All Chapters of His Bride: Their Ruin: Chapter 1 - Chapter 4

VERAThe scraping of her knee against the pavement was nothing compared to the joy and relief swelling in Vera’s chest as she saw her home again.The car sped off, leaving dust and debris behind, but she didn’t look back. Tears blurred her vision as exhaustion finally claimed her body. Years of survival weighed on every muscle; each breath felt earned. She was back.Vera tipped her face toward the sky, letting warm sunlight wash over her. Tears slid down her cheeks as a long, unsteady sigh escaped her lips.The sky had never looked so beautiful.Her legs trembled as she stood, weak from the journey that had carried her away for nearly three years.With a soft, watery smile, she pushed open the iron-barred gate. The screech of metal against metal rang out, harsh, ugly, and perfect. She lingered, fingers curled around the cold steel, grounding herself in the reality of her return.Nothing had changed.Her home.Tears burned again, but she forced them back. They could wait. They would co

VERA“The earlier you confess, Ms. Vera, the better for you. I’m afraid all evidence points to you. There is no going back from this.” The officer’s words had been repeated a hundred times already, each repetition embedding itself into Vera’s mind, twisting her chest with dread. The words were like iron chains, binding and suffocating her, reminding her over and over that she had nowhere to hide.“And I’m telling you, officer… I have no idea what these companies are. Fraud? Money laundering? I… I don’t even know what you are speaking of.” Vera’s voice trembled, raw and hoarse, her throat dry as sandpaper. Tears had long since dried on her cheeks, leaving streaks of salt and dust. Her body vibrated with numbness, every limb heavy and uncooperative. Her heart felt like it was being crushed from all sides. The day, the hours, the endless betrayals—it couldn’t have been worse. She didn’t know what to do or where to turn.The officer’s pen scratched against the file. He didn’t look up. “Th