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?"

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

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

maid's bruised arms was all Freya needed to understand the

see the chaos Johanna and her son had wrought upon their

hardly yours to claim, Leland." Freya 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

threats, his misuse of his status as the Dawson heir to silence her, to keep her bound to a life of

let me leave!" Her pleas were

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

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

I must truly lack upbringing!" Freya's voice was 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