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?"

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

is my house. I go where I please!" Leland's outburst sent the maid reeling, her body shaking

bruised arms was all Freya needed to understand the

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

of abuse were evident, a silent testament

up in the maid's eyes as Freya defended her. 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

please let me leave!" Her pleas were a heart-wrenching symphony of

the commotion, Johanna hurried upstairs. Seeing her son's swollen

fury was palpable as she rounded on Freya. "How dare you strike your brother? Have you lost your mind? What's your point with all this, calling off the engagement and now this

let's not mince words. Leland isn't my father's biological son. He's of age, yet