Winky face emoji<br /> Hendrix: Of course u do. Eye roll emoji<br /> Hendrix: The choice is yours, little one. Don't feel pressured.<br /> Me: I love you guys. And I don't care who goes first. I'll leave that for you guys to decide, as long as it actually happens.<br /> Axel: I'm so hard right now.<br /> Jax: Same. Can we speed up the ceremony?<br /> Axel: I tried. Dad would angry if everything isn't done by the book.<br /> Hendrix: Heathens, both of you. Learn some patience.<br /> Hendrix: I love you too, Little one. Can't wait to see you in a bit.<br /> Axel: Go on with you! Hendrix.Love you too, Baby girl. <br /> Jax: Yeah, Go on with you! Hendrix. Also, I love you more, Love.<br /> Me: You guys are dorks. Finish getting ready for tonight b4 Snake gives you grunt work.<br /> I put my phone down and try to relax before it's time to leave for the clubhouse. I only live five minutes away, but it feels like a million with how antsy I am right now.<br /> The house I currently live in used to belong to Amanda and Scoot, but they gave it to me my senior year of highschool after they built their new house on the club's property. Before here, I stayed at the clubhouse in one of the rooms, but I like my solitude.<br /> Don't get me wrong, I love the club, but I like being able to walk downstairs in the middle of the night for a glhip of water without having to see some club bunny getting railed on the table where I eat breakfast by someone I consider family. The members of the club are family to me, but it doesn't mean I want to see their schlongs out. That's just nasty.<br /> Since the guys and I are becoming official tonight, they will be moving in here with me this weekend. Jax even took the liberty of buying a monster of a bed for all of us to sleep on. My house is finally becoming an actual home.<br /> I'm brought out of my thoughts when I hear a loud knock on my door. I can't keep the smile off my face as I go to answer, knowing Axel wouldn't be able to stay away for long.<br /> "Hendrix will kick your bu–" I open the door and my words die on my tongue when I see who it is.<br /> "Dani, You look good. Just like your momma did before she got knocked up with you." My father says, with a toothy grin on his sallow face.<br /> He looks worse than he did eight years ago when he left me at the gas station. He's scrawny, with rotted out teeth, and a sweaty complexion.<br /> "Wh-what are you doing here?" I croak out, hating how weak I sound even to my own ears.<br /> "Dani, Dani, Dani."He shakes his head in disappointment. "That's no way to greet your daddy. You didn't think I would forget about you did you? I've gotten myself into some trouble, girl, and only you can help me out." He tells me with a nasty gleam in his eyes. Bile is making its way up my throat now. I should have known he would never truly be done with me.<br /> "If you try anything, anything at all to hurt me, the entire Devil's Disciples club will come for you. They'll know it was you." I tell him with as much courage as my terrified voice will allow. He just laughs cruelly at me.<br /> I try to slam the door in his face but his boot stops me. Before I get a chance to turn and run he stabs me with something. He pulls back his hand and I see a syringe. Before my next thought is complete my world turns black.<br /> I wake with a jolt as my consciousness slowly comes back. Looking around I see that I'm tied up in the back of a van and my father is here with me, staring at me with dead eyes. Eyes he's always had when he looks at me.<br /> "You're finally awake." He says casually, like we're talking about the weather. I don't respond. What would I even say? It doesn't matter though. My guys will come looking for me and this will all be over. I just need to be patient.<br /> "I see those wheels turning in your head, girl. No one is coming for you." He has a wide smile on his face as he says this.<br /> "You're wrong. Axel, Jax, and Hendrix will always come for me. When they do, they will kill you!" I scream at him.<br /> "Not after they found your note, explaining that the biker life isn't for you and a photo of you and that friend of yours in a compromising position."<br /> "What note? What friend? What are you talking about?" None of what he's saying makes sense.<br /> "That friend of yours from school, Brent. According to the note and a photo a friend of mine edited, you and Brent fell in love and you decided to run off together."<br /> "Brent is gay and I would never cheat on them! They know I wouldn't. They'll see right through it and come for me." I know it down to my bones.<br /> "Well Brent disappeared last night too, after I put a magazine in his head and buried him in the desert. So it's all very convincing, what with you both disappearing at the same time and all." He laughs like any of what he just said is funny.<br /> "No. No, no, no! He's not dead! Please. You're lying. Brent is innocent." The last part is barely a whisper as my emotions clog my throat. Brent is a good person. This is my fault. If he was never my friend he wouldn't have been caught up in this mess.<br /> "I wasn't sure if I could pull this off. I've been watching you for some time and I figured those boys of yours would hunt you down for some answers at least. Imagine my surprise when my friend sent me a video of all three of them banging one of them club whores not long after leaving your place. They sure didn't wait long to replace you. Must not have been that special to them after all, huh, Dani girl?" He smirks at me. I want to rip that smirk off his stupid face.<br /> "Now I know you're lying. I won't fall for your tricks, I know them better than anyone, and they wouldn't ever touch a club girl, no matter how upset they were at me." He pulls out his phone and puts it in front of my face.<br /> "Watch, girl. This was just an hour ago." He pushes play and I helplessly watch as Scarlet, a club bunny, rides Axel while Hendrix pounds into her from behind and Jax thrusts into her mouth.<br /> It feels like my insides are shutting down. I can't breathe. I'm not sure if I even want to at this point. This isn't real, it can't be happening. They wouldn't... they wouldn't do this to me.<br /> "Ah now you're getting it." He puts his phone back into his pocket and grabs my chin roughly. "Ya know, I never wanted a kid, let alone a daughter. Women are useless. It wasn't until recently that I realized you can actually be of some value to me after all. I owe someone a lot of money, and unfortunately I wasn't able to pay them back. I did have you though. It took some time to track you down but imagine my surprise when I found you living with a biker club. I had to get creative to finally get you away from those boys of yours, but after some help I figured it out. The guy you're going to isn't very nice but if you play your cards right you should be fine." I say nothing.<br /> There's no hope for me. He's right, no one is coming to rescue me. No one even knows what's really happening. I hate the guys for banging Scarlet, but at the same time I know they think I left them for someone else. They've been manipulated as well. Brent is dead because of me, I deserve this pain.<br /> They didn't even wait long before replacing me. The voice in my head says.<br /> I had everything. I had a family, three amazing boyfriends, and a bright future. I had it all. Now, now I have nothing.<br /> I can feel what little hope I had left leave my soul as my mind replays that video in my head on repeat.<br /> My best friend was murdered because of me. My guys think I betrayed them and easily replaced me within hours. My family will think I abandoned them. I have nothing. I am nothing.<br /> "We've got a long drive and I don't feel like listening to you whine." I realize I'm crying when he says this. He pulls out another syringe and stabs me in the arm with it. I don't even try to fight him.<br /> Later on when I wake up, chained to a basement floor with several other girls, I realize...I was a stupid, foolish, naive little girl and life can always get worse.<br /> <br /> 7 years later<br /> The base runs through me, syncing with my heart. My body sways in time with the beat as I lift my arms up and embrace the feeling of freedom. I'll never take it for granted again.<br /> My black rooted, silver hair is up in a faux hawk to keep it from sticking to my neck. My dark winged brown eyes open as a pair of hands grab ahold of my hips and the person behind me grinds into my hip. Thick fingers trail up by undressed stomach and grope my leather bralette covered breasts. I don't even need to turn around to know who is behind me.<br /> So predictable.<br /> Kyle Sandcliff, 32, trust fund baby, and overall waste of human life.<br /> I grab his hand from my chest and pull him along with me to the unlocked 'Employees only' break room. Once we're both in the room, I close and lock the door before turning around to face him. He doesn't waste any time as he pins me to the door and shoves his tongue down my throat. I give as good as I get before I bite his bottom lip, drawing blood.<br /> "Baby. You're a feisty one." He says, before he immediately undoes his pants and pulls his tiny schlong out.<br /> "Get on your knees and suck me, baby. If you're a good girl, I'll reward you with my fat schlong in your private part." Wow, what he lacks in size, he makes up for in confidence.<br /> I get on my knees and lick the head of his schlong. This guy doesn't wash his balls very well. It smells like rank hip. But a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. So I take one for the team and shove his entire schlong in my mouth. The smell makes me gag and dipshit thinks it's because of his size. Typical.<br /> "That's it baby, choke on my schlong." He grunts.<br /> God, please stop talking.<br /> I need to end this before I actually throw up. I grab my dagger from my boot and slowly bring it to his thigh while his eyes are closed. His schlong starts to swell so I pull him from my mouth.<br /> "What, I was almost there!" He yells, as he looks down.<br /> As soon as his eyes lock on mine I shove my blade deep in his femoral artery and drag it down, effectively slicing it open. He screams but the music drowns him out. His voice dies down as he bleeds out. I look him deep in his fading eyes.<br /> "My name is Karma, and this is for the force woman to intercourse with him and murder of Veronica Douglhip."<br /> Once his black soul finally leaves his body, and goes to inferno where it belongs, I wipe my blade on his Oxford shirt and pull my cell from my pocket.<br /> "Emery, package pickup confirmed." I tell my partner.<br /> "Received." Is all she says before the call is disconnected.<br /> I stroll out of the crowded Miami club, and walk two blocks where I destroy and toss the burner cell. I walk another two blocks and Emery is there to pick me up. I get in the black 1967 Shelby Mustang and we take off for the private air strip where I finally get to brush my teeth and use half a bottle of mouthwash after we load the jet. I come out of the small bathroom to Emery's smirking face.<br /> "Shut up, bimbo." But she just bursts out laughing.<br /> "I don't know why you insist on going so far with your marks before you kill them. You know, you wouldn't have to deal with cheese balls if you did what I do and just kill them as soon as you get them alone instead of playing with them." She repeats the same thing she says to me every time I do a job. I just roll my eyes and sit down.<br /> "I enjoy edging them before I end their lives. Imagine using a vibrator and right before you come the batteries die." She winces at this.<br /> "Yeah that is terrible. I hate when that happens." She tells me.<br /> "Exactly. For them, instead of batteries dying, it's them dying. It's very cathartic for me." I tell her with a shrug.<br /> "You're psychotic, but I love you all the more for it." She grins at me and I just wink at her.<br /> I don't get close to people. Not since seven years ago when my life irrevocably changed. Don't get me wrong, I would absolutely take a magazine for Emery, and she's like family to me. But I will never allow myself to be vulnerable with someone else. She knows this, she even understands this.<br /> We got plastered one night and I spilled my guts about the boys who shattered my heart when I was abducted. So she knows why I keep a distance. She hates it, but she learned not to push me too much a while ago. That's why I requested to have Emery as my partner. She doesn't pry.<br /> "What does the boss lady say about our next mission?" I ask. "Please tell me it's in the Caribbean or somewhere just as peaceful." I whine.<br /> "Sorry babe, it's in Nevada." My lungs stop working. Nevada. No. I swore to myself I would never step foot back in that state. It still hurts too bad to think about. Being that close to them would kill me.<br /> "A group requested our help with some missing women. Apparently several women have been going missing in the past year and so far nothing has been found that can lead to any clues. It's like they just vanished into thin air. The group reached out through one of our past clients and requested our help. They are paying triple what we usually ask for because they're so desperate." She tells me all this, and I hear it, I swear I do, but all I can focus on is her saying Nevada.<br /> "What group is asking for our help?" I ask her, with my heart in my throat.<br /> "A motorcycle club. The Devil's Disciples." As soon as the words leave her mouth my breath heaves from my lungs and my throat closes up. This can't be happening. The world can't be so cruel.<br /> "Karma, are you ok?" Emery frantically asks me.<br /> "I'm fi...fine." I manage to choke out. "When do we head there?"<br /> "Tonight. We meet with them tomorrow night to get started. They requested to work the case with us, much to the boss lady's annoyment. But they hipured us they won't get in the way and understand we will be leading the case." She rolls her eyes at this.<br /> Our boss, who we call 'Boss Lady', saved my life and ever since then I've worked for her at 'The company'. Basic names I know, but it keeps everything anonymous. Especially when we kill people for a living. I can't decide not to work a case. I owe my boss my life. Plus, how selfish would it be for me to abandon innocent women in need of saving just because I'm reluctant to face my past? My boss found and saved me when I was in a similar situation six years ago. I'll swallow my pride and pull up my bad bimbo panties to get this job done and then I'll close out that page in my life for good.<br /> Doesn't mean I have to like it though.<br /> <br /> Terrible Nevada.<br /> It's not the state's fault, really. I know this. I still hate this place, though. It's the place where my dreams started to come true and it's the place where they inevitably crashed and burned...and then went through a meat grinder.<br /> Isn't it funny how life turns out? No, you're right. It's not funny. It's horrifying.<br /> I won't lie, a tiny part of me is anticipating seeing my boys again. No, not my boys. The boys. I'm just so angry at them and hurt. They hurt me. I know technically they were played too. They got a note along with a photoshopped picture of me and another man doing God knows what, telling them that I didn't want them and that I was running off with someone else. I know they only screwed Scarlet to get back at me because they were hurting too. It doesn't make watching them do it hurt any less though. The evil part of me wants to make them suffer a little. The sad and lonely part wants to get everything cleared up and be back in their arms like nothing ever happened. That part needs to jump off a cliff though. I'm not the same person I was then and I never will be.<br /> Too much has happened. Plus I know that if they ever found out the truth, they would hate themselves. They wouldn't be able to handle it. It's best to just leave the past where it is. No good can come from dredging up all that hurt and anguish.<br /> Our plane got in last night, and we stayed at a cheap motel where we both immediately phiped out. We've been on back-to-back missions lately, and all the traveling can be exhausting. Boss lady informed us that Emery and I will be staying at the guy's clubhouse during this mission so we don't run the risk of drawing too much attention by going back and forth between the club and a hotel in case the place is being watched. I don't know why they would be watching the club but we should find out more details later tonight.<br /> Emery is already at the club so she can get all her tech gear set up. I really should head over there but I'm being a coward right now.<br /> It's been seven years. That's a long time to be gone without a trace, only to pop up out of nowhere.<br /> I look at myself in the mirror and take stock of the differences between how the old me looked and how I look now. My blonde hair used to be a sun smooched shade, now it's mostly silver with black roots, and goes down my back to the top of my hip.<br /> I have an athletic build with feminine curves compared to my tiny frame from before. Instead of girly pink and modest attire with bows, I mostly wear black and leave little to the imagination. The part that's changed the most are my eyes. They used to be so happy and full of life. Now they're dead and haunted. Not to mention the scars. My body is riddled with them now. They won't see those though. I have tattoos covering the ones visible through clothing. The ones on my back I couldn't cover though. I tried, but the scar tissue made it too painful. I got a tattoo on my spine that looks as if a snake is weaving around it. I couldn't handle any more work done. My skin was too sensitive for any more. Too much damage to the nerve endings and you have to find a really good artist who can tattoo deep set scar tissue without it looking blown out and weird.<br /> Thinking about my tattoos makes me think about little Taylor and the odd drawings she used to make. I've always wondered if she ended up sticking with her love of art, and if she did what became of it.<br /> I shake my head of those thoughts and finish looking myself over to make sure I'm ready.<br /> My hair is in loose waves and I'm wearing my makeup as my armor. Full smokey eye with a bold winged liner and dark bold red lips. I'm wearing black distressed skinny jeans with a black lace corset top and a cropped leather jacket over top. Inside my jacket I have my blades and inside my knee high boots I have my two tactical guns. I'm never not prepared.<br /> I've spent enough time procrastinating. Let's get this thing over with.<br /> I need a vacation.<br /> I park my matte black MV Agusta F4CC bike once I make it inside the gate at the compound. We're estimating being on this job for a little while, so I had my baby shipped overnight. I pull my helmet off and the urge to put it right back on and drive away hits me so hard that my hands start sweating.<br /> <br /> I hate feeling weak and vulnerable. I collect myself and my emotions and firmly fix my emotionless mask on my face. There aren't too many people here tonight, so I'm hipuming there's no party going on.<br /> Good, that means they're taking this mission seriously.<br /> I climb the steps and manage not to reminisce on the memories of running down these steps into the guys arms when they would get back from road trips in the past. It's weird how this place used to feel so much like home, and now I'm practically a stranger walking into a new place.<br /> I hate this.<br /> I walk inside and see about fifteen people hanging out, drinking, and just enjoying themselves. I know Emery and the guys are in the room used for church, waiting on me. But I see someone sitting at the bar and can't help myself but to sit down next to them.<br /> "I was wondering when you were going to finally come by, doll." He tells me.<br /> "Yeah, well, would have been sooner if you told me about all the missing women before now." I snark back.<br /> "I knew you were busy living your life. I knew you would come when you were ready." He looks at me and I immediately drop my mask.<br /> "I'll never be ready, Snake. But I would have come and helped you. All you had to do was say so. You know that." I tell him sincerely.<br /> "I know, doll." He pauses as his eyes take in my features.<br /> "You look good." He tells me sincerely. I can see he's trying his best to hold in his emotions. I'm having the same issue since finally seeing him after all these years.<br /> "So do you, Snake."<br /> I reached out to Snake after my boss rescued me from inferno. I told him everything and he believed every word. He knew that letter and the photos were fake. How sad is that? He knew immediately, yet the three guys who said they were in love with me didn't for a second think it was anything other than real.<br /> He told me he looked for me, but I vanished without a trace, much like the current missing girls. It's not easy hunting a ghost.<br /> I kept in touch with Snake in secret over the years, I made him promise not to ever mention a word about any of it to the guys until I was ready to face them myself.<br /> No matter what the circumstances were, they replaced me with another woman too easily. They didn't even try to find me, not even to scream at me for abandoning them like they believed I did. They just moved on with their lives while I was stuck in inferno.<br /> I know Snake stepped down as President and let Axel take over, Jax became V.P, and Hendrix became the Enforcer. He slipped that information in one time during casual conversation and that was the last time I spoke to him. That was a year ago. He knew I didn't want to hear about them, it hurt too bad.<br /> "You ready, doll?" Snake asks as he gets up from his stool.<br /> "Not even a little. Lead the way." He nods his head and gives me a rehipuring smile but nothing he could do or say will make this any easier on me.<br /> I walk behind Snake as we head to church. He walks in first and I walk around him and go up to Emery with my back to the room. I make sure I show no outward emotions as I fix my mask back into place.<br /> I'm a new person. The old me died a long time ago. No matter who they used to be to me, I can't show weakness. Let's just solve this case so I can get out of here.<br /> "Gentlemen, this is Karma. She's never missed a target and has a 1oo% success rate in search and rescue for kidnapped and imprisoned victims." Emery announces to the room.<br /> I finally turn around and face my past. Snake has a big smirk on his face. Axel's eyes are bugging out of his head and his jaw is dropped. Jax looks like he's seen a ghost. And Hendrix...Hendrix looks ready to kill me.<br /> "Long time, no see." I say with a smirk on my face and a flippant tone that I don't feel in the least. Let them think what they want, they abandoned me long before I gave up on them.<br /> <br /> Axel pov<br /> "What are you doing here?" Immediately comes out of my mouth. This selfish bimbo shows up now? After seven years? <br /> I don't know what kind of cruel cosmic joke the devil is playing on me right now.	LEARN_MORE	https://b.mylibapps.com/ad/cmVhZGZpY3MvMTI1Mjk0LzI	128522263674865	Libb002	https://facebook.com/61551403614101	30	1	252,303,874,621,071	2024-03-18 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	Learn more	Libb002	120208346545120299	b.mylibapps.com	NONE	video		https://b.mylibapps.com/ad/cmVhZGZpY3MvMTI1Mjk0LzIwMjQwMzE2MTYzNzQ0L3BhZ2U=?adid={{ad.id}}	2024-03-16 04:54	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432630687_2915361878606391_2792197641090139319_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1EaHLKx5IggAX8V-I8V&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCB0s-NION0XhDx3XQK70IR2OSH7xufpEKS5KTu9duuRA&oe=66002841	person_profile	Libb002	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433139907_255596177639686_323570257182148074_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XfJEDdYvUWoAX85BNQM&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcGwJeGcS_04yPf3zqVxov1HkB0UI58myFMQbiiKNqAQ&oe=65FF0032	3	Libb002	2024-03-17 02:00	View Edit Delete
621,493	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":621482}'	No	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	876353114287684	🔥🔥🔥Download and search book ID: 9792	My sister's boyfriend turned out to be my mate! As he rejected me, I retaliated by cutting off all contact with the pack… <br /> Chapter 1: Ayla<br /> “Ayla, is dinner ready? No more delay. Kylee and Theo will be soon here!”<br /> “Yes, mom.” I sighed hearing my mother's impatient urging.<br /> Kylee is my little sister, and Theo is her mate as well as our future Alpha. It is said that they had been together for over a year, and today is the first Kylee has brought her mate home. I was so happy for her.<br /> Our current Alpha, Alpha Torin, was a good leader, a fair leader, and a good man. I knew he had a son, but I had never met him before.<br /> But I had heard that his son, Theo, was promising to be just as good an Alpha as his father. So I really couldn’t have been more relieved that he was my sister’s mate. She would be properly looked after and taken care of, and she would be happy.<br /> I was pulling the chicken out of the oven when I saw my mother rushing past me, excitedly shouting towards the door, “They're here.”<br /> After my father passed away, my mother had become an alcoholic. But she always managed to look presentable in front of Kylee. For example, today, she was not only dressed neatly, but even used mouthwash.<br /> <br /> I was still transferring the food when I heard the front door open and the squeals of my mother and sister as they embraced. I finished my task and moved the dishes to the dining room table that was already set neatly. I smiled at my presentation and excitedly hurried to the living room. <br /> <br /> I froze at the threshold. A scent overwhelmed my senses, causing my stomach to knot and my heart to race. <br /> <br /> The tall, broad man standing next to my sister turned toward me and we locked eyes. <br /> <br /> Mate.<br /> <br /> I practically gagged trying to stifle the word from slipping from my mouth. <br /> <br /> What was happening?<br /> <br /> This was my sister’s mate. <br /> <br /> Not mine. <br /> <br /> This man was fated to Kylee. <br /> <br /> So why was I having this reaction?<br /> <br /> Better question…<br /> <br /> Why did HE seem to be having the same reaction?<br /> <br /> His eyes were wide, pupils dilated, and they held my gaze with a vice-like grip as he, too, seemed frozen to where he stood. <br /> <br /> Dasha, my wolf, bounced excitedly in my head, recognizing him and his wolf just as I was. It took a minute for her to understand the situation, but once she did, she started whimpering in the back of my mind.<br /> <br /> This couldn’t be happening. <br /> <br /> What was happening?<br /> <br /> I forced myself to address the situation as a whole. Fine, this was happening. Now, what is the best way to handle the situation? I wasn’t going to break my sister’s heart. Absolutely not. I wouldn’t let him either. Not right now. We’ll just get through dinner, and I’ll find a way to speak with him in private later. <br /> <br /> I cleared my throat and plastered a smile on my face.<br /> <br /> “Kylee, I’m so excited you’re home,” I said, opening my arms so she could jump into them like she had since she was little.<br /> <br /> “I’ve missed you, sis,” she said. <br /> <br /> “I’ve missed you, too,” I said quietly. <br /> <br /> We separated, and she turned to the male behind her. “Theo, this is my sister, Ayla. Ayla, this is my mate, Theo.”<br /> <br /> Theo’s hands were clenched into fists, and he forced a tight-jawed smile toward me. At least I was better at faking it them him. Geesh. <br /> <br /> I nodded to him with a broad smile. I knew it didn’t reach my eyes, but at least Ma and Kylee wouldn’t notice. <br /> <br /> “It’s lovely to meet you, Theo,” I said. “Dinner is ready in the dining room. Why don’t you guys go take a seat, and I’ll be right there. I need to tend to dessert first.”<br /> <br /> “Don’t take too long,” Kylee said brightly. “We have some big news, and I don’t think I can wait much longer.”<br /> <br /> “I promise I’ll be right there,” I assured her as I rubbed her shoulder. <br /> <br /> Kylee grabbed Ma by the arm and led her to the dining room. Theo followed a few steps behind. He had to pass me to get through. Right as he approached, I turned my body to ensure we didn’t touch. He paused in front of me for a moment. I looked up to meet his eyes.<br /> <br /> There was anger, confusion, desire, and possibly even hurt reflecting in his eyes that I couldn’t help but notice were the color of honey. He had questions. I subtly shook my head at him. Hoping and silently begging that he knew we couldn’t do this here. <br /> <br /> The sound of Kylee’s laugh from the other room made me jump and then quickly retreat to the kitchen. I grabbed the homemade cheesecake from the fridge and set it on the counter for later. <br /> <br /> I listened to the others conversing in the next room and took several deep breaths. I felt a lump start to form in my throat and quickly pushed it down. This wasn’t the time to cry. <br /> <br /> I was almost to the dining room when I heard the last part of what Kylee was saying, and again, I was left frozen at the threshold.<br /> <br /> “… our mating ceremony is in three months.” Kylee looked up at me. “Oh, Ayla, I’m sorry. I just couldn’t hold back any longer. Aren’t you happy for us?”<br /> <br /> I put the same fake smile back on. “Of course I’m happy for you,” I said. “You deserve the best.”<br /> <br /> I took my seat at the table, ignoring the fact that I was left sitting directly across from Theo. His eyes were boring into me, and my face felt like it was on fire. I started dishing out food and passing plates. I didn’t say much over dinner. Instead, I just listened to Kylee and Ma talk about all the ideas they had for the mating ceremony. Theo didn’t say much either but slowly started to do a better job hiding his discomfort with the situation. <br /> <br /> It took everything to ignore the touches they shared, pushing down the jealousy that kept surging through me. <br /> After dinner, while they were still talking, I made an excuse to slip out through the back door.<br /> <br /> I stood on the porch and took several deep breaths. I released a string of curses.<br /> “What is happening? Why is this happening? This ISN’T happening,” I whispered with the force of a yell. <br /> <br /> ‘Our mate.’ Dasha insisted.<br /> <br /> “No, he’s not,” I said back to her. “He’s Kylee’s. There must be some kind of mistake.”<br /> <br /> All of a sudden, I stiffened as a mouthwatering scent hit my nose. I knew who was standing behind me. <br /> <br /> Chapter 2: Theo<br /> I fought against the urges her scent was influencing as I stalked up to her. But more importantly, the urge to grab her and take her against the nearest tree. My wolf was going crazy about the idea, but he would learn fast that that was never going to happen. <br /> <br /> I wouldn’t accept her. <br /> <br /> Knowing what I knew about her, that would never happen. <br /> <br /> She turned to face me. <br /> <br /> “This won’t happen,” I spat out before she had a chance to speak. <br /> Her jaw clenched, and her silvery-gray eyes stared into mine for a few short moments. But I couldn’t read a thing behind them. <br /> <br /> “I absolutely agree,” she stated evenly. <br /> <br /> My wolf growled and snarled inside me, demanding to know what I was doing. I pushed down the hurt that hit me when she didn’t fight me. Her reaction just proved why this needed to be done. I could never be with someone so cold and self-absorbed as her. There was no way someone like her could ever be my Luna. <br /> <br /> ‘Don’t know her.’ Kieran yelled in my head. <br /> <br /> I knew enough. <br /> <br /> “Kylee is my mate. Not you. I, Theo Arden, future Alpha of the Greytooth Pack, reject you, Ayla Garner, as my mate and Luna.” Kieran was snapping his teeth, pushing to take control to stop this.<br /> <br /> “I, Ayla Garner, accept your rejection and relinquish my claim as your mate and Luna.”<br /> <br /> My wolf howled in pain. A pain that was mirrored within me as it felt like my heart was being ripped apart. It was the bond breaking. Releasing me from the tie that bound us together.<br /> She stood there like nothing happened. <br /> <br /> How could she stand there like nothing had happened?<br /> <br /> She really didn’t feel anything, did she? It was so easy for her to let us go.<br /> <br /> ‘Mate wants me.’<br /> <br /> I grimaced. He meant her wolf. Her wolf wanted mine. He could sense her. She was even denying her wolf. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I needed to get away from her. <br /> <br /> I stormed back into the house, returning to the woman the goddess should have made my mate. I returned to the dining room to find her mother and her still deep in conversation. I was grateful she hadn’t seemed to notice my absence or the change in my mood. It wasn’t surprising. She was excited about seeing her family and sharing the news with them. <br /> <br /> I had been, too, until her sister walked into the room. The scent had engulfed me, driving me to seek out the source like a lifeline. When I saw her, her beauty took my breath away. She was petit but strong, with long legs and perfect curves. She had a mass of caramel-blonde hair that cascaded over her shoulders, framing a face with plump lips and intense gray eyes that shined green in the light. I couldn’t help but want her. I recognized who she was to me immediately. <br /> <br /> But then I noticed her narrow nose and soft jawline were familiar. Her fair skin had a sun-kissed glow that I had always found attractive. Once I realized she had similar features to Kylee, I knew this was her sister, Ayla. <br /> <br /> Kylee had told me on many occasions how her sister had changed after the death of their father. She was there for Kylee at first, but in less than a year, she started spending all her time away from home. She ended up dropping out of the private school her parents had worked so hard to send her to. Eventually, Kylee lost track of what she was doing with her life. <br /> <br /> Kylee was there for her when she was around, trying to be supportive. But she wasn’t the sister she used to love. What bothered her most was Ayla’s treatment of their mother. Ayla still lived in the house with her, but Kylee always got the impression that helping their mother was just a burden. She worried their mother would be left with no one to take care of her, and she wasn’t in the best of health anymore. <br /> <br /> “I have an idea,” I interrupted. They both looked up at me expectantly. “Why doesn’t your mother come to stay with us for a while? At least until the ceremony? We have the room in the packhouse, and I’m sure you and my mother would appreciate the extra input.”<br /> <br /> Both their faces lit up.<br /> <br /> “Really? We can do that?” Kylee said happily. <br /> <br /> “Of course,” I said with a smile. <br /> <br /> “Thank you.”<br /> <br /> Kylee jumped up from the table and threw her arms around me, kissing me sweetly. I ignored the growls coming from Kieran. Seeing their reaction told me I had made the exact right decision. Despite what the burning in my chest told me. <br /> <br /> This was who I was supposed to be with. Not Ayla.<br /> <br /> ‘Keep saying. Maybe believe.’<br /> <br /> I told him to shut up, and he retreated into the back of my mind, cutting himself off from me. <br /> <br /> He would get over it. Once the bond was completely severed, he would understand this was the right thing for us and the pack.<br /> <br /> Chapter 3: Ayla<br /> I had managed to get myself together enough to rejoin my family. The pain that seared through me from Theo’s rejection and my subsequent acceptance almost brought me to my knees. It took all of my strength to keep my body from shaking, praying he didn’t notice the blood coming from my palms. I had clenched my fists so hard trying to stay on my feet that I broke the skin.<br /> <br /> When he finally left, I released the sob that was the only thing capable of coming out of my mouth. But I didn’t let the tears fall. Not yet. They couldn’t know. <br /> <br /> So, I steadied my breathing and went back into my house. I was surprised to find that Kylee and Ma weren’t in the dining room anymore. They weren’t in the living room either. But Theo was. <br /> <br /> “They’re in your mother’s room packing,” he said coldly.<br /> <br /> “Packing?” What was he talking about?<br /> <br /> He stepped closer to me, lowering his voice. “I think it’s best that you keep your distance from Kylee for a while. We don’t want her finding out about this. But I know she’ll want her mother to be a part of the ceremony planning. So she’s coming back with us.”<br /> <br /> I felt like he just slapped me in the face. As if I would ever tell her. That’s why I was doing this. So that I wouldn’t break my baby sister’s heart. I gave him what he wanted, and now he was going to keep me from my family?<br /> <br /> Dasha was confused and in pain, whimpering in my head because she didn’t understand how he could be so cruel to us. <br /> <br /> “If that’s what you think is best,” I said to Theo through gritted teeth. <br /> <br /> “Kylee,” he called out, not breaking eye contact. “Let’s get going.”<br /> <br /> My sister came prancing into the room. “Already?”<br /> <br /> “It’s getting late. Let’s head to the hotel for the night. We’ll swing by in the morning to pick up your mother.”<br /> <br /> “Okay,” she said brightly before turning to me. “What about you, Ayla? You’re coming with, too, right?”<br /> <br /> I opened my mouth to speak, but Theo decided to answer for me. <br /> <br /> “We were just talking about that. Ayla has some things going on with work and can’t get away.”<br /> <br /> I gave her a tight smile. “Yes, I’m sorry. But I will try to come out there as soon as I can.”<br /> <br /> “Oh, okay, I understand. But I’ll make sure we have a room ready for you whenever you can come.”<br /> <br /> “Of course. I can’t wait,” I said, my heart breaking again, knowing Theo wouldn’t allow me to be there with her. <br /> <br /> We all said our goodbyes, and they left. Ma was still standing at the window watching them drive off when I went to clean up the dishes in the kitchen. She finally came in behind me and started opening another bottle of wine. We had gone through four during dinner already. And I barely touched my glass. <br /> <br /> “Ma, you’ve had enough for the night,” I said calmly.<br /> <br /> “Oh, come on. It’s a celebration,” Ma said. “It’s not every day you find out your baby is going to be a Luna.”<br /> <br /> “Ma, you can celebrate more tomorrow. You need to finish packing,” I said, gently taking the bottle from her hand. “I’m sure Kylee and Theo will be here first thing in the morning.”<br /> <br /> “We can celebrate together while you help me pack,” she said, grabbing the bottle back from me. “Then I’ll help you pack.”<br /> <br /> I winced. This wasn’t going to end well. “I’m not coming, Ma.”<br /> <br /> She stopped with the glass halfway to her lips. “What do you mean you’re not coming?” she asked with a pout. “You have to be there. Kylee is going to be mated. I told her we would help pay for the ceremony.”<br /> <br /> I winced again. She meant me. I would be helping pay for the ceremony. Ma didn’t have a penny to her name.<br /> <br /> “This is a big deal. Don’t be so selfish, Ayla.”<br /> <br /> Her words stung, but they weren’t unexpected. This was kind of the norm when she got like this. I know she didn’t really mean it. At least, she wouldn’t mean it when she was sober. I got her into her bedroom and set her on the bed. I changed her into her nightgown and tucked her in. <br /> <br /> She was asleep in seconds. I hurried through the rest of her packing. Stuffing two large suitcases as full as I could before carrying them out to the living room. Then I locked the front door, finished the last of the dishes, and slipped out into the backyard.<br /> <br /> I stripped off my clothes as I headed for the forest, desperate to get under its protective shadows. As soon as I passed the treeline, I shifted, taking off at full speed. I let Dasha feel all the pain. I didn’t try to hold her back anymore. <br /> <br /> We would mourn the loss of our fated mate. The loss of the one person who was supposed to see us for who we were. The one person who was supposed to always put us first, without demands or expectations. We would mourn the loss of never getting to experience that.<br /> But we wouldn’t mourn him.<br /> <br /> We ran until we could barely breathe. Until Dasha stopped at the edge of our pond — our place of solace — and let out a heartwrenching howl into the night air. Shifting at the end as she retreated back into my mind, out of reach to heal her broken heart, while I let the torrent of tears finally fall.<br /> <br /> I walked into the water, curling into myself as the sobs wracked my body, intensifying the burn that was still there from our bond being ripped from my heart.<br /> <br /> I submerged myself completely, washing my body clean of Theo, the mate bond, and every dream of finding my soulmate. <br /> <br /> In the midst of this pain I drifted off to sleep.<br /> The next morning.<br /> When I made it back to the house, there was no one there. My mother had been taken away by them.<br /> I was standing in an empty room in an empty house. The silence was deafening. And it all came crashing down. I sank to my knees, begging the goddess to just let it all go away, just for a little while. I just wanted to feel numb.<br /> <br /> I lost track of how long I sat in that spot, staring without seeing. I didn’t even know Zeff was there until I felt him grip my arms.<br /> <br /> “Ayls, what happened? What’s wrong?” he asked, brushing hair out of my face, forcing me to look at him. “Ayla, what is going on?”<br /> <br /> “I found my mate,” I said, the corner of my mouth tipping up mockingly. “He’s scheduled to be mated to my sister.”<br /> <br /> “What?” Zeff exclaimed, anger and concern twisting his handsome features. <br /> <br /> Zeff was a good man. He had been there for me when no one else was. He was the only person who knew everything I went through. And here he was, listening to me tell him about meeting Theo, the mating ceremony, and my rejection. Why couldn’t he have been my mate? He should have been. <br /> <br /> “Come on,” he said, lifting me up. “You’re coming to stay with me.”<br /> <br /> I didn’t protest. The goddess had given me this one little blessing. I was numb. Zeff held me up by my waist and led me out to his car. He tucked me into the passenger seat and disappeared into the house again, only to emerge a few minutes later with a duffel bag in hand. <br /> <br /> He pulled out and drove us the twenty minutes to his house. Just like before, he helped me inside, this time sitting me on the big, comfy leather couch in his living room.<br /> <br /> He came and sat next to me, putting an arm over my shoulder and pulling me into him. I let myself relax some. This was the first thing since Theo walked into my life that felt normal, felt comfortable. He leaned his head on mine, rubbing his fingers along my arm. <br /> <br /> “Ayla. You’re going to deal with this — we’re going to deal with this together. Screw him, okay. He’s a dirtbag. You deserve so much better than some fool who doesn’t see how incredible you are.”<br /> <br /> I wanted to roll my eyes, but it wasn’t just about him. <br /> <br /> “He took my family, Zeff. I would have gotten over him just rejecting me because of Kylee. At least she would be safe and happy.”<br /> <br /> “No. They either treat you like a servant or a bank. They don’t care what their actions do to you as long as they keep getting what they want."<br /> <br /> “Zeff...But they were my family” I wanted to contradict him, but I knew he was right.<br /> <br /> “Get over him.” He took a step toward me, reaching up to hold my chin. “He’s not the only one who can take care of you, Ayla. He may be foolish enough not to want you, but I’m not.”<br /> <br /> My breath caught in my throat. He had told me about his feelings before, but we both avoided going down that road with each other. We knew we could find our fated mates at any time, and we didn’t want to deny each other that. <br /> <br /> “Move in here with me, Ayls,” Zeff said. “There’s nothing stopping us now.”<br /> <br /> “Zeff, you still have a mate out there somewhere.”<br /> <br /> “Ayla, stop. I’m thirty-four and well-traveled. If I was going to find her, I would have long before now. We both know that.” <br /> <br /> Suddenly his lips were on mine. I was shocked, but mostly because it felt good. I felt wanted. I kissed him back, not wanting to give that feeling up. I leaned into him — until Dasha came charging to the forefront, growling and snarling that someone who wasn’t our mate was touching us. <br /> <br /> I ripped myself from Zeff’s embrace. Breathing heavily, the pain of the severed bond renewed. I clutched my chest. <br /> <br /> “Ayla.” <br /> <br /> “I can’t. The bond. It’s still there. It hasn’t faded yet.”<br /> <br /> Zeff pulled me into his arms. “Okay. It’s okay. We can wait. We’ll take it slow.”<br /> <br /> I rested my head on his chest. “Okay.”<br /> <br /> He squeezed me tighter. I still didn’t know if we could make this work, but I wanted to try. <br /> <br /> I stayed with the Zeff, and it was quiet. Until a week later, when Theo burst in.<br /> <br /> Chapter 4: Theo<br /> It had been a week since I had gone home with Kylee. Seven days and a hundred miles away, and the bond was still there. The burning in my chest wouldn’t go away. I didn’t understand and it was annoying. <br /> <br /> More important is Kieran. He had spent the whole week giving me the silent treatment, except when Kylee was around. Then all he did was growl and snarl. It was getting exhausting. <br /> <br /> I had taken to holing up in my office most of the time. I didn’t want to snap at Kylee, or her mother, which had become hard to avoid by the third day. I was glad I had a good reason for me being so busy all of a sudden. <br /> <br /> Alpha was sick. He was diagnosed with a progressive disease almost a year ago. So, he decided it was time to hand the title down to me. It wasn’t official yet. We were planning on making the change at the same time as Kylee’s and my mating ceremony. Actually, that’s why I decided to make Kylee my official mate. Alpha’s were always stronger with a strong Luna by their side. With the circumstances of my father’s abdication, our pack needed to be as strong as possible. <br /> <br /> But there was still a lot to take care of and a lot I had to learn about being an Alpha before that time. So it wasn’t hard to convince her that it was the stress that was causing me to be distant. <br /> <br /> But this morning, I'm driving myself to Kylee's house. I promised to help her retrieve her mother's necklace, which she wanted to wear during our mating ceremony.<br /> <br /> In addition, if I couldn’t completely sever the bond between me and Ayla, Kieran could end up taking control and stop me from marking Kylee.<br /> So, once I got the necklace, I’d reject Ayla again, making sure it stuck this time, and I’d go back home.<br /> <br /> When I pulled up to the house, something twisted in my gut. When I step into the house, her invigorating scent of oranges and cloves invaded my nostrils, but it wasn’t nearly as strong as it should have been.<br /> I realize Ayla wasn't home.<br /> Instead, there was another smell in Ayla's room.<br /> The scent was male. It was faint, he wasn’t here long, but mixed in with the distinctive scent of my mate, I could pick it out anywhere. From the trail, it seemed as if he was the one who packed up her things.<br /> <br /> I stormed out of the house. Tossing the jewelry box in the passenger seat, I took my phone out and searched for the number for the publishing house Kylee said Ayla worked for.<br /> I got another address that Ayla had added to her personal profile from the receptionist.<br /> <br /> I followed the GPS to the address, pulling into the drive of a large, two-story house in a nice neighborhood. Parking half on the lawn, I didn’t even close the car door before taking the front steps two at a time. <br /> <br /> I banged on the door until I heard movement inside. A man opened it. It was the male I smelled in Ayla’s room. Before he could say anything, I lunged at him, my hands grabbing the front of his shirt and practically lifting him off the ground.<br /> <br /> “What have you done with her? I smell her all over you. Where is she?”<br /> <br /> He pushed me off him, his eyes glaring at me with recognition and disdain.<br /> <br /> “You must be Theo.”<br /> <br /> “What is going on?” Ayla’s voice floated down to me as she ran down the stairs. She froze halfway down the moment she laid eyes on me. “What are you doing here?”<br /> <br /> A silk robe hung open, revealing the shorts and cut-off tank top she wore underneath, her caramel-colored hair flowing loosely around her shoulders. She was gorgeous. And clearly not in distress. I took a step toward her as my rage grew.<br /> <br /> “What are you doing here?” I spat back. <br /> <br /> “That’s none of your concern,” the male interjected.<br /> <br /> I turned on him again, a rumbling growl emanating from my chest, my claws extending. I was ready to rip his throat out. <br /> <br /> “Stop,” Ayla yelled, coming the rest of the way down the stairs and stepping between the two of us. “Zeff, go to work.”<br /> <br /> “Absolutely not. I’m not leaving you here with him. Not in the state he’s in.”<br /> <br /> “I would never hurt her.” Kieran was ready to burst from my skin. How dare this dirtbag think we would ever lay a hand on her.<br /> <br /> “We both know that’s crap.”<br /> <br /> “Zeff, I said go.” Her expression softened a little. “I’ll call you later.”<br /> <br /> She would. <br /> <br /> The Zeff guy shot me another hate-filled look before exiting out the open front door. We stood in silence until the sound of his engine faded. <br /> <br /> “Are you dating him?” <br /> <br /> Her eyes went wide, then narrowed as she took a step forward. “What I do with a male — or anyone for that matter — is none of your business.”<br /> <br /> “It isn’t.” Electricity passed through the air between us. “He has no right to put his hands on you.”<br /> <br /> “He does if I want him to,” she yelled, not only holding her ground against the alpha energy I was exuding but taking another step toward me. “I don’t belong to anyone, remember? I have no mate.”<br /> <br /> I lost it. My hand was around her neck and my mouth was on hers before I even knew what I had done. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop. Sparks of intense electricity shot through me, invigorating all my senses. I pushed her to open for me, my tongue seeking hers. Goddess, she tasted so good. She returned the kiss, her arousal mingling in the air. <br /> <br /> “MINE.” <br /> <br /> She pushed me off her with force.<br /> <br /> I took a step toward her again but she backed away. <br /> <br /> “Don’t you hurt Kylee like this.”<br /> <br /> “Like you care about your sister getting hurt,” I spat, but for some reason, I instantly regretted it. But I couldn’t take it back. I wouldn’t take it back.<br /> <br /> “Excuse me?” Pure rage radiated off of her, her eyes turning an icy blue. <br /> <br /> “You abandoned Kylee a long time ago. You disappeared all the time, leaving her alone with a mother who was struggling to keep everything together.”<br /> <br /> Ayla’s face paled. Every ounce of anger seemed to drain from her instantly, that blue fire fading from her eyes. <br /> <br /> She almost went completely limp in front of me, stumbling until her back hit the wall. Her façade cracked. <br /> <br /> “That’s what she told you? She said that?” her voice was almost a whisper. <br /> <br /> Kieran was going insane in my head, telling me to shut up, to just stop talking. Urging me to stop hurting her. Because I was hurting her. I had struck a nerve, a very deep one, and I wouldn’t stop. She had to break the bond. Once and for all. If it meant I had to break her to do it, I would.<br /> <br /> “She told me everything. She told me how you would keep things from her and your mother. That you would be out at all hours of the night when you were a teenager. How you dropped out of high school, waisting the tuition your parents worked so hard for.”<br /> <br /> “What?” <br /> <br /> “I could never be with someone as cold and heartless as you.”<br /> <br /> Ayla’s head snapped up. Her eyes a steely gray as she resolved herself to something I couldn’t figure out but would soon find out. <br /> <br /> “I, Ayla Garner, reject you, Theo Arden, as my mate. I relinquish my claim as your mate and Luna.”<br /> <br /> I gritted my teeth as Kieran howled in my head, screaming for me not to accept it. <br /> <br /> “I, Theo Arden, accept your rejection.” The pain in my chest amplified, but I could still feel the bond. “We’ve done this before. It’s not working.”<br /> <br /> “Tell your wolf to accept it,” Ayla said with a crack in her voice. <br /> <br /> The muscles in my jaw tightened to a point I thought my teeth would shatter. The noise in my head from Kieran becoming almost unbearable.<br /> <br /> “He won’t.”<br /> <br /> “Make him,” she forced out.<br /> <br /> “I can’t.”<br /> <br /> “He doesn’t have a choice. I’ll never be with him, and neither will she,” Ayla said, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. <br /> <br /> I could feel the pain he felt. It was excruciating. I told him it would end if he just accepted, but he wouldn’t give in. He was an Alpha. He was as strong as me. I’d never overpower him on this. Ayla must have sensed my stalemate. Or her wolf did and told her because she pulled herself from against the wall, standing up straight again.<br /> <br /> “I, Ayla Garner, cut my ties to Alpha Torin…”<br /> <br /> “What are you doing?” There was desperation in my voice. She couldn’t do this. I moved to stop her. <br /> <br /> “And the Greytooth Pack.”<br /> <br /> “No.” I fell to a knee, feeling the invisible tether that united pack members with their Alpha splinter. Kieran was pounding against the barriers of my control, putting all his might into taking over the shift. I knew I was on the verge.<br /> <br /> “From this day forth, I am a rogue.” She took an unsteady step toward me, silent tears rolling freely down her face. “Now get out.”<br /> <br /> She had used my father’s name. Either of our names would have worked in the limbo state we were currently in. But she used my father’s. There was nothing I could do to stop her. Nothing I could do to fight the separation. She knew exactly what she was doing. <br /> <br /> If my wolf wouldn’t sever the mate bond, she would remove herself from any control I had over her. <br /> <br /> With one final, agonizing look, she walked away, disappearing upstairs. <br /> <br /> I took in a ragged breath of air. Ayla now had until midnight to be out of our territory. If I caught her on our land after that, I would have to murder her. Mate bond or not. She was a rogue now. It was our laws. <br /> <br /> Kieran had finally gone still in my mind. <br /> <br /> ‘Mate’s gone.’<br /> <br /> Did he mean Ayla or her wolf?<br /> <br /> ‘Dasha. Mate’s name is Dasha. Dasha’s gone.’<br /> <br /> Realization hit me and panic set in. Her wolf was gone. The pain was too much. She had retreated deep into the recesses of Ayla’s subconscious. Ayla wouldn’t be able to call on her. She wouldn’t be able to shift. She wouldn’t be able to heal.<br /> <br /> She was a rogue without a wolf. She couldn’t protect herself. <br /> <br /> I had to get as far away from her as possible. <br /> <br /> I dragged myself back to my feet, forcing them to walk out the door. <br /> <br /> Chapter 5: Ayla<br /> The moment the door was closed, I sank to the floor. It was no longer sobs that escaped my body but soul-shattering screams. <br /> <br /> She said I abandoned her. <br /> <br /> Theo made it sound like I spent my teen years partying and getting into trouble. She said I dropped out of high school. <br /> <br /> She said I wasn’t a sister to her. <br /> <br /> The betrayal was soul-crushing. <br /> <br /> I had given up everything for them. <br /> <br /> I screamed and let the tears flow freely until my body ached. As soon as it felt like I could breathe without being stabbed by a red-hot dagger, I pulled myself up and started moving. I only had a few hours to get my things and get out of Greytooth territory. <br /> <br /> I had made myself a rogue. I didn’t have a pack anymore. And I had no idea where I was going to go. All the borders on this side of the territory sat right against other pack lands. To get out of one, I’d have to enter another. But it was my only option. Trying to get to unclaimed territory was too risky. I would have better luck on foreign pack land than on the land I just severed ties to. <br /> <br /> After leaving a note for Zeff, I packed up and drove away.<br /> <br /> The Greytooth Pack may not be the largest in population, but they had one of the biggest territories. The closest border crossing was nearly two hours away. And I needed to be far away before Zeff got home. I couldn’t have him tracking me down.<br /> <br /> Especially since I didn’t give him much of an explanation. <br /> <br /> But it was better this way. I wasn’t going to risk him cutting ties and going rogue as well. Because he would. He would hold Theo responsible, and he would never stay in a pack with an alpha he didn’t respect, let alone hate. This way, the note I left would have just made it seem like I got cold feet about us being together. <br /> <br /> I drove to the outskirts of town and got on the highway. From there, it was practically a straight shot to the border. I was grateful at first, but after about an hour, I realized the monotonous ride only left my mind wondering and worrying and thinking about things I didn’t need to think about. <br /> <br /> When Theo found me in the yard that first day, I had no idea what he would say. His initial reaction to our meeting had me thinking he would pursue the pairing. But then his increasingly icy demeanor throughout the evening made it seem like he was thinking along the same lines I was. He wasn’t going to hurt Kylee for someone he didn’t know. <br /> <br /> He loved her. She loved him. I had no idea who he was, nor he I. We could reject each other and just go on our way. Neither one of us would have to break Kylee’s heart. I thought he was keeping me from my family to be cruel. Or maybe to make things easier for both of us. <br /> <br /> But today, his words revealed a different motive. He didn’t reject me for Kylee. He rejected me because of her. Because he believed what she said and painted me as some coldhearted delinquent. But why? I just couldn’t figure that out. <br /> <br /> Dad died in a gas explosion along with my aunt and uncle ten years ago. I was fourteen, and Kylee was nine. Our thirteen-year-old cousin, Mina, came to live with us for a while after their deaths. Ma was hit pretty hard by the loss, so the three of us quickly started taking care of each other. We spent every spare minute with each other. Then our financial situation changed. Kylee was entirely too young, and Mina had been through enough losing both her parents for me to put that on her. So, it was up to me to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads. <br /> <br /> But I was still fourteen. Finding jobs that paid enough to support a family of four at the age of fourteen was non-existent. I would need to work multiple jobs, and there just wasn’t enough time in the day. So, I approached the headmaster at my private high school and confided my situation with him. I was desperate not to drop out or risk my grades dropping and losing my scholarship. My parents didn’t pay a dime of my tuition. <br /> <br /> Headmaster Fordham was a miracle worker. He helped me test out of over eighty percent of my academic requirements by the end of my freshman year. I only had to take four summer classes to graduate a week after my fifteenth birthday. I was even able to broker a deal with him that would set the remaining three years of my scholarship fund aside for Kylee when it came time for her to attend high school. <br /> <br /> I still ended up working multiple jobs for several years. But no matter what, I always tried to be there for Kylee as much as possible. <br /> <br /> Everything I did was for her. <br /> <br /> I completely lost touch with all of my school friends. I never partied. I barely socialized. The jobs I held were really the only place that happened. But I was home to take her to school every morning, and I ensured I had at least an hour to help her with her homework almost every day. <br /> <br /> I didn’t discuss the lengths I went to with Kylee. I didn’t want her to feel bad or that it was her fault. And I didn’t want her to see what Ma was going through. She was struggling to keep any job. She was drinking daily. There were even a couple of times she racked up gambling debts that put us in some scary situations. <br /> <br /> But I never let Kylee see any of that. It was my job to protect them. <br /> <br /> There was so much more that didn’t add up with what Theo had said. But I didn’t get to think about it further. <br /> <br /> A searing pain shot through my chest, making my vision go white at the edges, blinding me to a point I almost missed the figure standing in the road before me. <br /> <br /> My heart jumped into my chest. I turned the wheel as sharp as I could, slamming on the brakes to avoid hitting them head-on. The moment I did it, I felt foolish. Within seconds, I was spinning through the air and sliding down an embankment.<br /> <br /> When the vehicle came to a stop, I was upside down. I registered the smell of blood, but everything was blurry. I didn’t feel significant pain, so I didn’t think the blood was coming from me. <br /> <br /> The person on the road!<br /> <br /> I scrambled out of the car and up the incline. Without Dasha, I couldn’t see well in the dark, but I could see a blurry figure moving toward me.<br /> <br /> “Are you okay?” I called. <br /> <br /> I didn’t catch what they were saying because I suddenly felt the world falling out from beneath my feet, and everything went dark. <br /> <br /> Chapter 6: Theo<br /> I said I would break her if that was what it took.<br /> <br /> And I certainly followed through with that.<br /> <br /> Ayla’s hard exterior had cracked and shattered before me. <br /> <br /> I had driven over an hour, and my stomach was still in knots. So much so that I had to stop to throw up at one point. Guilt tore at me. <br /> <br /> I really had been cruel to her. <br /> <br /> Especially since it turned out it wasn’t even her fault the bond hadn’t broken. She and Dasha had accepted my rejection. They had done what I needed them to do. Ayla had stayed away from Kylee and me. She hadn’t tried to be around them. From what I could tell, she hadn’t even called Kylee like she used to. And how did I repay her? By ripping her apart with every intention of doing as much damage as possible. <br /> <br /> It was my wolf that was still hanging on. It was Kieran who kept us in a constant state of heartache. Kept Ayla in a constant state of pain. <br /> <br /> And then she had to go and do something foolish and cut herself out of the pack. She was completely lost to us now. The only thing I could do was tell myself it was what I wanted. It was the only way to get rid of the temptation and put enough distance between us until Kylee and I were marked and mated and leading our pack. <br /> <br /> Every time I said it, Kieran was there to argue. <br /> <br /> By the time I pulled up to the packhouse, I was so pissed that anyone around instantly took a wide birth. My aura was probably so intense that I was making everyone physically uncomfortable, but I really didn’t care.<br /> <br /> I was going to head to my office but decided against it. Too many people had access to me there, and I really didn’t need anyone coming around. <br /> <br /> What I needed was to work off some of this rage and pent-up energy. <br /> <br /> I made a beeline for the private training room in the wing of the packhouse reserved for ranking members of the pack. I was relieved to find it empty, tugging my shirt over my head and immediately heading to the punching bag in the corner. <br /> <br /> I had worked up a sweat when Briggs entered the room. Walking over to me with his usual swagger, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the wall close by. He knew something was up. He had been hounding me about it since we got back from Kylee’s house. So had my mother, but I sure wasn’t going down that road.<br /> <br /> Briggs was my Beta. We had been friends since we were eight and had been through everything together since then. I didn’t think there was anything we could hide from each other. But I surely wanted to hide this from him. So I just ignored his presence.<br /> <br /> “You ready to tell me what is going on with you? Or at least, where you were today?” he said loud enough to be heard over the sound of my fists hitting the bag. <br /> <br /> “No.”<br /> <br /> “If you don’t, we’ll sedate you. Your aura is out of control right now, bro. This isn’t about you just being in a pissy mood anymore,” Briggs said with an edge to his voice that meant he was serious.<br /> I yelled as I hit the bag hard one more time. I winced as I forced my fingers through my hair. I hadn’t realized I had been breaking the skin on my knuckles. I fell back against the wall, sliding down to the floor. <br /> <br /> “You know I’m here for you, bro,” my Beta said calmly. “Whatever it is, you can talk to me.”<br /> I nodded. <br /> <br /> ‘Tell him.’<br /> <br /> I winced at Keiran’s demand. But I couldn’t really disagree anymore. <br /> <br /> “I found my mate,” I admitted. I could feel Briggs’ eyes go wide in his head. <br /> <br /> “What do you mean you found your mate?” he took a step closer. “Please tell me you’re talking about Kylee.”<br /> <br /> I shook my head. “No. I found my fated mate.”<br /> <br /> “What. The. Fu-” He had warned me about this when I first got involved with Kylee and again when we announced our mating ceremony. “Where is she? Who is she?”<br /> <br /> “I rejected her. She’s gone.”<br /> <br /> “Theo, man, you’re really scaring me now. Why would you do that? What were you thinking?” Briggs demanded.<br /> <br /> “She’s Kylee’s sister,” I snapped. Briggs tensed up.<br /> <br /> “Ayla? As in the sister that allegedly abandoned Kylee?” <br /> <br /> His use of the word “allegedly” pissed me off and confused me a little. He really liked Kylee. They’ve always gotten along. Even when he was cautioning me about finding my mate, he told me he was happy for me. <br /> <br /> “Are you trying to say Kylee is lying?” I snapped.<br /> <br /> He made a face. “No, but I do think it’s foolish to reject your mate without all the information.”<br /> <br /> “I have all the information I need.”<br /> <br /> “No, you have Kylee’s side of the story,” Briggs said with a worried look.<br /> <br /> “And their mother’s,” I added.<br /> <br /> Briggs scoffed. “Look, Marie Garner is a nice enough lady, but I wouldn’t exactly trust her judgment.”<br /> <br /> “What are you talking about?” I asked, my own concern growing.<br /> <br /> “Bro, she’s a lush,” Briggs said with a shrug. “Not that you’ve been around enough to notice since she’s been here. I can’t tell how bad, and she seems pretty harmless. But these things often have a dark side that no one sees.”<br /> <br /> I couldn’t believe we were having this conversation. The last thing I needed was any kind of doubt in my decision. <br /> <br /> “Whatever. It doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. And Ayla’s reactions to all of this told me all I needed to know from her.” I pushed myself to my feet. <br /> <br /> “What were her reactions?” Briggs asked cautiously, and I realized my choice of words may have given away more than I intended. I knew he wouldn’t let it go unless he was sure I told him everything. <br /> <br /> “Which time?” I said quietly.<br /> <br /> “Excuse me?” He heard exactly what I said. “What happened, Theo?”<br /> <br /> “She never argued or fought the rejection. She agreed and accepted it the first day we met like it was nothing. She had no response, no rebuttal, no explanation,” I told him. “You have to be coldhearted to feel nothing after breaking a mate bond.”<br /> <br /> “Or extremely strong,” Briggs stated. “You said she didn’t argue or fight. Did you even give her a chance to speak or even get to know anything about her before you threw her to the curb? Or did you just walk up to her and say tough words?”<br /> <br /> I grimaced. That’s exactly what happened. “There wasn’t exactly an opportunity for that. Neither one of us wanted Kylee to find out.”<br /> <br /> The muscles in his neck flexed as he tensed. “You said ‘which time.’ When did you see her again?”<br /> <br /> “This morning.” <br /> <br /> “Why?” <br /> <br /> I could tell he was choosing his words carefully. <br /> <br /> “Kylee wanted a necklace of her mother’s that was left at their house for some appointment this week. I went back to get it.”<br /> <br /> “Okay, someone else could have done that. Why did you go?” Briggs pushed, but the words stuck in my throat. “Theo, you’re hurting. There’s no way this is as cut and dry as you’re trying to say it is.”<br /> <br /> “The bond didn’t break. Not completely.”<br /> <br /> “Goddess, Theo. So you both have been walking around with your hearts ripped open for the past week?” Briggs said. “So, what happened today? Why are you still on the edge of ripping half the pack’s throats out?”<br /> <br /> Images of that morning flashed through my head. The fear that something had happened to her when she hadn’t been home. The jealousy and rage at finding her at another male’s house. The way it felt when I kissed her. And sheer pain and anguish of everything that followed. <br /> <br /> “Theo?” Briggs pressed.<br /> <br /> “She cut her ties to the pack,” I said solemnly. “She turned herself rogue.”<br /> <br /> “Theo,” Briggs bellowed, “how could you let that happen? Why didn’t you stop her?”<br /> <br /> “She cut herself from Dad. She used his name. There was nothing I could do. I had no way of fighting it.” I was done with this conversation. “So none of this matters. It’s done. She’s gone. She’s never coming back. Doing so would be a death sentence, and she knew that.”<br /> <br /> “What have you done, Theo?”<br /> <br /> “It doesn’t matter,” I yelled. “Whatever I did or didn’t do, she never wanted me anyway. She’s not my problem anymore. So right now, I’m going to worry about cleaning up the mess she made and figure out how to tell Kylee and Marie that they’ll never see her again. And don’t you dare breathe a word about any of this to them, do you understand me?”<br /> <br /> “Okay. Okay,” Briggs said, raising his hands in the air, trying to calm me down. “You’re right. There’s nothing we can do about her now. If it’s done and over with, then it’s done and over with. We’ll move on.”<br /> <br /> I wasn’t sure he believed it, but I didn’t care. Like I said, she wasn’t my problem anymore. <br /> <br /> I went back to my room. There was a knock on my room door, and Kylee poked her head in before I had a chance to answer.<br /> “There you are, mate,” she cooed, sitting in my lap.<br /> She ran a hand up my chest, leaning in to kiss me. Kieran’s growl started immediately.<br /> I still needed to let off some steam. Anything to get some relief.<br /> I was about to respond to her when blinding pain erupted through my body.	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621,057	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":620806}'	No	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	308532891944540	$49 CONSULTATION, BALANCE TEST, NERVE TEST AND INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY	𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼, 𝗡𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 Lancaster and Surrounding Areas!❗👋<br /> Feeling nails or electricity on your feet or hands can be a symptom of Neuropathy.<br /> <br /> We are Antelope Valley Frye Chiropractic, and I have a brand new treatment for Neuropathy and symptoms like feeling of electrical discharges, stings, burning, and numbness of the feet.<br /> <br /> This treatment can eliminate most of the pain and, in some cases, relieve it.<br /> It's safe and highly effective for most people.<br /> <br /> We are giving 23 discount vouchers this month to promote our office with the low cost of 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 $49❗<br /> <br /> That includes:<br /> ✅ Consultation<br /> ✅ Balance test<br /> ✅ Nerve test<br /> ✅ Infrared Photography<br /> <br /> Few spots left available! So get yours today by clicking the button below the Image.👇<br /> ----------------------------------------<br /> Address: 42283 10th St W Suite 107, Lancaster, CA 93534<br /> Phone Number: (661) 669-8808	GET_OFFER	http://fb.me/	252338604630499	Frye Chiropractic - English	https://facebook.com/61557361259304	0	1	1,556,249,568,442,945	2024-03-18 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	Get offer	Frye Chiropractic - English	120208229954090021	fb.me	NONE	video		http://fb.me/	2024-03-18 14:47	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431513659_773095201086317_2681778981745393650_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vMFwSPUY1JgAX9drrWk&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBjjSl3VHgjpSogXdx23LpNGUBSTbq_QKCnGeqAFHHdIQ&oe=65FF9A72	person_profile	Frye Chiropractic - English	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431543229_1219591619007089_7808293189501168309_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Z5PL4iG7l_IAX-7X45g&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAr_VVT-SVJ-DnBWq7h9Wu9iHou0bTrk1ObSBhw7auMXQ&oe=65FEC00C	3	Frye Chiropractic - English	2024-03-18 02:00	View Edit Delete
621,990	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	1498883834137125	FDA Cleared Neuropathy Technology	Neuropathy is a condition where nerves can lose their functionality, leading to symptoms like numbness, tingling, and burning sensation in the hands, feet, and legs. <br /> <br /> We offer help to individuals dealing with these symptoms, providing a chance to regain balance, strength, and sensation in their feet.<br /> <br /> If anyone you know is struggling with these symptoms, it's crucial to provide them with assistance.<br /> <br /> The next 23 people to click [Sign up] below can schedule a session with Dr. Lauren Cost, D.C. for only $49 (a $298 value).	SIGN_UP	https://revolutionchiropracticneuropathy.com/optin	110278432145536	Revolution Chiropractic Neuropathy Treatment	https://facebook.com/100095083903707	59	0	620,385,319,893,665	2024-03-17 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	Sign up	Revolution Chiropractic Neuropathy Treatment	120205475428490009	revolutionchiropracticneuropathy.com	NONE	video	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Top Quality Provider	https://revolutionchiropracticneuropathy.com/optin	2024-03-17 04:07	https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433095532_2057744737936409_5341934214498682065_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ss2oP5fOnqoAX-SiivR&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=00_AfASkiyPcqAqh6-0IS-XQ8Qipq3RqWez-gb27Jj8SjNWtg&oe=65FFE3AD	person_profile	Revolution Chiropractic Neurop	https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433117279_1583548632498818_270769571604534735_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GA404tlpLQUAX_w07QN&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDynUSYs2RcYWCzwaFtvqb0aFbqoqylKPoEhRCAUAzl7A&oe=65FF9503	3	Revolution Chiropractic Neuropathy Treatment	2024-03-17 02:00	View Edit Delete
621,248	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":621236}'	No	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	3720515334889320	NEW! ShockWave Consultation and Treatment for Sciatica Pain	Our specialized regenerative-focused clinic offers the state-of-the-art non-invasive comprehensive solutions for pain reduction/elimination and injury recovery by enhancing blood flow and stimulating the immune system. <br /> <br /> We utilize the most advanced European Extracorporial Shock Wave Therapy technologies and protocols currently available. These amazing therapies have proven effective for many conditions that have been unresponsive to other therapies. <br /> <br /> Commonly, our patients have been able to avoid invasive procedures and have quickly moved past the painful or motion-restricting conditions that have held them back. <br /> <br /> We use the exact therapies that are in use with professional sports teams across the country.<br /> We specialize in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain of many types, including, knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist/hand, neck, ankle/foot, arthritic, sciatic, neuropathic, carpal tunnel, ligament damage, plantar fascia, nerve, tendon, and more.<br /> <br /> Effectiveness is remarkable, and our treatment protocol is the shortest: 3 treatments, one week apart. We are continually excited to see how our therapies restore quality of life to those struggling with chronic and acute musculoskeletal injuries.<br /> <br /> We are welcoming new patients and are currently offering a new patient special.<br /> <br /> This New Patient Special Includes:<br /> ✅ Consultation<br /> ✅ Exam<br /> ✅ First electrohydraulic true Shock Wave Therapy Treatment<br /> <br /> At an introductory price of just $99.<br /> <br /> Click below to sign up, and start a short path to feeling better fast!	LEARN_MORE	https://www.accelwavehealthcenter.com/shockwave	141513089047882	Accelwave Health Center	https://facebook.com/61552159452374	5	1	786,267,976,224,931	2024-03-18 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	Learn more	Accelwave Health Center	120208044068210349	accelwavehealthcenter.com	NONE	image	Reduce Pain & Accelerate Healing	https://www.accelwavehealthcenter.com/shockwave	2024-03-18 10:15	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431556584_934462221613021_8594575999946154617_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PjPp3I8VTBUAX-d4Fee&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCzzOfpT_iSolYTI2Uui6gH0GTcQmpnlQGLyGusFNNO_Q&oe=660062CB	person_profile	Accelwave Health Center	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431433135_1639780756834286_3486709176417875635_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rRclzHna_lkAX9FyYBR&_nc_oc=AdhivUcfzGbP9j7g0kH-04p-mf3LWG_uU7GsnNCvLrAdkDjVorFGnUyMvY1DOprtcpU&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBnLrc_4c0ecyyGllfXvuHpQmDKSHoxf2IwDKnx0t6tTw&oe=65FF0F0E	3	Accelwave Health Center	2024-03-18 02:00	View Edit Delete
621,655	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":621654}'	No	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	345270048569972	24+ Tattoo Fails That Can't Be Unseen	These tattoo fails are legendary, and we can't unsee them no matter how hard we try	LEARN_MORE	https://parentztalk.com/shop-below-chair-ua/	104238192067446	Fox'oclock	https://facebook.com/100076064792214	2,822	1	2,035,477,323,501,766	2024-03-18 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	Learn more	Fox'oclock	120207809212440560	parentztalk.com	NONE	image	So, you have finally decided to do it! You have gotten your nerve up and you have found your way to the tattoo shop. You sit in the waiting room eagerly nervous to get in that chair for your very first tattoo. But wait, what are you going to get inked? You freeze for a moment rummaging through your....	https://parentztalk.com/shop-below-chair-ua/	2024-03-17 14:39	https://scontent.fbtr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433622364_735919955328162_2389174417933489380_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HEX6YdmIwPsAX8Zg4UH&_nc_ht=scontent.fbtr1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBqTABET1wjnfpBWmySXT1cX8hycwRcbVCh0II3Y5VSsg&oe=65FEC700	person_profile	Fox'oclock	https://scontent.fbtr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433673169_1097148618247759_6749667115073043453_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=f_p01dUTrBMAX8-o3Hl&_nc_ht=scontent.fbtr1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBZGMGYbFMGK-PlCMaQssIPzI63fTssAczBVncwhNAVhQ&oe=65FFC10E	3	Fox'oclock	2024-03-17 02:00	View Edit Delete
621,356	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":620806}'	No	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	1558980208225890	Can Neuropathic Pain Be Reversed?	🌟 Discover Pain-Free Living! 🌟<br /> <br /> Experience relief from numbness, tingling, and burning sensations with our exclusive Neuropathy Consultation by Dr. Micheal Bryan, DC. Benefit from a comprehensive X-Ray + Nerve Exam for only $49, saving $298! 🚀<br /> <br /> ✨ Why Choose Us?<br /> <br /> 🩺 Full Evaluation: X-Ray + Nerve Exam<br /> 🤓 Expert Guidance: Personalized insights<br /> 💰 Exclusive Offer: Just $49 - Save $298!<br /> 🌿 Holistic Approach: Address symptoms for overall well-being<br /> ⏰ Limited Availability: Secure your spot – click [Book Now] now!<br /> <br /> 👉 Join Dr. Micheal Bryan's Neuro Pain Relief Program. Regain balance, strength, and sensation. Don't miss out – click [Book Now] for a vibrant, pain-free life! 🌈💪	SIGN_UP	http://fb.me/	765461193662056	Integral Chiropractic Co.	https://facebook.com/integral.tn	2,196	2	379,910,641,559,656	2024-03-18 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	Sign up	Integral Chiropractic Co.	120208235303660662	fb.me	NONE	image	359⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reviews	http://fb.me/	2024-03-18 08:02	https://scontent.fphx1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431551872_1524877074752166_4175155596443598975_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=70gEtuYTYo0AX8Ph5ow&_nc_ht=scontent.fphx1-2.fna&oh=00_AfANMTX6RGRlssPc9YtuCwfCo02E6antC2qOR4MhdZRPKQ&oe=65FE92CB	person_profile	Integral Wellness Co.	https://scontent.fphx1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431543052_425386150077764_7425483751178547048_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hGeO2x5Tmq0AX-afdwS&_nc_ht=scontent.fphx1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDygBQOU7xkl9rV1b2FE3jEc-_qq9HGlOnBOlgCCOeRSQ&oe=65FEF83E	3	Integral Chiropractic Co.	2024-03-18 02:00	View Edit Delete
620,970	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	7993328457361279		Are you losing the ability to walk🚶due to #peripheralneuropathy ? Have you lost the ability to drive a car 🚘 because you can’t feel the pedals underneath your feet 👣? When you lose the ability to FEEL what’s underneath or touching your feet, losing your balance and falling can be the quick (and painful) result…<br /> <br /> At Old Bridge Acupuncture and Wellness, we utilize proven treatments that restore damaged nerve function inside of your body, without resorting to addictive drugs or high risk surgeries. We combine the power of #acupuncture , ATP BioTherapy and #herbalmedicine to restore your body and nerves, naturally. <br /> <br /> To learn more about our extraordinarily successful treatments for Neuropathy, click the link in our BIO.<br /> <br /> If you’re ready to start walking again and to get your life BACK, Call 732-952-5944 to schedule a Consultation today.<br /> <br /> #acupuncture #acupunctureworks #acupunctureclinic #acupuncturenearme #peripheralneuropathytreatment #neuropathy #neuropathytreatment #neurologicalrecovery #neurologicalrehabilitation #cipn #cipnrelief #migrainerelief #sciaticarelief #pinchednerve #neckpainrelief #anxietyrelief #stressrelief #insomniarelief #oldbridgenj #newjersey #painfreeliving	LEARN_MORE	https://linktr.ee/oldbridgeacupuncture	375199569214772	Old Bridge Acupuncture and Wellness, LLC	https://facebook.com/OldBridgeAcupuncture	322	1	3,788,375,358,043,730	2024-03-19 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	Learn more	Old Bridge Acupuncture and Wellness, LLC	6528390950698	linktr.ee	NONE	image		https://linktr.ee/oldbridgeacupuncture	2024-03-18 19:07	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433112523_310451198388823_548220946039189521_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=a85pysgxbN8AX-xYZTI&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfD6Sn6pVhNspYGVrRzia3_enYV_tFXs4oqCl1EpJ4liqw&oe=65FF8319	person_profile	Old Bridge Acupuncture	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433177754_427315059982294_6289959513348219940_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GM-z512oh8UAX_xREvO&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAyOljybTtuaJHtmoRVhjtNJW1dxKa27yKwbDVFswbVMw&oe=66002842	3	Old Bridge Acupuncture and Wellness, LLC	2024-03-18 02:00	View Edit Delete
621,512	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2024-03-20 00:40	active	294	1541158393115366	👉 Search 【177 】in 【Beenovel】 to read more exciting chapters	"I was dead.<br /> <br /> I bit the dust the night he forced me to lure a killer all to protect his new flame. After I kicked the bucket, they turned my body into an exhibit and stuck me in a glass display case for eternity.<br /> <br /> But Dexter Fitzgerald just lost his marbles.<br /> <br /> Sea City, the Fitzgerald Mansion<br /> <br /> I couldn't figure out why my spirit ended up back at this joint after I took a big sleep.<br /> <br /> ""Still no word from Phoebe? It's been days,"" Dexter’s mother Hailey muttered under her breath as she parked on the couch. ""That kid's always been a goody two shoes; she wouldn't just ghost my calls. What if something's happened to her?""<br /> <br /> I was the Fitzgerald family's adopted girl, shipped over to their pad when I was eighteen.<br /> <br /> My mom was Hailey's BFF. After my folks passed away in a car wreck, she scooped me up and brought me to the Fitzgeralds.<br /> <br /> ""Mom, just let it be. She's a big girl; what could possibly go wrong?"" Dexter was getting antsy and glancing at the time. ""Today's Melody's birthday bash—I gotta jet.""<br /> <br /> Watching Dexter, I couldn't help but snicker at myself. Like he'd give a damn if I was dead or alive.<br /> <br /> Back in the day, we were the childhood sweethearts everybody raved about. Me, always following him around; him, always holding my hand.<br /> <br /> He said he dug me, and then like a complete idiot, I fell head over heels for him for a whole decade.<br /> <br /> Turned out young love was paper thin. When Dexter met his true love, all the feelings we had went up in smoke in the blink of an eye.<br /> <br /> ""Dexter... With that serial killer jazz going around targeting young, pretty girls, I've got this twitch in my eye and my heart's racing non-stop. Hit up Phoebe, tell her I miss her,"" Hailey was on edge and pleaded quietly.<br /> <br /> After my parents were six feet under, Hailey was the only one soothing and caring for me like a mother; she was treating me like her own flesh and blood.<br /> <br /> I wanted to comfort her, to give her a hug, but I couldn't do squat now.<br /> <br /> Even worse... I was the reason she was in knots.<br /> <br /> ""Hailey, I'm so sorry..."" My voice choked up, arms outstretched, trying to embrace her, but I couldn't touch her no matter how hard I tried.<br /> <br /> ""She's just an ungrateful woman. She shouldn't have hung up on you even if she was mad at me. She's got a hard-on."" Dexter was loaded with disgust as he mentioned me.<br /> <br /> I remembered that year when Dexter got sideswiped by kidnappers. I played the decoy like a madwoman, just praying he'd make it out alive.<br /> <br /> I still heard him murmuring right before he passed out, ""Phoebe, I'll always be good to you...""<br /> <br /> Now that love's gone, I was just the ingrate he's griping about.<br /> <br /> ""Dexter, I'm six feet under, and you're finally off the hook,"" I stood in front of him, mocking myself. ""Turns out I've always been nothing but an ungrateful woman to you.""<br /> <br /> Hailey said, ""Dexter, I know you don't wanna tie the knot with Phoebe, but you guys were set from the start and childhood sweethearts with a solid foundation. You're already an item; if you don't marry her, how am I supposed to face her mom?""<br /> <br /> Dexter's face turned stormy, his voice icy, ""Cut the childhood sweethearts crap. Why I gotta marry her just because we grew up together? She's delusional by using a childhood promise as an excuse to throw herself at me, dignity be damned.""<br /> <br /> I was shaking with rage. I swung at him but hit nothing but air, ""Dexter, you bastard!""<br /> <br /> That night, it was him who went nuts and laid hands on me in bed. And he also had the nerve to claim I played him.<br /> <br /> Dexter took off, and my spirit had no choice but to tag along to Melody Burton's birthday bash.<br /> <br /> As soon as we walked in, Dexter's buddies started calling Melody ""Mrs. Fitzgerald!""<br /> <br /> ""Happy birthday, Mrs. Fitzgerald! Dexter broke the bank to make your day special.""<br /> <br /> Dexter smiled fondly at Melody, presenting his gift amid cheers from the crowd.<br /> <br /> ""Dexter, any news from Phoebe?"" Melody asked quietly as if something just crossed her mind.<br /> <br /> I snorted, ""Playing the good guy, huh? Weren't you the one who did me in?""<br /> <br /> Dexter frowned, ""Don't kill the vibe by bringing her up.""<br /> <br /> Melody just smiled, ""She's still your sister, after all. Don't be like that.""<br /> <br /> ""Sister?"" Dexter scoffed. ""She almost got you killed and you're still sticking up for her? You're too nice.""<br /> <br /> Melody hugged Dexter, getting all cutesy in his arms. ""I don't mind..."" she muttered.<br /> <br /> Standing in front of Dexter, I desperately tried to explain. ""I didn't do it! I never hurt her, and it was her! She's the one who got me killed!"" I exclaimed. ""Dexter! She's the one who killed me!""<br /> <br /> But Dexter couldn't hear a thing.<br /> <br /> 👉Pesquise o número 【177 】no 【Beenovel】para ler mais. Divirta-se~😎👅"	LEARN_MORE	https://www.beenovels.com/fbweb/179158313467.html	103123875998600	World of Female	https://facebook.com/100088641804553	1,254	1	388,980,960,504,941	2024-03-18 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	1	Learn more	World of Female	120207740725570186	www.beenovels.com	NONE	video		https://www.beenovels.com/fbweb/179158313467.html	2024-03-18 05:12	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432580042_1518059938763479_9009109613407217580_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uABAe8n4Z1gAX8K2JO7&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBffWuaS7AEyHS8GNIZtD5WsZP86UON68nD-O-31DYeEg&oe=65FEEF72	person_profile	World of Female	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432548181_938569644589579_4499658367648463367_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vRqvE6zqfC8AX-k-e1B&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAiDrHxPC4QOMgDqxUjP_NNqKV0eFnJAvmUZFAgfJa-nA&oe=65FFEF03	3	World of Female	2024-03-18 02:00	View Edit Delete

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