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.

when Hansel brought Larry into

had stood outside, silently

at Celine

who had chased her

wasnt the helpless child who had called

wasnt the girl wandering aimlessly through the woods

and Celine had

now, confident and

eyes radiated

turned to face

voice was steady, resonant, and full of

ashamed

punishing myself for

have, if youve been hurt the same way,

you must stand

else can

to save yourself! She had

was overcome with

in her eyes as

looked down with

They began murmuring apologies.

Celine, were sorry.

and raised

I have two

courage it took for you

Youre amazing.

up all

silently from a distance, his gaze

had doubted her ability to handle everything on her

used herself as bait, and he finally saw her

calculated reversal of the entire situation made him realize how wrong

had said she would handle it herself, and she

dismissed her and underestimated her, yet time and again, she