The Queen They Buried

The rattan cane snapped against Carmen’s back, the sound crisp and sharp. With the very first strike, her scream was so miserable and blood curdling.

She staggered, unable to stay on her knees, and toppled forward. “It hurts, it hurts so much. Trevor, please, sparen

@me”

Carmen immediately grabbed Trevor’s pant leg, begging for mercy.

‘Is that all you can take?‘ Aubree thought

as she sat on the sofa. Back then, she just knelt there and took the punishment without making a sound.

It wasn’t that Aubree didn’t feel the pain

She

at if she made a sound, they’d only hit her harder.

to the side, watching. Even though he didn’t say a word, anyone could see the look of reluctance and

Aubree glanced at Ronald, who was standi pity on his face.

feels sorry for her? Back when I was

thought.

in the Wilson family just watched

daughter raised by his side. Even though Ronald now had plenty of complaints about her and even suspected she might

of heartache was nothing compared to the benefits Aubree could

had already raised the cane for a second strike. Carmen squeezed her eyes shut in despair, bracing herself. Just

Daxton. He’d

let out a small smile. But when Trevor saw it was Daxton,

Daxton! It hurts, it hurts

watched the scene unfold. In just a few quick

By the time he steadied himself, Daxton was already cradling Carmen in his arms, his face

Trevor a

least bit intimidated, his eyes full of contempt. “You want to protect Carmen? Well, I’m just standing up for Aubree. Do you have a problem with

people in the Wilson family that Trevor would even consider

lashes from Trevor, who hadn’t held back at

burn with anger. “Aubree? Where were you all those years ago

that. She thought, Where were they back then? Now that I don’t need them, suddenly they want to act like I’m their daughter and

she pays for it tomorrow, the day after, and every day after that.

are you refusing