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Not Your Scapegoat Again
Not Your Scapegoat Again
Author: Melody Wynn

Chapter 1

Author: Melody Wynn
The second I signed that plea deal, Simon's eyes lit up.

Caught him staring—he switched to some fake sad face.

"Heidi, relax. I'll hire the best lawyer. Once you're in, I'll pull a few strings, get you out early."

I bit back a laugh. "Save it."

He looked all flustered. "Heidi! I know you're upset, but you can't just give up. Think about your parents—"

Blah, blah, fake concern on full blast.

If I hadn't lived through it all before, maybe I'd have fallen for it.

Last time, the second I refused to plead guilty, he flipped. Faked evidence. Had inmates use cold, sharp tools to rip away any chance I had at being a mom.

I hated him. He was the one who got Nancy to steal Johnston Group's secrets—just so he could cash in.

And somehow I was the one who got wrecked?

"Heidi?" His voice cut through. "You look pale."

I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms.

"I'm fine," I said with a shaky smile. "Just nervous about jail."

Simon reached for my hand—nope, I pulled back.

He blinked, caught off guard, but he was too busy gloating over that signature to care.

He slid the paper into his briefcase like it was gold.

"I'll show this to the judge in three days," he said. "Till then, it's our little secret."

I just nodded. Real quick.

After signing, I got out on bail.

Outside the courthouse, Simon opened the car door like he used to—hand over my head and all, acting like nothing changed.

Still rocking the fake-fiancé look, he gave me those soft eyes. "Heidi, let me take you home."

Home? Yeah, right.

That villa was packed with memories, but it wasn't mine anymore.

The second we walked in, some strong, cheap perfume smacked me in the face.

Everything had changed. My clean, minimalist style? Gone. Replaced with tacky junk.

Even our wedding photo got shoved in a dusty storage room.

When he saw me staring at it, his face twitched—embarrassed for a sec—then boom, back to fake-sweet mode.

"All of this was Nancy's idea..."

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  • Not Your Scapegoat Again   Chapter 10

    "You should sleep," I murmured.He let out a low chuckle, slid in beside me, and wrapped an arm around my waist, careful not to press on the bruises."Then I'm sleeping with you."My body healed up little by little, but Clark still wouldn't let me leave."Simon's locked up, yeah, but the Muttries are still out there. I'm not taking chances."His fingers skimmed over the faint scars on my wrist. His eyes darkened.I exhaled. "You gonna keep me locked in here forever?"He dipped his head and bit my earlobe, voice dropping. "If I could, I'd keep you all to myself."That surge of possessiveness had my heart thudding, but I couldn't resist poking at him."Mr. Johnston, sounds like illegal confinement."He laughed, threading his fingers through my hair, hand cradling my head as he kissed me."Then sue me."The kiss hit hard—like he was trying to steal every breath I had.He didn't let go until I melted in his arms. His thumb skimmed my lips, eyes dark."Pretty sure the judge'd

  • Not Your Scapegoat Again   Chapter 9

    Nancy clutched her stomach, panicking, but the silicone bump had already slid down to her waist.She snapped, grabbed a candleholder from the entryway, and launched it at Simon. "This is your fault! You made me fake the pregnancy! Now it's all ruined!"Simon wasn't quick enough—blood streamed from a cut on his forehead."Are you insane?!"He wiped the blood off and lunged, hands tightening around her throat. "If you hadn't pushed the fake baby idea, none of this would've blown up!""Ghkk... let go..." Nancy scratched at his face, drawing blood. "You said... Heidi couldn't have kids... told me to fake it... frame her..."A cold shiver hit me.Three years—they'd been plotting this for three freaking years."Brilliant."Clark's voice cut through the air. He leaned in the doorway, flipping a recorder like it was no big deal."This confession's way clearer than any footage."He crossed the room, wrapped me in his arms. His eyes locked on Simon, icy and lethal.Simon flinched lik

  • Not Your Scapegoat Again   Chapter 8

    "These past few nights, I keep waking up at midnight..." Simon's voice cracked. "I dream of you covered in blood, asking why I betrayed you..."I looked away, but the memories hit like a wave."Just give me one last chance..."Then—boom. He yanked out a folding knife and stabbed his own thigh before I could even blink.Blood spilled fast. He winced but managed a twisted smile. "This one's for the first lash."He raised the knife again, aiming for the other leg. "I'll pay back all ninety-nine lashes."My eyes shot wide. I ripped off the security chain and grabbed his wrist.The blood smell hit hard, making my head spin.For a second, I didn't know if I felt hate or heartbreak—just this crushing weight in my chest.Simon clung to my leg, tears pouring down his face. He looked wrecked."I swear I'll spend my whole life making this right... If you want my life, take it."His blood puddled around him. That face I once loved was nothing but desperation now.I felt so drained—for

  • Not Your Scapegoat Again   Chapter 7

    But three days later, the Muttrie family dropped a fortune and bailed Simon out.That night, I was on Clark's balcony with a book when the doorbell rang.I checked the monitor—Simon, in a suit, holding a giant bouquet of roses.He wore that fake soft smile, like his courtroom meltdown never happened.I laughed coldly and hit the intercom."Get lost."His smile twitched but he recovered fast, voice smooth."Heidi, I know you hate me. Just give me five minutes. Please. Face-to-face."I almost shut it off.But then I thought—why make it easy for him?I walked to the door and opened it just enough to leave the chain on.Simon lit up the second I cracked the door. He stepped forward fast, but the chain stopped him."Heidi..."His eyes dropped to the diamond necklace—Clark's gift. His pupils shrank, but he forced a bitter smile."You're really marrying him?"I leaned on the frame, smirking."What, you think I'd marry the guy who nearly beat me to death?"He went pale."No,

  • Not Your Scapegoat Again   Chapter 6

    The judge gave a nod, and the bailiffs yanked Simon and Nancy out without another word.After the trial, Clark drove me home—not to that haunted villa, but to his sleek apartment downtown.My body was wrecked. Blood had soaked through my clothes again.Clark looked completely shaken. He helped me onto the couch like I might break."Doctor's on the way."I saw that crease between his brows and reached up to smooth it out."I'm okay. Just surface stuff."He caught my hand, voice rough."I should've found you sooner.""It's not too late." I leaned into his shoulder. "This time, we found each other."In my past life, after they locked me up, it was nothing but pain.Following Simon's orders, the inmates used cold tools to destroy my uterus.When the prison doctor told me I'd never have kids, I didn't cry—I was already empty.Then chaos exploded outside."Mr. Johnston! You can't go in!"The infirmary door slammed open.Clark stormed in, bloodied, with guards down behind him.

  • Not Your Scapegoat Again   Chapter 5

    The courtroom exploded.Cameras popped like fireworks, reporters pushing and yelling. Simon shot up, face ghost-white and pissed."Clark Johnston, what is the meaning of this?!"Clark didn't even blink at him. He went straight to me, dropped to one knee.He started undoing the rope around my wrists, his voice low and steady."Heidi, I'm sorry I'm late."I looked up, barely able to lift my head, and locked eyes with him.In my last life, Clark burst into the prison trying to save me—only to die with me in the fire."Clark..."Tears blurred everything the second I knew he'd come back with me.He brushed them away like I'd shatter."Don't be scared, Heidi. I've got you."Then he turned to the medics."Take care of Ms. Wynn. Now."They swarmed in, checking my injuries. When they saw the lash marks, Clark's whole vibe shifted—cold and dangerous."Who did this?" His voice was barely a whisper, but the room froze.Simon's face twisted. He tried to keep cool. "Mr. Johnston, thi

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