Chapter 1 - The Brick on the Garden Wall
A father attacks his daughter to force her fiancé toward the favored sister, but a hidden witness sees everything.
Sadie Davis stood at the edge of her parents’ porch with Wyatt Campbell’s hand close to hers.
The Columbus mansion looked golden in the late afternoon light.
White columns.
Brick steps.
Rose bushes trimmed too neatly.
A porch swing moving slightly in the warm wind.
Everything looked respectable.
That was the Davis family’s favorite disguise.
Gregory Davis blocked the steps in his rolled-sleeve pale-gray shirt, jaw grinding, face red with rage.
Behind him, Brenda stepped away from the porch swing in a glittering champagne dress, laughing as if her daughter’s humiliation were entertainment.
Melanie stood in the doorway wearing gold, arms crossed, smiling like the ending had already been chosen for her.
Brenda pointed directly at Sadie.
“Wyatt deserves Melanie, not a selfish girl like you.”
Sadie’s throat tightened, but she did not step back.
Wyatt moved first.
Gregory lunged forward and grabbed his jacket lapel.
“Choose Melanie, or you’re finished with this family!”
Wyatt ripped Gregory’s hand away and placed himself in front of Sadie.
Then, without looking away from Gregory, he reached back and took Sadie’s trembling hand.
“I choose Sadie. Every single time.”
Melanie’s smile widened for one sick second.
Then Brenda’s face twisted with rage.
Gregory’s hand dropped toward the low garden wall.
Sadie saw the red brick.
Wyatt saw Gregory’s arm move.
Brenda laughed wildly.
“Then let’s see if he still loves you after this!”
The brick rose.
Wyatt spun toward Sadie.
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Too late.
Read Chapter 2 👉 Because Wyatt chose Sadie in front of everyone, and Gregory’s rage turned the family porch into a crime scene.
