Betrayed Heiress: A Husband's Deception

lously returned home, only to find her fiancé, Cameron Stewart, and brother, An

trauma-induced delusions. Instead of finding comfort, Alanna w

ng her every lie, and even sent Alanna back to the very human trafficking compound where

ipulated by Bailey's sweet facade? Why did the people w

ent of her renewed nightmare. Then, with a final, desperate act of defiance, she set the compound ablaze and leaped from a cliff, using

pte

Four years of being a ghost, a piece of property traded in the dark. Now, freedom was a lungful of damp, earthy a

down the first car she saw. The driver, a kind-faced older w

s. An officer gently wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. She gave them her nam

of the missing Robertson heiress bei

r to the small inter

ann

y perfect suit was rumpled, his face etched with exhaustion and disbelief. Close behind hi

world. The two m

ce hug, his body trembling. "Y

e thick with emotion. "Lanna, we ne

s safe. She was home. "They took me," she whispered, her voice

who held her captive to justice. She started to give the of

m. "Honey, slow down. Let's get you out of here fi

ern. "He's right, Lanna. You've been through enough. Let our people take care o

nt through her. "No. They need

me from the doorway. "Came

gile doll in her simple white dress, her hands clasped nervously. Bailey, the orphan the

a," Bailey said, her voice trem

l blow. A memory, sharp and brutal, flashed through her mind. A

r said to treat you well. Bailey

ne, giving instructi

ungs. Her hand shot out, her finger tremblin

was

m went

aking uncontrollably. "I heard he

ned. Anderson' s brow

ut?" Cameron' s tone was no longe

shrank back, looking terrified. "I don

sound tearing from her throat. "She o

od up, his protective stance now directed at Bailey. "Alanna, you

iece of fabric in her hand-torn from the clothes of one of her captors during her e

iece of tangible pro

im physical discomfort. He glanced at it, then at Bailey' s tear-streaked face. Without

r heart stopping.

nd cold. He turned to the bewildered officer. "We' re taking he

e to Alanna' s horrified one, and finally jus

er head. The betrayal was a chasm

his eyes full of disappointment. "Look at you. You' re not the same. You come back

her fiancé' s impatient one. They weren' t looking at

est. The tears stopped. The shaking

e said, her voice low but steady. "A

aybe she was. The pampered heiress they remembe

his words echoing in her memory. Each time she was sent back, the punishment was worse. They bro

ooming in her chest now,

omforted in Anderson' s arms. Then it moved to C

ith frustration. "Bailey has done nothing but care for us. She

Alanna bit out, the w

s fingers digging into the bone. "You disappeared for four years, and this is h

ng compared to the agony in her heart. Tears welled up again, this ti

d her away. "G

hild? She had survived horrors he couldn't even imagine. She had clawed h

ctim, yet here she was, being punished. Her fight for j

le touched her lips.

ened slightly at her appa

gentle, a soothing balm of poison. She gently took his hand. "She'

meron had strict boundaries with other women. He barely tolerated friendly hugs. Now, he was

Bailey was the enemy. And this trafficking ring, whether B

them now. Not like this. They held all the power,

her voice devoid of e

e a painful reminder of a life that no longer existed. He used to fly in her favorite chefs from across the country just to cook her a single meal. He' d cancelle

of their universe. Now,

her body throbbed, a br

rting tones. Their presence filled the car, leavi

anna pushed the door open, desperate for air. She hu

colors were gone, replaced by a minimalist, cold gray. The furniture was different. A man' s cologne hu

erson moved in here after... well, w

a perfect blend of sweetness and martyrdom. "Alanna can have my r

ed surprised

rson and I put her things

d at Bailey with an expression of deep affection. "Th

the guest room for now. Bailey is leaving for London soon for uni

in Bailey's eyes before it was h

mpty. He hesitated, a flicker of guilt

flat. She just wanted to be alone. She wanted to fi

stands," Camero

he room where they stored old furniture and forgotten thin

usty. Boxes were piled high.

ng on a stack of boxes. Her old laptop