Frown

The Scars She Hid From The World

REGINA MCBRIDE

The heavy iron gates of the Wilderness Correction Camp groaned as they released me after three years of state-sponsored hell. I stood on the dirt road, clutching a plastic bag that held my entire life, waiting for the family that claimed they sent me there for "rehab." My brother, Brady, picked me up in a luxury SUV only to throw me out onto a deserted highway in the middle of a brewing storm. He told me I was a "public relations nightmare" and that the rain might finally wash the "stink" of the camp off me. He drove away, leaving me to limp miles through the mud on a snapped ankle. When I finally dragged myself to our family estate, my mother didn't offer a hug; she gasped in horror because my muddy clothes were ruining her Italian marble. They didn't give me my old room back. Instead, they banished me to a moldy gardener’s shack and hired a "babysitter" to make sure I didn't embarrass them further. My sister, Kaleigh, stood there in white cashmere, pretending to cry while clinging to her fiancé, Ambrose—the man who had once been mine. They all treated me like a volatile junkie, refusing to acknowledge that Kaleigh was the one who planted the drugs in my bag three years ago. They wanted to believe I was broken so they wouldn't have to feel guilty about the "wellness retreat" that was actually a torture chamber. I sat in the dark of that shed, feeling the cooling gel on the cigarette burns that covered my arms, and realized they had made a fatal mistake. They thought they had erased me, but I had returned with a roadmap of scars and a hidden satellite phone. At dinner, I didn't beg for their love. I simply rolled up my sleeves and showed them the price of their silence. As the wine spilled and the lies crumbled, I sent a single text to the only person I trusted: "I'm in. Let them simmer." The hunt was finally on.

Modern Revenge Scheming Kickass Heroine Comeback Revenge

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"Maren, haven't you ever noticed how much honor Nadia has brought our family? And look at yourself—all you've done is drag us down."

"Remember, Nadia once risked herself for you. It's time to return the favor."

"Save Nadia! Do whatever you wish with Maren."

"I also choose Nadia!"

"Same here."

At the grim outskirts, in an abandoned factory, Maren Morgan's wrists were bound tightly. She listened helplessly as her three brothers chose Nadia Morgan, her half-sister, over her.

Her final hope rested in Wilbur Thorpe, the fiance she had cherished deeply for over ten years, the man she'd shared a childhood with.

Wilbur stood nearby, impeccably dressed, his demeanor polished and aloof.

Their gazes connected briefly, but Wilbur's lips parted only to speak with brutal detachment. "My choice is Nadia. Touch her, and you'll regret it. As for Maren—she's meaningless to me. Do whatever you like."

Wilbur's ruthless disregard crushed Maren, slicing through her heart. She remembered clearly all she'd sacrificed to keep him alive, giving her blood repeatedly even when the doctors warned her she might not survive.

Though she'd anticipated his rejection, hearing his cold words shattered something deep inside her.

The pain was overwhelming—so much that she couldn't even speak.

All she could do was watch as Nadia burst into tears and threw herself into Wilbur's arms. The same man who had been cold and distant towards her was now tenderly brushing Nadia's tears away.

Her brothers surrounded Nadia protectively, showering her with affection, utterly blind to her distress.

No one cared about her. They did not even cast her a brief glance.

Instead, she faced leering kidnappers, their filthy bodies moving towards her with sinister anticipation.

"Who'd have guessed the Morgan family would dump their legitimate daughter just to protect an illegitimate one? Looks like gutter rats like us hit the jackpot tonight."

"Patience, boys—everyone gets a turn."

Maren backed against the wall, trapped.

Her throat burned from earlier cries, the taste of blood still fresh.

As her family celebrated Nadia's rescue, Maren felt the last thread of hope vanish.

She finally gave up.

Her mother's face flashed through her mind, and with it came a surge of strength. She was done living this nightmare.

In a sudden burst, Maren threw her head up and made a break for the wall.

But before she could get far, the lead kidnapper caught on. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her back with brutal force, cutting her attempt short.

Then, a fierce and stinging slap landed hard on Maren's face.

"Think again, bitch! We're not finished with you yet."

The brutal impact sent Maren spiraling into unconsciousness.

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