The Divorce Prescription

Larrys eyes widened as the realization dawned on him.

From the moment he was released from prison, Celine had been aware.

She had been waiting for him.

Everyone thought she would never dare reveal the dark shadows of her childhood.

A woman always put the utmost importance on her reputation, after all.

She hadnt told Mary, nor had she told Adam.

When he demanded money, she gave it to him.

When he knocked her unconscious and kidnapped her, she seemed helpless, like a prey ensnared by its predator.

However, that was all an illusion.

She had been pretending and was in control the whole time.

The small recording device she wore told the true story.

Whether it was his demand for 100 million or his attempt to rape her in the cave, every step of his crimes had played into her hands.

She had used her apparent obedience to feed his greed and used her endurance to lead him deeper into the pit of his own making.

She had baited him with herself.

Now, ten years later, she had sent him back into the abyss.

With the multitude of charges against him, his fate was sealed.

It was either a death sentence or life imprisonment.

Everything had gone according to her plan.

What Larry had figured out, Lucy also realized.

Hansel brought

had stood outside,

stared at

same little girl who had chased her moms car, sobbing as she

wasnt the helpless child who had called her mom for

girl wandering aimlessly through the

passed, and Celine

tall now, confident and

eyes

face the

voice was steady, resonant, and full

ashamed

punishing myself

experienced what I have, if youve been hurt the same

its hard, but you must stand up for

else

save yourself! She

was overcome with

eyes as she

looked down with

They began murmuring apologies.

Celine, were sorry.

you earlier and raised our

have

courage it took for you to

Youre amazing.

went up all

watched silently from a distance, his gaze fixed on

her ability to handle everything on

as bait, and

reversal of the entire situation made him realize how wrong

she would handle it herself,

always dismissed her and underestimated her, yet time and again, she defied his