All Chapters of The Wrong Girl Burns Bright: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

She loved photography. Painting.He called it all pointless. Locked her camera and brushes away like they meant nothing.She was losing it. Still, she forced herself to learn his rules—trained herself into the perfect Mrs. Joubert.Even after she dulled her claws, someone took a shot at her at a banquet.She snapped. Lunged. Ended up fighting a whole group of women.Damian walked in to whispers and hungry stares.He didn't back her up. Not even close. He turned to the woman who started it, calm as ever."Sorry. I failed to discipline her. She... doesn't understand propriety."It hit like a truck. Ice flooded her veins.She'd spent almost her whole life proving one thing—Damian didn't love her.Later, a car crash ended her short, suffocating life.Then she opened her eyes.Back to before her wedding to Damian.***Northvale, Arlencia.Cleo stared at her reflection—still bright, still alive. Her heart pounded, hungry for freedom again. She took a slow breath.This time, s

She pushed the door open and walked inside.Harold, Rosalind, and Nora sat on the couch like they'd been waiting.The second Harold saw her—the smell of alcohol on her, clothes a mess—his face darkened."Where the hell have you been? Coming back this late, looking like that—what do you think you look like?"Cleo didn't even answer. She headed straight for the stairs. "I'm not marrying Damian anymore. Where I go, what I wear—that's my business."Nora stood and walked over, barely hiding the excitement in her eyes. "Cleo, Dad said... you're giving the engagement to me. Is that true?"Cleo looked at her—fake sweet, all sugar—and felt nothing but disgust. "Yeah, it's yours. Isn't taking other people's scraps your thing?""Watch your mouth!" Harold snapped. "A man like Damian is a dream match people would kill for! This marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime win for our family!"I already spoke to the Jouberts about switching the bride. Compared to you, they're clearly happier with Nora.

Chaos broke out below—screams, people shouting over each other.Cleo stood at the edge, watching the crowd close in around Nora's still body on the lawn.Nothing.She smoothed her skirt, fixed her hair, picked up the shawl from the railing, then turned and walked for the exit.She'd barely made it past the carved doors when a hand clamped around her wrist.She turned—met Damian's eyes, dark with fury and disbelief.He'd rushed over. His breathing was uneven, his gaze locked on her, his voice cold as ice."Nora fell from the balcony... did you do it?"Cleo shook his hand off. "Yeah. So?"His face darkened, anger flashing in his eyes."I told you to learn from Nora. This is what you got out of it?" His voice hardened. "You're out of control. Go back and apologize.""Apologize?" Cleo laughed. "She had it coming. Me? Apologize? Try your next life.""You're impossible." He cut it off and turned to the bodyguards. "If she won't apologize, she'll learn. Throw her in the reflecting

"What are you laughing at?" Harold snapped, her laugh getting under his skin.Cleo lifted her head, eyes sharp, cutting straight to Nora—still playing weak."You love putting on a show, huh? Fine. I'll give you one."Before anyone could move, she grabbed a metal pen off the vanity and drove it straight into the back of Nora's hand, pinning it to the floor."Ahhh!"A sharp scream ripped through the room. The pen punched clean through her hand, blood spilling fast."You—You've lost your mind! You're insane!" Harold shook with rage, pointing at the door. "Get out! Get out of this house! There's no place for you here!"He called the servants. They dragged her out, tossed her and her small suitcase past the gates.Cleo stumbled, then steadied.Face blank, she rubbed her sore arm, then crouched and pulled out her mom's sapphire necklace—the one she'd taken back earlier—and clenched it tight.She gave the grand, cold mansion one last look, then turned and walked away. No hesitation.

"You seriously think you can get away with this?" Cleo snapped. "I'll kill you the second I'm out."She thrashed, but the two guys locked her down like she weighed nothing."Kill me?" Nora let out a soft laugh, all smug ease. "You wouldn't even get close. Damian would shut you down first." She tilted her head, smiling. "Or did you forget? He picks me. Every. Single. Time."That hit exactly where it hurt most.Yeah. Every single time—right or wrong—Damian chose Nora.The fight drained out of her, swallowed by that same old helpless drop.They shoved her into a cold metal chair. Straps locked her wrists and ankles. Electrodes pressed to her skin.Nora watched, satisfied, then tapped the controller."Ahhh!"The shock ripped through her.Pain and numbness hit at once. Her body jerked, out of control, a scream tearing out of her throat.Her vision blacked out.Her mind snapped loose under the pain.***When Cleo woke up, she was on a soft bed—no longer in that nightmare room.