Chapter 22
Years of malnutrition had turned Nicole into a ghost of her former self–once radiant, now just skin and bones.
Coreene had only slapped her once, yet she crumpled to the floor, too weak to stand.
But even that felt too merciful.
Thinking of her son lying in a coma because of this woman, Coreene snapped. She grabbed Nicole by the collar and slapped her
again. And again.
If the guards hadn’t rushed in, Nicole might not have made it through the day.
Even as they held her back, Coreene kept cursing.
“You wretch! Why wasn’t it you in that accident?! Why aren’t you the one in a coma?!”
Nicole almost laughed.
Once upon a time, when Andrew had loved her, Coreene had, too–treating her like a daughter, calling her sweet names.
Now that he despised her? That love had rotted into hatred.
Now, ‘wretch‘ was all she’d ever be.
Only when Coreene finally sat down for tea did Nicole speak, her voice raw but laced with bitterness. “I’m a wretch? And your son
isn’t?
“He claimed to love me, but the second Lena called, he ran to her. Every. Single. Time.
“He strung us both along–whispering love to me, never letting go of her. And I’m the villain? The one who wanted it all was him!
“He got exactly what he deserved! A man like that should’ve died in that crash! Staying in a coma forever is the best punishment
for him!”
She burst into laughter–wild, unhinged.
