All Chapters of After the Thorns: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

Seeing me remain silent, Vanessa sighed."Julian, I know you've suffered."But you're going to be my brother-in-law soon. You need to grow up."My parents immediately watched me with suspicion."Behave yourself now that you're back. You won't go hungry under this roof."If you're still angry, take it out on us. Don't try to destroy the young couple's relationship."Mason heard that and pretended to comfort me."Don't be too upset, Julian. It's not my fault Mom, Dad, and Vanessa love me most."It's my birthday. Why don't you stay for a family dinner?"The moment he finished, everyone looked at me.As though refusing would make me unforgivably cruel.They had forgotten it was my birthday too.Or perhaps anything connected to me had never mattered to them.I drew a slow breath. "No. I came back to sever ties with this family."Mason burst out laughing."You never even attended college, and now you have a record. Without this family, the only work you'll find is manual labor

Watching me move cartons with practiced ease, Vanessa's expression briefly softened."Julian, you don't need to work this hard."Take the security job at your brother's company. It pays more and it's easier."Her shamelessness made me laugh.She had destroyed my life, and now she wanted me to beg my enemy for scraps.Vanessa studied me for a long moment before continuing."You're smart. I can persuade Mason to let you start in an entry-level office position."The two of you could work together. There would be nothing you couldn't accomplish."I put down the carton and sneered. "So Mason can keep feeding off me?"Then, when his company gets investigated for tax fraud, you can send me back to prison for him?"Vanessa finally lost patience."Everything I'm saying is for your own good."Other than Mason's company, what major employer do you think would hire you?"If you insist on fighting me, I have ways to make you agree."After she left, I could not shake the feeling that s

I was taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.Fortunately, most of my injuries were bruises, cuts, and a mild concussion.That same evening, the parents who had thrown me out somehow learned where I was and came to my room.The military police assigned to protect me stopped them at the door.Mom held an insulated container and called my name softly.It sounded like all the evenings in childhood when she called me to dinner.Back then, Mason had not been born yet.Perhaps the loss in my eyes was too obvious.The guards finally stepped aside and allowed my parents in.Mom opened the container and eagerly ladled out a bowl of chicken and wild-rice soup."Winters in Riverton call for something warm."Especially when you're hurt. You need to build your strength."She looked at me with such tenderness that it was as if the previous week had never happened.When I refused the bowl, she carefully raised the spoon as though she meant to feed me.I struck it from her hand, spi

After that day, my parents and Vanessa each returned to the hospital many times.Fortunately, I had already instructed the guards that I would see none of them.That bought me several quiet days.By the time I had fully recovered, Mason's judgment had been issued.That afternoon, General Rowland came to my hospital room personally with a document in his hand.He skipped the formalities, handed it to me, and summarized the result."Mason Reckitt received twelve years in state and federal custody for aggravated assault, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, false reporting, and related offenses."His company has also been seized and placed into liquidation over tax fraud and illegal business practices."I accepted the thin document, but it felt impossibly heavy.Twelve years. Exactly four times the sentence I had served for him.The law had finally given me justice."What about Vanessa?" I asked calmly."She was charged as a participant in the frame-up and for destroying eviden