A Journey from Bitterness to Truth

Chapter 13

Hearing the words “son of a convict“, Yvan felt a sharp contraction in his chest, his voice breaking as he shot back, “I dare you to say that again!”

Matilda didn’t speak, but her eyes bore into him with an intensity that reflected how much love had turned to hate.

“You put me behind bars for five years, Yvan. Five. Long. Years. And you know what? Whether I was innocent or not doesn’t even matter. What matters is that you never had a shred of trust in me,” she said, her voice cold and swift as if Yvan were now nothing more than an

inconsequential stranger. It was as if she was using every ounce of her strength to wound him deeply.

A sarcastic smile played on Matilda’s lips. “Don’t tell me you’ve just realized that our old flame isn’t quite extinguished?”

A crack appeared in Yvan’s rage–filled eyes as he stood up abruptly and clutched Matilda’s throat.

His handsome features were overlaid with a sheen of frost as he looked at her and laughed. cruelly, “Who taught you to talk like that, huh? Thinking you’ve grown wings since you got out of the slammer?”

cutting off her air, Matilda’s breaths came in short gasps. “Yvan, I learned

shuddered, feeling as if his blood was flowing backward.

my son, and I promise you won’t see me again for as long as I

managing to choke out,

stumbled, her knees hitting the hardwood

front of Yvan.

strangled it. What more could you possibly want from me? You’ve already picked the Thompson family clean. For once, Yvan, can’t you show me a little mercy?”

me

plea cut through him like a blade, bringing back the acute pain he felt when he

hoarse. “What exactly do you want?”

fragmented with

19.06

Chapter 13