From Ashes of Scandal to His Embrace (Laurinda) novel Chapter 22

“I’m giving you one more chance. If you don’t leave now, don’t blame us for what happens next.”

Jared looked at the girls standing behind Laurinda. The warning was for them too.

Their faces were pale, but no one moved. They were Laurinda’s close friends. They had come together, and they would leave together.

“Oh, wow. So loyal. In that case…”

“Wait. Let them go. I’ll go with you.”

Laurinda gently patted Shirley’s shoulder, then turned and mouthed two words: call police.

Shirley caught on immediately. The stubborn look on her face disappeared as she grabbed the other girls, picked up her broken phone from the ground, and hurried away.

Jared watched them run off and gave a mocking smile. “So much for friendship. Laurinda… actually, you’re not Laurinda anymore, are you? Come on, let’s settle what you did to my brother’s leg.”

He yanked Laurinda by the collar of her puffy jacket, dragging her along like she was nothing, pulling her into a pitch-black alley.

Nearby, Fabian watched with a smug grin. After tonight, Laurinda would be finished. Her pride would be crushed for good.

“Warner, did you handle what I asked? The cops aren’t coming, right?”

“Relax, Fabian. My brother Wade is the beat cop here. I already talked to him. He’ll stall for a while, maybe wait until Jared’s done.”

Inside the alley, Laurinda changed in an instant. She grabbed Jared’s arm, twisted hard, and everyone heard a sharp crack, followed by a scream that echoed off the walls. Just hearing it made you wince.

“See that camera at the intersection? It caught everything. You dragged me in here. The reason you’re the ones hurt is simple. You were outmatched. I just defended myself.”

She shrugged. “You, on the other hand, came after me with these weapons. That makes it pretty clear what you wanted to do.”

Laurinda nudged a steel pipe with her toe. The metallic clank made everyone flinch. For a second, none of them could shake the feeling that they were completely screwed.

Jared was stunned. He finally realized this wasn’t some accident. Laurinda had planned it all.

“Laurinda, you set us up!”

“I did,” she said with a smile. “But let’s be real. If you hadn’t walked right into my trap, when else would I get the chance?”