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After the Thorns
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The night I earned admission to West Point, my younger brother, who had envied me since childhood, deliberately started a fight and seriously injured someone. When the victim's family came demanding answers, my parents dropped to their knees and begged me. "You've always been more capable than your brother. You can still rebuild your future." "But if Mason goes to prison, his whole life will be ruined." I gave in and took the blame, destroying everything I had worked for. My girlfriend, Vanessa Hale, despised Mason for constantly causing trouble. "Julian, you big idiot. "If you ever clean up another one of his messes, I really will leave you." Her eyes reddened behind the prison visitation glass as she defended me. Through three years in prison and monthly visits, she kept promising we would marry as soon as I was released. By the time I got out, my parents had moved to a new house. After a long search, the person who opened the door was Vanessa. Mason casually wrapped an arm around her waist and looked at me with open provocation. "Julian, let me introduce you to my fiancee." My parents stood nearby, rubbing their hands together. "They genuinely love each other. Don't try to take your brother's happiness away." Vanessa lowered her eyes and turned the new diamond ring on her finger. "You have a felony record now. If I married you, our future family would live under that shadow." Mason leaned closer with a grin. "Julian, I'm the better man now." I squeezed the crumpled West Point admission letter in my pocket and smiled too. Some debts had finally come due.
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After the Thorns Chapter 9
Every sentence I spoke cut into her.Vanessa's face went white, and her lips trembled without forming a complete answer."I had no other choice at the time..."How could I possibly believe that?"So your only choice was to destroy my life and reward your affair?"Vanessa, stop pretending to be helpless. It only makes you more repulsive to me."Her eyes reddened."So you're doing all this to punish me?"I could..."She paused as though preparing to make an enormous sacrifice."I could end this pregnancy and come back to you."My only condition is that Mason stays out of prison."Her shameless proposal made me laugh.Vanessa mistook my laughter for delight.She lifted her chin, her confidence returning."You went through all this because you wanted me back, didn't you?"I'm agreeing now. Go get Mason released."I shook my head. "Do you honestly think I'd take back someone who betrayed me and is carrying his child?"Or have you always believed I was still the same fool y
After the Thorns Chapter 8
After that day, my parents and Vanessa each returned to the hospital many times.Fortunately, I had already instructed the guards that I would see none of them.That bought me several quiet days.By the time I had fully recovered, Mason's judgment had been issued.That afternoon, General Rowland came to my hospital room personally with a document in his hand.He skipped the formalities, handed it to me, and summarized the result."Mason Reckitt received twelve years in state and federal custody for aggravated assault, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, false reporting, and related offenses."His company has also been seized and placed into liquidation over tax fraud and illegal business practices."I accepted the thin document, but it felt impossibly heavy.Twelve years. Exactly four times the sentence I had served for him.The law had finally given me justice."What about Vanessa?" I asked calmly."She was charged as a participant in the frame-up and for destroying eviden
After the Thorns Chapter 7
Dad froze, but still tried to argue in a faltering voice."You're brothers. Blood ties don't disappear just because you're angry. You can't truly send your own brother to prison."Mason was sickly as a child, and raising him was difficult. I can't stand by while he destroys his future."Exhausted, I closed my eyes.When I opened them again, no attachment remained."I'll say this one final time. Mason must answer for what he did."Instead of begging me, hire him a competent defense attorney."My words extinguished their final hope.Dad collapsed into a chair, his eyes empty.Mom stopped wailing and stared blankly at the soup on the floor, seeming to age ten years at once.At that moment, someone knocked softly on the hospital-room door.A young military police officer entered."Cadet Reckitt, a woman outside would like to see you. She says her name is Vanessa Hale."The sound of her name made my stomach twist.My parents reacted as though they had been handed a lifeline.
After the Thorns Chapter 6
I was taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.Fortunately, most of my injuries were bruises, cuts, and a mild concussion.That same evening, the parents who had thrown me out somehow learned where I was and came to my room.The military police assigned to protect me stopped them at the door.Mom held an insulated container and called my name softly.It sounded like all the evenings in childhood when she called me to dinner.Back then, Mason had not been born yet.Perhaps the loss in my eyes was too obvious.The guards finally stepped aside and allowed my parents in.Mom opened the container and eagerly ladled out a bowl of chicken and wild-rice soup."Winters in Riverton call for something warm."Especially when you're hurt. You need to build your strength."She looked at me with such tenderness that it was as if the previous week had never happened.When I refused the bowl, she carefully raised the spoon as though she meant to feed me.I struck it from her hand, spi
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