All Chapters of Burned and Crowned: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Bennett's boot crashed into my head, and for a moment, my heart just stopped. Cradling my belly, I reached for the phone, my fingers slick with blood, and punched in the number I could dial in my sleep."Harriet? Did you set Bennett off again?" my mother's voice was a whisper of worry."Mom! Help me! Bennett's going to kill me!" I could barely get the words out, my voice shaking.Silence stretched on the other end before my father's voice broke through, harsh and impatient, "Keep your family drama to yourself!""However, I'm bleeding, and the baby!" I choked on my tears."That baby is the heir!" he exploded, his anger palpable even through the phone. "You can't even protect an heir, you deserve what you get! You brought this on yourself when you refused that arranged marriage; Bennett's just teaching you a lesson!"I gripped the phone tighter, blood and tears mingling as they dripped down my chin.Before the line went dead, I heard him dismiss me to my mother, "Hang it up. She's

Chapter 2

"This is an outrage!" Dad's hand crashed down on the table, scattering cigar ash. "What did you say?""I said, Camford University's Computer Science Department," I repeated, my voice steady."A girl in computer science? Look around, has our family ever had a woman programmer?"He stormed over, his tattooed hand striking the back of my head. "You were meant to marry well, not waste time on computers!"The pain was nothing compared to what I endured in my previous life, but it was enough to resurrect old fears.I flinched.He saw it and scoffed, "Scared? Then straighten up!"He thought I was still the same, scared of pain, scared of his words, scared of being cut off financially.However, he did not realize that someone who's faced death is not scared of much."Listen to me," he jabbed a finger at my nose, his cigar smoke clouding my face, "cross the family, and you can forget about me as your godfather. You won't see a dime of your allowance. Let's see how you manage without us

Chapter 3

Back in my room, I leaned against the door that I locked tight, listening to him bellowing into the phone out on the balcony.He was laying down the law to my teacher, insisting my college choices had to be his choices!"A girl in computer science? That'd be a laughing stock for the Harlows! Yeah, I'm the one who calls the shots here!"I let out an icy laugh.The head of this family? Not my head, not anymore.At 2 a.m., I fashioned a rope out of bed sheets and shimmied down from my second-story window.My ankle twisted on impact, a sharp jolt of pain shooting through me, but I bit down hard and hobbled through the darkness to a private clinic.The night-shift doctor eyed my ballooning ankle, "What happened here?""Family discipline."I need a damage report, and make it quick," I demanded.By 4 a.m., I had it in hand, a medical report with the hospital's official stamp: torn ankle ligaments, two weeks off my feet.If push came to shove, that piece of paper was my ticket to sh

Chapter 4

I was at the family law firm, confirming my college choice. My ankle was killing me, but I felt like a weight was lifted off my chest."Miss," the lawyer said, leafing through my application, "Camford University for computer science, really? With your grades, you'd have a better shot at Evershire College's business program.""I'm sure," I cut in firmly."Girls in programming, that's a rarity," he remarked casually.James jumped in, "That rarity is exactly why it's valuable. Harriet's got a gift, and our family could use a brain like hers."Suddenly, I felt a lump in my throat. James was the only one who did not see me as just a marriage pawn.After we wrapped up, he walked me to the gate. "What's your plan for the summer, Harriet?""Make money, save up for my first semester's expenses."He paused, then drew a wad of cash from his jacket. "Five grand, from me to you. Pay it back when you can."I stared at him, dumbfounded."Take it, and keep it from the godfather. Knowledge is

Chapter 5

After hours in the air, I touched down in Engleton.Aunt Jane was there to meet me. I limped out of the airport, and she looked me over like I was contraband."So you're Harriet? Your dad's briefed me." She grabbed my bag with a force that startled me, "Here's the deal: home by seven, no guys, live on two hundred a month. Run out, and you're on your own."I looked down, my voice barely above a whisper, "Got it. Aunt, I'll do as I'm told."She nodded, pleased, as if she had just checked the quality of a purchase and found it satisfactory.When we got home, Jane pointed carelessly, and just like that, the storage room became my bedroom.That first night, I caught her on the phone: "John, don't worry about a thing! That girl won't cause any trouble. And hey, don't forget the three thousand dollars for the caretaker fee each month. Make sure it gets sent over on time."I gripped my phone tight, recording every word.Jane's daughter, my cousin Angela, lived there too.Angela had a

Chapter 6

On the day of the opening ceremony, I stood at the entrance of the Computer Science Department at Camford University, gazing up at the dome, tears streaming down my face.Thomas, a friendly second-year grad student from my program, greeted me with a warm, "Hello, what's your major?""Computer Science," I replied.His eyes sparkled. "Impressive! We don't have many girls, but each one is tough as nails! If you ever need help, I'm here for you."I nodded, my heart swelling with pride.There, being a girl who can code was a badge of honor.I got through my four years at university on a mix of student loans, scholarships, and a bit of off-the-books income.Sometimes I would write code to sniff out flaws in casino algorithms for three hundred dollars an hour,On other weekends, I would beef up security for underground websites, pocketing five hundred a pop.My roommate Lisa, a family advisor's daughter, would snark, "Harriet, why are you always disappearing?""I'm out hustling," I

Chapter 7

Bennett whipped around, his glare sharp as a snake's. "Harriet! You betrayed me!"I met his gaze without flinching. "Being a talented woman doesn't mean you're up for grabs, Bennett. Not for you to use as a stepping stone."He was escorted out, leaving a heavy silence behind.Sophia clutched my hand, her voice shaky. "Harriet, I can't thank you enough.""Don't mention it," I replied. "Just remember, if a man from our circles seems too good to be true, question whether he deserves to be by your side."That piece of advice would echo through the families for a long time to come.The council of elders did their digging and the verdict was in: Bennett was a creep, a tech-savvy snake who was slithering into the private affairs of the family.There I was, in the thick of the onlookers, as they carted him off. My heart? Stone cold.Flashback to a former life where he snuffed me out, and the family bigwigs slapped him on the wrist with a measly three-month timeout.Fast forward, and I

Chapter 8

Dad's eyes narrowed in shock. "Harriet! I'm your father!""Father?" I shot back, each word ringing with defiance. "A father who lets others beat his daughter? Who trades his daughter for a piece of land? You think you're fit to be the head of this family?"He was speechless, coughing hard.The officer slapped a house arrest on Dad for tarnishing the family name and mistreatment, stripping him of his control.Before she left, Mom pulled me aside. "Harriet, he's still your father.""You once said you'd leave him if he turned out to be a bad man. So why are you asking me to make the same mistake?"She was at a loss for words."You think just putting up with it is enough. I refuse to live like that."I handed her an envelope. "Half a million, plus what he owes for raising me. We're done after this.""Harriet!" Dad banged on his wheelchair. "You think you can cut ties over fifty grand?""Ties?" I laughed calmly. "Did you ever teach me about family? All I learned was to obey and fe

Chapter 9

I hit play on a recording: "Law enforcement? I'm reporting godfather John for long-term abuse, illegal confinement, and threats."Dad's voice rang out clear, "A girl who won't listen needs a beating. If she won't listen, I'll hang her at Camford University's gates."Each word slapped him across the face.He could not hide the guilt in his eyes.I showed the third piece of evidence: the family business accounts."Four years of college, student loans, scholarships, and money from working the gambling scene."Which penny came from the family?"Well, there was one."I pointed at the screen, "Freshman year, he sent me five hundred bucks, said not to shame the Harlows."That same day, I sent it back, 'Your pride costs too much, I'm not buying.'"Other than that, not a dime was exchanged."The lawyer's voice faltered, "However, what about the debt of raising you?!""Gratitude for raising me?" I scoffed. "Is that what you call selling me off to Bennett for a couple of docks?"I sl

Chapter 10

Ten minutes later, he got a summons from the family's enforcer.He was guilty of a trifecta of sins: forging family documents, slandering kin, and peddling filth. I demanded a steep price for his transgressions: half a million dollars.His email spat back, [Harriet, are you out of your mind with greed?]I shot back, [It's not about the money. It's about showing you that a woman can build worth just as easily as she can tear down garbage like you.]Within three days, he was begging to settle."Fork over the five hundred grand," I told him, "down to the last cent. Or get cozy with a cell."His family ended up auctioning off a wharf to scrape together the cash.I took the payout and, in a twist of poetic justice, donated it to a fund for abused family members: all in his name.The next time I crossed paths with Bennett was in the dank basement of the Marshall estate.He was a mess when he answered the door: beard all wild, eyes hollow.I thrust the donation receipt at him. "Cong

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