All Chapters of Reborn and Done Being Fooled: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

[Now's your chance. Make a run for the stairwell, hide in one of the trash carts, and let them wheel you right out of the building. This is it, last chance!]I smirked and walked straight to the elevator in the opposite direction.I sent an emergency text to the police while I was still in the elevator. Then I walked out of the hotel with Elaine at my side.I looked up, and my stomach dropped.The cars parked out front weren't my family's wedding convoy. They belonged to Yvette's enemies.[They think you're Yvette's true love, so they're here to grab you and make her pay! What are you waiting for? Get back inside!]I saw exactly what the messages were trying to do.These people had come prepared. They'd already taken control of the real wedding cars. If I ran back into the hotel, I'd be walking straight into a trap. That was how I'd end up dead for real."Hey, I just remembered I left the engagement ring upstairs. Can you go grab it for me?"Elaine studied my face for a mome

Frederick sighed and stepped forward, reaching down to help me up."Jonathan, I understand you're upset. But we're family. If you just tell us the truth, we can figure out how to help you.""Tell you the truth about what?"I shoved his hand away. "About how you married my mother while chasing after Yvette behind her back? Or about how I almost got killed taking the fall for you?""Enough!"My mother kicked me hard in the shoulder. "You can't control yourself, and now you're pointing fingers at your own stepfather? You're disgusting."Frederick pressed a hand to his chest and let out a long, wounded sigh. "I know Jonathan has never liked me. But if he's going to destroy my reputation like this, I don't see the point in going on."That was all my mother needed to hear. She completely lost it. "Bring me my whip."The Smith family had a punishment tradition—ninety-nine lashes. My father had once been beaten to death under that same rule. And now my mother was ready to use it on me,

My mother had already started to piece it together. She followed Yvette's gaze to Elaine and dropped her voice. "What's going on? Is this about you?"Elaine shook her head frantically. But before she could even speak, a gunshot went off.She screamed and hit the floor. The bullet had gone clean through her left knee, and blood was pooling fast beneath her.My mother went completely still, staring at Yvette with barely concealed fear."Mrs. Smith, I can't stand liars. Your daughter sold me out, and she doesn't have the spine to own it. So that's her consequence."Elaine stayed on the floor and didn't make a sound. Either she was too afraid to speak, or the pain had taken everything out of her.I was still leaning against Yvette. Every small movement sent a fresh wave of pain through my body. She must have noticed, because she steadied me and started moving toward the door.We didn't make it two steps before Frederick blocked the way."Ms. Sinclair, our family takes full responsi

After my family moved away, we lost touch completely. But Yvette had been looking for me all along, quietly, until she finally realized I was the same boy she'd been promised to since childhood."So, do you still want to call off the engagement?"Seeing the smile on Yvette's face, I lowered my head slightly in embarrassment. Thinking about it, she didn't seem quite so frightening after all.Just then, she looked at me with deep affection."Jonathan Smith, will you marry me?"I said yes.After we settled things, I went back to the Smith family's residence one more time. I needed to cut ties with them completely.The moment I walked through the door, the messages appeared again.[Yvette is a mob boss. Manipulating people is what she does best. Don't believe a word she said. Always trust your own family before you trust an outsider!]I walked past the misleading messages without a second thought.Frederick was in the living room, sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea.I set the