On the other end of the line, Josiah's voice was unnervingly calm. "Tamara, calm down."
"Josiah! You have to help me! I can't get divorced! I can't go to jail!" She was practically begging him.
Josiah was silent for a few seconds before speaking slowly. "Tamara, it's not that I don't want to save you, but the situation is very bad for you right now. You don't know yet, do you? Someone posted what happened at the wedding online. Dad and Mr. Sherwood are dealing with it right now. Stop making a scene and just try to get back on the Sherwoods' good side."
Tamara ground her teeth in anxiety. "Josiah! I'm not making a scene! The Sherwoods have locked me up like a criminal! How am I supposed to get on their good side?"
Josiah hadn't slept all night. He had been cleaning up Tamara's mess non-stop. Now, hearing her throw a tantrum over being grounded, he lost his patience. "What do you want me to do? The whole internet is talking about you hiring a hitman. Dad and Mr. Sherwood are burnt out trying to bury the search trends! It's just house arrest. Milford used to like you so much; just say some sweet words to him, and maybe he'll let you out. If you keep acting unreasonable, no one will be able to save you!"
Tamara gasped for air, feeling helpless and desperate. Her voice cracked with genuine emotion. "So... you... you're all abandoning me? Josiah, have you forgotten? You told me I was your favorite sister. You promised you'd protect me."
Was that all a lie?
Josiah heard it and fell silent for a moment. Finally, he said, "Things are different now, Tamara. Just stay quiet for a while. Once the storm passes, I'll come get you from the Sherwoods."
The call was ruthlessly disconnected.
The phone slipped from Tamara's weak grasp.
“Bang!”
It hit the floor, shattering instantly, shards of the screen flying everywhere.
Staring at the spiderweb cracks on the screen, Tamara snapped. She grabbed the bottles and jars on the vanity and hurled them at the floor.
“Crash!”

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