The Bride Who Said No: Escaping the Shadows of Yesterday

Chapter 9

Once a towering symbol of affluence and wealth, the Dawson family had crumbled under Leland's reckless gambit.

Before Freya stood her 18-year-old renegade so-called brother, a blaze of fury in her eyes as she lifted her hand and delivered a resounding slap.

The strike sent Leland reeling with disbelief etched across his face. "You, you hit me?"

The Freya Leland knew was gentle, her voice always laced with a softness, making her an easy target. Yet she stood her ground, her hand still stinging from the contact.

Freya fumed. "Damn right, I hit you! What gave you the audacity to barge into my room?"

was my fault for not stopping Mr. Dawson!" The maid quivered near the doorway, her voice trembling with

please!" Leland's outburst

Freya needed to understand the depth of Leland's

with Kieran to see the chaos Johanna and her son had wrought

helped her to her feet. The marks of abuse were evident, a silent testament to her suffering. Freya snapped, "The Dawson name may carry weight, but we're

She had longed to escape, trapped by Leland's threats, his misuse of his status as the Dawson heir to silence her, to keep her bound to

Dawson, please let me leave!" Her pleas

Seeing her son's swollen face, she instantly

your brother? Have you lost your mind? What's your point with all this, calling off the engagement and

mince words. Leland isn't my father's biological son. He's of age, yet he breaks into my room and abuses our staff. See for