Chapter 10 An Old Friend
Quinn stayed wide awake the entire night, like she’d finally made up her mind.
Finished
Later, the beat up the girl who bullied her the most–beat her within an inch of her life–until the other inmates pulled her
way. She got thrown into solitary for a week.
When she got out, before even changing her clothes, she went right back to attacking the same girl.
Thrown into solitary again. Got out. Kept hitting her. She didn’t care if she got hurt herself–she wouldn’t stop. It
she’d decided she had nothing left to lose
That went on for months. And when Quinn finally saw sunlight again, her snake–like eyes locked onto the same girl–and that girl begged her to stop
After that, no one dared to touch Quinn again.
But she never smiled anymore.
Zayden felt like a pair of invisible hands had wrapped around his heart, squeezing so tight it hurt like hell.
At the end of the video, Quinn stared blankly into the camera. Her eyes were lifeless. She looked nothing like the girl from three years ago, the one who used to smile like sunshine.
So this was what she’d been through. And in those three years, he never once went to see her. Not even when the Fairchilds clearly favored Olive and left her in the cold–he said nothing.
Would he never again see Quinn smile sweetly at him, following behind and calling his name like she used to?
Night fell. The city came alive, lights flashing, neon blazing.
Quinn stood outside the hotel, fingers tight around the red slip of paper in her pocket, frowning. She’d run too fast–hadn’t brought any money.
She was about to find a cheap place to stay when a familiar but distant voice called out from behind her.
“Quinny
Quinn turned and saw a girl in plain clothes lugging an enormous bag. When the girl realized it was really her, she lit up. practically bouncing over in excitement.
“It is you! I thought I’d never see you again after you got out!”
The time Quinn had been stabbed in the chest, she’d dragged herself out of a dark, damp shack, desperate for help–but too weak to call out. It was Sally Gunner who found her and got her help.
Back then, Sally had been even more timid than Quinn. She’d cross the street to avoid the tough girls, never dared to stir up
trouble
But she’d still stepped in to help Quinn when she was getting bullied. That same shy Sally had even stabbed the abusive scumbag who’d hurt her for three years
Seeing her now, Quinn’s face finally lit up. The dark cloud over her head disappeared.
“Sally, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Sally grabbed Quinn’s arm, excited beyond words “What are you doing here? Why didn’t you come find me after you got
out?”
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Chapter 10 An Old Frien
Finisht
Quinn’s toughness was buried deen Site only wannend when amen alio pushed her too far.
Thanks to those brutal months she’d spent fignng, Quinn. Prison had been a little easier for her because
ally had always wanted to repay her but never had he chann
Now running into Quinn again, she gave her chest a confident inte pat and sat memusic. “Wou tion have a place to stay do you! You have no idea how big my house i
She really didn’t. Quinn stepped into the any room–burely a hunted square fer–andler out a breinless sigh
my
Sally looked embarrassed, practically burying her head, and whispered just gratomrom. [lthm have much money!”
Quinn looked around the room. It was spotless, the bed covered with ene pinch as the walk decorated with pictures. Warm and copy“.
For the first ume in a long time, her nerves finally started to ease
She hesitated: “Thanks. I really do like it. But… am I troubling you”
Sally pulled her down to sit, her excitement bubbling over as she talked abent her plans. “Nu at all Yeah the piluar samall. but I’ve already lined up a good job, Soon I’ll be living somewhere big and nice!”
Quinn couldn’t help but smile at her optimism. “Thanks. Reaily”
Sally let out a breath of relief, seeing her finally smile. “You looked after me before–now it’s my mume muke que al grau”
But how could Quinn let Sally take care of her? Even if Sally didn’t say anything, the empty food cupboat made it dear lim
a
Once she had a place to stay. Quinn started job hunting. She put together a resume and started applying to compzamest
She got quite a few interview calls, and she did well enough that the interviewers were impressed.
But the end they asked about that three–year gap–and found out she’d been in prison–their faces changed. Every angle one turned her down in a roundabout way.
It was what she’d expened. In such a competitive world, her resume wasn’t impressive to begin with. Add a criminal recondi
was going jo uke than risi.
In the Faurchilti hudin’t found her that year, would her life have turned out differently?
And one from the Fairchild family had come looking for her lately. Even though she kept getting rejected this was th DACCUEIL ADOM poweful time she’d had since getting out.
Exully she cured service jobs. She landed one at a flower shop. The work wasn’t hard, and the customers were cast i
But the venue Sound out Qum had done me, she started taking advantage–without holding back.
Cost day just as Quinn had died organizing some flower stems, the owner kicked them all over again.
The woman kepo popping sundflower weeds and shut her a mucking look. “What are you staring at? Get back to work. Who els would hire semenou like wwf”
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Chapter 10 An Old Friend
Quinn clenched her fists..
Finished
That face, that voice–it was all too familiar. It was exactly what they’d said when she first got locked up. She’d held it in then, thinking if she just stuck it out, they’d stop.
She was wrong.
They only got worse. And this woman was no different. They were all the same,
The anger inside her was growing fast. She had to grit her teeth just to keep it together.
She was a good citizen now. She couldn’t slip up again.
She still hadn’t seen her grandfather. She had to stay alive–and live well.
Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. She stumbled into a broad, solid chest. Then that same hand. gently began brushing the sunflower shells off her, one by one.
His tense expression gave away his fury.
She turned toward the light, looking up at Zayden. The sunlight behind him cast a faint golden glow, like some kind of
savior.
She didn’t know when he’d walked in–or whether he’d seen what just happened.
Zayden leaned in a little and whispered by her ear, “Out here acting all soft… where’s the fire you had inside?”
Send Gifts
12:10 AM &
The Disowned Heiress: Fire and Ashes
Chapter 11 Letting It Out
