The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights by Brick Moving Ant

Chapter 9

As dawn broke, Thaddeus found us at the beach. He collapsed to his knees in front of me.

My parents stumbled in behind him. They were unrecognizable–their elegant appearance gone, replaced by swollen eyes and haggard faces ravaged.

The videos and photos had vanished from the internet as if they never existed. But I knew it was too

late.

“Scarlett, I’ve made the worst mistake of my life. I trusted the wrong person and destroyed you without checking the facts. I had no idea Viviennee’d sacrifice her own reputation out of jealousy. I’m so incredibly sorry.”

“Please–hit me, scream at me–anything but this silence! Take your revenge however you want. I’m

begging you, Scarlett, let me try to make this right. I’ve found every one of those men. Vivienne’s

locked up. Just tell me what you want me to do–please don’t shut me out like this.”

I ignored him completely. I just leaned against Hayes, watching the sunrise.

Hayes shot Thaddeus a look of pure contempt.

“Get the hell away from her,” he snarled. “You shouldn’t be here. You could have investigated this months ago–but you let your goons stop me! You could have saved her anytime–but you locked me

you

like a physical blow. By the end, he was shaking with silent

fell to her knees. I

turned completely white.

wept. “I’ve destroyed my own child. I was wrong. I blindly believed Vivienne when you–you were always protecting her. How could I ever think

“Let me take care of you. I’ll spend every second making it up to you. Punish us however you

reaching for me but wouldn’t touch me, as if she knew she’d lost that right.

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Chapter 9

suffering. If Vivienne wasn’t so desperate to leak the videos,

what good were apologies now? Could “sorry” erase what

tears streaming down his face–something

come home with Dad. I swear on my life nobody

again. I’m throwing your sister out. You’ll never suffer again. Please let me try to be

again.”

sister made her accusations, Dad had used similar

it had crushed me. Now, I wished they’d disowned me from the

to pacify me. Once things calmed down, they’d return to normal. And I’d only be left with

a cold smile.