A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

Even after applying an ice pack, the marks on Vera’s face were still impossible to miss.

“Let it go, Vera. Your mom’s held on this long,” Carla murmured, gently touching Vera’s cheek, her eyes rimmed with red.

Vera shook her head. “I’m going to keep looking for a lawyer. We’ll leave tonight. I’m worried he’ll show up and interfere with your recovery.”

Watching Vera hurriedly pack their things, Carla found herself unable to voice any words of comfort. Her daughter was fighting so hard for her–how could she, as a mother, keep dragging her child down?

“Did you take out that card?”

“I did.” While packing, she’d gone back to her room and grabbed the debit card and checkbook Carla had hidden away.

“That’s good. There’s not much in there, but a few thousand dollars should help us get by for a while. So what if I can’t walk? I’ll work from home, maybe knit things to sell, or set up a table at the market. There are plenty of ways to make a living. Things will get better for us, you’ll see.”

Vera paused, then turned to Carla with a smile. “Yeah, things will get better. Once we settle in at my place, I’ll show you around. On weekends, we’ll go shopping or just take a walk. It’ll get better,” she repeated, as if she needed the words to steady her own pounding heart.

Once they’d finished packing, Vera went to settle the discharge paperwork. But when she returned, she found a commotion outside the hospital room–voices shouting, people crowding around.

through the

If you dare run, I swear

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me!”

in Hamlin’s hand, catching the fluorescent

to you? Are you out of your mind?” Carla’s eyes were wide with terror; the man before her was

Vera shoved Hamlin aside and stood protectively in front of

Vera’s defiance

Hamlin’s threats sent a fresh wave of panic through Carla. Years of insults and beatings had left

stared at the knife.

the nurses, and

you down with me!” Hamlin kept screaming as they forced him out. Vera clamped her hands over Carla’s ears, rubbing her back,

city’s