<Finding Forever After the Betrayal) Chapter 17
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The tears dried up, replaced by a look of bewildered hurt in Hannah’s eyes.
She couldn’t understand this sudden shift in their demeanor. Just a few days ago,
they’d been putty in her hands, their concern for her a balm to her carefully
constructed insecurities. Now, they looked at her with a cold indifference that
sent a shiver down her spine. It was as if her tears, her vulnerability, held no
power over them anymore.
She couldn’t tell them the truth. She couldn’t confess to the subtle
manipulations, the carefully planted seeds of doubt, the triumphant texts she’d
sent Violet, gloating about her conquest. She’d lose everything: her job, her
apartment, the illusion of belonging she’d so carefully crafted.
“Ethan, please,” she whimpered, her voice barely a whisper as she reached
out to grasp his hand.“You have to believe me. I would never do anything to hurt
Violet. She’s…she’s like a sister to me. I’m just… I’m so grateful for everything she‘
s done for me.”
“If…if she’s uncomfortable with me living here,” she continued, her voice
cracking with feigned distress, “I’ll move out. It’s just… I thought we were all
friends. Maybe she’s… maybe she’s jealous.”
She squeezed out a few more tears, hoping to evoke a flicker of the
sympathy, the protectiveness, that had always been her weapon of choice. Ethan
was the softhearted one, the one who was quick to forgive, quick to comfort. If
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< «Finding Forever After…
(Finding Forever After the Betrayal Chapter 17
Menu
The tears dried up, replaced by a look of bewildered hurt in Hannah’s eyes.
She couldn’t understand this sudden shift in their demeanor. Just a few days ago,
they’d been putty in her hands, their concern for her a balm to her carefully
constructed insecurities. Now, they looked at her with a cold indifference that
sent a shiver down her spine. It was as if her tears, her vulnerability, held no
power over them anymore.
She couldn’t tell them the truth. She couldn’t confess to the subtle
manipulations, the carefully planted seeds of doubt, the triumphant texts she’d
sent Violet, gloating about her conquest. She’d lose everything: her job, her
apartment, the illusion of belonging she’d so carefully crafted.
“Ethan, please,” she whimpered, her voice barely a whisper as she reached
out to grasp his hand.“You have to believe me. I would never do anything to hurt
Violet. She’s…she’s like a sister to me. I’m just… I’m so grateful for everything she‘
s done for me.”
“If…if she’s uncomfortable with me living here,” she continued, her voice
cracking with feigned distress, “I’ll move out. It’s just… I thought we were all
friends. Maybe she’s… maybe she’s jealous.”
She squeezed out a few more tears, hoping to evoke a flicker of the
sympathy, the protectiveness, that had always been her weapon of choice. Ethan
was the softhearted one, the one who was quick to forgive, quick to comfort. If
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she could just get him on her side, she could salvage this. She could still win.
Ethan, however, stared at her with a coldness that sent a chill down her spine.
His easygoing charm, his playful grin… it was all gone, replaced by a steely resolve
that made her heart pound with a fear she hadn’t known he was capable of
inspiring.
He gave a harsh laugh, a sound devoid of any humor.“You really are a piece
of work, aren’t you, Hannah? Playing the victim, even now.” His gaze hardened”
You know, I’m not always the nice guy everyone thinks I am.”
Before Hannah could react, he slammed her head down on the table, his
hands closing around her throat, his fingers pressing into her skin with a force
that stole her breath.
Aiden’s voice, cold and emotionless, was a whisper in her ear. “You like your
job, don’t you, Hannah? Your fancy apartment? Your designer clothes? It would
be a shame to lose it all, wouldn’t it?” He paused, letting his words sink in, his
gaze unwavering.“Go back to that little village you came from…empty–handed.
I think your family would be…disappointed.”
His threat, a chilling reminder of her humble beginnings, the life she’d so
desperately tried to escape, was more terrifying than Ethan’s physical assault.
She thrashed against his grip, her lungs screaming for air, her carefully
constructed world crumbling around her.
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“No!” she gasped, her voice a strangled cry. Please! Don’t don’t sell them
I’ll tell you everything! Jus…. let me go.“*
Ethan loosened his grip, his eyes cold, watchful Talk he growled
Hannah coughed, her lungs burning, her eyes wide with ton. My phone”
she choked out, her voice raspy. Everything’s everything’s on my phone just
don’t tell my family.”
She fumbled for her phone, her fingers trembling as she attacked the scree
a desperate hope flickering in her chest. She’d been careful to delene the
incriminating messages, the texts that revealed her true mentions, her carefully
orchestrated campaign to drive a wedge between Violet and the men who loved
her.
Aiden didn’t even bother to take the phone. One look at her panicked
expression, the desperate plea in her eyes, was enough to confirm his suspicions.
“Ethan,” he said, his voice dangerously calm, call your tech guy. Tell himno
retrieve everything. Every deleted text, every email every photo. I want it all”
Hannah lunged for Ethan, her nails digging into his arm, her voice a
desperate wail “No! Please! Don’t!”
But it was too late. The truth was about to come out
