Chapter 18
SMACK!
Outside the operating room, Hosea slapped Hedy hard across the face, her voice filled with disappointment.
“How did I end up with a daughter like you?”
Hedy’s mother had always assumed her daughter’s wildest actions would be something like drugging Lance. She never imagined Hedy would push someone down a staircase!
If Fred hadn’t angrily investigated Hedy’s past after this incident, Hosea would never have discovered her own daughter had attempted arson and murder!
Hedy kept her head down, covering her stinging cheek. After a long silence, she finally mumbled, “Isn’t this what you taught me, Mother?”
When Hedy was six, Hosea had divorced her alcoholic, abusive husband. She’d left with nothing but
custody of her daughter.
Life as a single mother had been brutal. After years of struggling, Hosea managed to marry Fred
of the Rhodes household.
Rhodes, transforming herself into the new lad?
The privileged lifestyle had finally allowed Hosea to relax. With time on her hands, she’d focused on
grooming Hedy.
She’d passed on all her hard–earned wisdom, teaching Hedy exactly how to marry well and secure a
comfortable future.
“Yes, I told you to use whatever means necessary to catch a good man,” Hosea hissed, trembling with rage, “but I never told you to break the law!”
She raised her hand for another slap.
“That’s enough!” Fred’s sharp command cut through the tension as he emerged from signing
paperwork, interrupting Hosea mid–swing.
Hosea’s eyes immediately welled with tears as she approached Fred. “Darling, this is all my fault…”
A single tear slid down her cheek before she could finish.
the Dast: This Time I Choose to Let Go
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This manipidation lactic, which had worked countless times before, now seemed to have minimal *****, Fed’s expression softened slightly.
She was, after es wife of many years.
without responding to her, he simply justructed Moses to accompany him to Anthea’s hospital room to apologize to the Orlando family
But the Orientos wouldn’t even let them through the door.
“Please leave now, Toby Orlando stated firmly, blocking the doorway with an unmistakably cold expression. “We’re not influential enough to deal with your apologies.”
He’d thought his daughter’s divorce from Lance would be the end of their troubles, never expecting this new nightmare,
Though the Orlando family couldn’t match the Rhodess‘ influence, Toby showed absolutely no deference, His daughter’s welfare was all that mattered to him.
fred, knowing they were in the wrong, couldn’t even get angry. He could only inquire politely about
Anthea’s condition.
Thanks to Lance’s body breaking her fall, Anthea hadn’t been seriously injured and would recover
after a few days of rest,
Hearing this, Hosea finally relaxed. Though genuinely angered by her daughter’s actions, she hadn’t wanted another death on Hedy’s hands.
After repeated apologies to the Orlandos, Hosea and Fred finally left.
“One more thing,” Toby’s voice stopped them in the hallway, though they didn’t turn around.
“I never want to see Lance Rhodes again.”
The message couldn’t have been clearer.
Fred said nothing and continued walking away with Hosea, but Toby knew he would comply.
Three days after falling into a coma, Lance finally regained consciousness.
After Fred checked on his health, he told him the decision about what to do with Hedy was up to
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want
him. Though Hosea felt heartsick for her daughter, the didart waar Hedy continuing down this destructive path, so she remained silent
After a moment of silence, Lance spoke quietly. “I need to talk to her
In the hushed hospital room, Lance observed Hedy, who couldart bring herself to meet his gaze.
His mind drifted back to their first meeting
That afternoon, a young Hedy in a pink dress had grabbed his hand, sailing brightly. So, you’re my brother now?”
How had that innocent, sweet child transformed into this venomous woman?
“Why?”
Lance’s voice barely broke the silence, and after what felt like an eternity before Hedy finally spoke. Her voice barely above a whisper, filled with tears.
“I love you too much. I couldn’t accept seeing you with anyone else…
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