Todos os capítulos de MY HUSBAND'S TRAP: Capítulo 31 - Capítulo 40

Eleanor lifted her glass, the crystal catching the light like a blade. “Then it is settled. We will begin quiet preparations. The estate in the Hamptons for the ceremony. A guest list limited to those who matter. And a press release timed carefully so the board understands the Smith line is secure and the past is buried.”Priscilla leaned forward, eyes bright with malicious delight, and raised her own glass. “Shall we toast, then? To the end of the charity-case chapter and the beginning of the real one? To the woman who finally learned her place… by leaving it permanently?”Vivienne’s smile did not falter, but something cold and sharp flickered behind her eyes for half a heartbeat something that looked almost like satisfaction. She raised her glass with the others, the cream silk of her blouse whispering against the table edge.“To the future,” she said softly. Her voice was velvet over steel. “To the life we were

Two months.That was all it took.Two months after the world watched Lottie Smith disappear into flames.Two months after the headlines declared her a murderer who had finally received the ending everyone believed she deserved.Two months after Geoffrey Smith stood before cameras with a grief-stricken expression and claimed he had lost the woman who had once been his wife.Two months was enough time for the world to forget.At least, that was what the Smith family believed.They believed memories faded.They believed scandals expired.They believed a dead woman could no longer speak.And most importantly…They believed they had won.The Smith estate had never looked more beautiful.White roses covered every corner of the grand garden.Crystal lights hung from the trees like falling stars.The sound of laughter filled the mansion where, only months ago, they had raised glasses to celebrate Lottie Smith's death.Now, they were celebrating something even more precious.A beginning.A new

The night was long, and the tears seemed endless.Inside the quiet bedroom of the Rice estate, Charlene Jean Rice sat before the mirror, staring at the scar that marred the left side of her face. The angry, uneven mark stretched from her cheekbone toward her jaw, a cruel reminder of the prison fire that had nearly swallowed her alive.Every time she looked at it, she remembered the flames.Every time she touched it, she remembered the man who had promised to wait for her.And every time she closed her eyes, she saw Geoffrey Smith standing beside Vivienne Cole, smiling as though the woman he had sacrificed had never existed.Her husband.The man for whom she had surrendered ten years of her life.The man she had defended even when the entire world called her a murderer.The man who had held her hands, looked into her eyes, and begged her to take the blame for a crime she had never committed.Protect me, Lottie. Protect our family. Protect our future.She had believed him.God, how desp

“But first, we must bring you back to yourself.”Charlene's expression faltered.“Bring me back?”“Yes.”Margaret glanced at the mirror.At the scar.At the woman who had survived a prison fire and returned from the dead with nothing but pain and fractured memories.“Before you face that family, you must be strong enough to stand before them without allowing their words to destroy you again.”Charlene touched the scar on her cheek.“And this?”Her voice became painfully small.“What am I supposed to do about this?”Margaret looked at the mark that had become a symbol of everything her daughter had endured.“We will find the best specialists. We will consult reconstructive surgeons and dermatologists. We will explore every safe option available to help heal the scar.”She paused.“If it is po

“The scar is significant, but there are treatment options worth exploring. Depending on how the tissue responds, we may be able to improve its texture, reduce its visibility, and address any discomfort.”Charlene's fingers tightened in her lap.“Can you make it disappear completely?”The doctor did not offer false hope.“I cannot promise that. Some scars can be improved considerably, but complete removal is not always possible. We would need to proceed carefully and prioritize your health.”Charlene looked toward the window.For a moment, she was silent.Then she asked, “If the treatment works, will I look different?”“Possibly, though the degree of change depends on the procedures involved. We can discuss what you hope to achieve and what is medically realistic.”Charlene considered the question.She did not want to become someone else because she believ