- 7.
I told Ben everything Ethan had said.
“There’s someone else behind this. Ethan is
just a pawn.”
He wouldn’t risk Brenda and Tiffany’s lives.
But how had he known about the riots?
Paisley tugged at my hand.
“Mommy, Tiffany got a new doll and even let
me play with it. She said it was from daddy!”
“I’m never going to get a doll either,” I asked,
pouting and sad.
Then I remembered, Brenda and Tiffany had
been spending a lot of money lately.
Tiffany’s clothes were the most expensive in
the city, and the money wasn’t coming from
<
Ethan.
Ben and I looked at each other, both saying
at once,
“Brenda!”
Ben brought the servants to the jail,
questioning them one by one.
Someone had seen a man from the
Governor’s office delivering money to Brenda.
With that testimony, Brenda was brought
before the judge.
She acted arrogant and defiant.
“Chloe? You dare do this to me while Ethan’s
in jail! He’ll punish you when he gets out!”
Ben scoffed.
“He won’t be worrying about you. You should
be worrying about yourself!”
She pointed at me, screaming.
“General Ben is helping her with this? What’s
going on between you two? Are you two
secretly together?”
く
Ben was furious, afraid her words would
damage my reputation.
“This woman is out of control! Take her
away! Use whatever you have to!”
I stopped the guards.
“There’s a better way to get the truth out of
her.”
Brenda sneered.
“Just because you have a new boyfriend
doesn’t mean you can bully me! I’m still your
elder, I’m still a part of the family!”
I leaned in, whispering,
“Brenda, who’s Tiffany’s real father? How did
you torment my brother–in–law to death? You
don’t want me to say it here, do you?”
Her face turned white with fear.
“What are you talking about?!”
“Really, the truth is that Tiffany has a father
and I have just been to weak to do anything
about her being in my life anymore, so you
<
should know I can do this.”
Brenda dropped to her knees, sobbing.
“The Governor’s man contacted me. He said
if I put the letters in Ethan’s box, he’d give me
money!”
“I was doing it for the family! Tiffany’s been
spending a lot, and we’re broke!”
She grabbed my clothes, begging,
“Chloe, you and General Ben have history.
You have to help me! Tell him to spare our
family!”
I pulled away, saying coldly,
“I can’t save anyone.”
Ben ordered the guards to take her away.
- 8.
The rival had orchestrated the riots.
He was sentenced to death, and Brenda was
sent to prison, both to be executed in three
days.
Ethan, for not stopping Brenda, was demoted
