Chapter 22

LEAH

The rest of the meeting is a blur.

Aaron hauls me to my feet and starts talking over the noise in the room about ‘personally conducting an investigation.’ And then, out of deference to me, he offered to pay my father’s bad debt so that the Regional Council would not be impacted

while he sorted through matters.

Which, of course, made everyone think he was some kind of

savior.

But could you really praise a firefighter for saving a burning building if he was the one who started the fire in the first

place?

No. Of course not.

And what Aaron did is criminal and gaslighting and all kinds

of twisted.

But it isn’t just Aaron who came out of the meeting smelling

like roses.

I made a good impression too, apparently. I struck a chord with some of the Elders. And they’ve granted my father a

reprieve because of it.

2/5

of the council members appreciated my

of treachery

a wolf over

anyway.

the result I was hoping for but I’ve bought my father

and that has to count for something.

more than I can

his hand on my arm and brings me out of the building to the car. He opens the door, physically lifts me into the backseat and fastens my

door ever so gently.

intentionally gentle gesture that

to slam it.

from the opposite

he’s sitting next to

3/5

I wonder what that’s about. Typically, Aaron doesn’t go anywhere without James

vehicle

are nowhere

turning left Aaron instructs the driver to go right.

going?”

purses his lips bemusedly.

anything. I promised.

dad.

guess that extends to going wherever he wants

been avoided,” he says, “If you’d trusted

me.”

face. I stare at him for a

“Oh. You’re serious.”

course, I

4/5

room with no food for a week. The man who set me up to be convicted of embezzling-only to

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255