From Ashes of Scandal to His Embrace novel Chapter 22

“I’m giving you one more chance. If you don’t leave now, don’t blame us for what happens next.”

Jared looked at the girls standing behind Laurinda. The warning was for them too.

Their faces were pale, but no one moved. They were Laurinda’s close friends. They had come together, and they would leave together.

“Oh, wow. So loyal. In that case…”

“Wait. Let them go. I’ll go with you.”

Laurinda gently patted Shirley’s shoulder, then turned and mouthed two words: call police.

Shirley caught on immediately. The stubborn look on her face disappeared as she grabbed the other girls, picked up her broken phone from the ground, and hurried away.

Jared watched them run off and gave a mocking smile. “So much for friendship. Laurinda… actually, you’re not Laurinda anymore, are you? Come on, let’s settle what you did to my brother’s leg.”

He yanked Laurinda by the collar of her puffy jacket, dragging her along like she was nothing, pulling her into a pitch-black alley.

Nearby, Fabian watched with a smug grin. After tonight, Laurinda would be finished. Her pride would be crushed for good.

“Warner, did you handle what I asked? The cops aren’t coming, right?”

“Relax, Fabian. My brother Wade is the beat cop here. I already talked to him. He’ll stall for a while, maybe wait until Jared’s done.”

Inside the alley, Laurinda changed in an instant. She grabbed Jared’s arm, twisted hard, and everyone heard a sharp crack, followed by a scream that echoed off the walls. Just hearing it made you wince.

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