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?"

Mr. Dawson!" The maid

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

arms was all Freya needed to understand the depth of Leland's tyranny in the

Kieran to see the chaos Johanna and her

approached the maid, her movements gentle as she 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

welled up in the maid's eyes as Freya defended her. She had longed to escape, trapped by Leland's threats, his

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

the commotion, Johanna hurried upstairs. Seeing her son's swollen face, she instantly surmised what had

you strike your brother? Have you lost your mind? What's your point

ice. "Johanna, let's not 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 yourself the kind of