Chapter 4
I was ten when the Johnsons adopted me.
My dad, John’s father’s best friend, had
cancer and entrusted me to their care.
At the Johnsons‘, everyone but Mr. Johnson treated me poorly.
Being adopted, the maids and Mrs. Johnson
saw no need for respect.
I tiptoed around, never taking too much food,
never asking for allowance.
I remember once, going days without food,
sneaking into the kitchen at night.
A maid caught and scolded me. John.
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appeared, intervening.
“How dare you treat Miss Ashley this way?”
That was our first meeting.
Later, I learned he was the eldest son, six
years older, already in high school.
He visited daily after that, shielding me from their cruelty.
He’d always say, “Ashley, I’ll protect you.”
Then, on my 18th birthday, he stumbled into
my room, drunk.
He kissed me.
Said he wanted to marry me.
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Said he wanted to marry me.
So I held onto that dream.
Lost in thought, I got a text from Jessica.
“Are you back? Just wanted to let you know,
John and I have a baby and are getting
married next month.”
She’d always pretended to be looking out for me, ensuring John was behaving.
Now, the mask was off.
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