When My Ex's Worst Enemy Became My Sanctuary novel Chapter 269

Life in prison. Dorothea had seen it coming.

Carola had gone as far as trying to use a bomb. If she had pulled it off, who knows how many innocent people would have been caught in the chaos. Jealousy had completely clouded her judgment. She’d lost all sense of right and wrong.

Even now, Dorothea couldn’t understand what kind of grudge could drive someone to this. In the end, all this destruction was over a man. Was he really worth throwing away the rest of her life?

“Stop looking at it.” Latham took the phone from Dorothea’s hand. “She did this to herself.”

“Layton was at least smart enough to send Alonzo out of the country.”

Did Layton really think that was enough to keep him safe? Latham wasn’t naive. He knew exactly who had helped Carola get in touch with the seller. None of them would get away clean.

There were plenty of ways to make sure someone simply disappeared, no questions asked.

Even if Alonzo was Dorothea’s half-brother, Latham wouldn’t hesitate. The moment anyone threatened his wife, he’d make sure that danger was snuffed out before it could even grow.

...

After what happened to Carola, no one was more scared than Bertha.

Her eyes were red when she pleaded with her father. “Dad, you have to help me. Latham is terrifying.”

She was Elise’s stepdaughter, and now she had landed in jail. Even with a letter of forgiveness from Elise and her own confession, Bertha would only be locked up for a few months, but she was still terrified. She was afraid she wouldn’t make it out of there at all.

Alfonso ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. “Who told you to act on your own and hurt people? I’ll go apologize to Latham again. You just need to reflect while you’re inside. Behave yourself, understand?”

Beth’s eyes were puffy and wet as she tried to comfort her. “Bertha, please take care of yourself while you’re in there.”

Alfonso didn’t even notice the anger simmering in his wife’s eyes.

He rushed off to find Latham and beg for mercy.

Because of what happened with Bertha, Beth couldn’t even stand to look at Elise. Elise, knowing she had no place in the house anymore, packed up and left. Still, whenever the Carter family got together, Walton would make his little digs. “See? I told you Dorothea was bad luck. But you never listened to me.”

Beth, crying, snapped, “How was I supposed to know she’d be so cruel? Elise doesn’t even try to control Dorothea. Alfonso, if anything happens to Bertha in there, I swear I’ll divorce you!”

Those threats of divorce echoed around Alfonso every day, driving him crazy.

“Enough. This is supposed to be family day. Why are you bringing this up?”

Beth stormed out, still in tears.

Aiken’s face was dark and serious. “Where’s Elise? Call her. Tell her to come home.”

When Elise finally returned, her father let her have it. He even demanded she pay Alfonso back for everything.

She could only laugh at how ridiculous it all was. “Alfonso, weren’t you all the ones with dirty intentions in the first place? You tried to seduce Dorothea’s husband, didn’t you?”