Scars Of Betrayal: The Fallen Heiress Returns

The hydraulic hiss of the heavy steel gate sliding open was the loudest sound Imogen Willis had heard in three years.

She took her first step out of the Federal Correctional Institution, and the wind hit her like a physical blow.

It was a biting, dry cold that cut right through the thin fabric of her beige trench coat-the same coat she had worn the day they arrested her.

It smelled of mildew and storage lockers.

Imogen flinched, her shoulders hunched up toward her ears. A sharp, grinding pain shot through her right knee.

a souvenir from a "slip and fall" in the shower block six months ago that never healed right.

She gritted her teeth, forcing her leg to take the weight.

The pain was a reminder,A promise she'd made to herself in the dark.

She looked up at the sky. It was a flat, slate gray. She inhaled deeply, trying to find the scent of freedom, but all she tasted was dust and the metallic tang of snow that hadn't fallen yet.

The parking lot was a vast expanse of cracked asphalt. It was empty, save for one vehicle parked under the skeletal branches of a dead oak tree at the far end.

A black Maybach.

Imogen's heart gave a single, hard thump against her ribs.

Ford.

He had come. Despite the silence, despite the lawyers telling her he wanted space, he had come. Of course he had. The stability clause in the trust demanded it. This wasn't a reunion; it was a transaction.

Imogen Imogen began to walk. Her gait was uneven, the limp in her right leg making her stumble slightly on the uneven ground.

She reached the car.

The door remained shut.

Imogen stood by the passenger side, her breath fogging in front of her face. Through the heavy tint, she could only make out a silhouette. A dark shape that didn't move.

She reached out, her fingers red and raw from the cold, and tapped the glass. Knock. Knock.

Nothing happened.

Five seconds passed. Then ten. The silence stretched, transforming from a test into a verdict. Imogen lowered her hand, a cold knot of certainty, not confusion, tightening in her stomach.

Slowly, the window rolled down. Not all the way. Just halfway.

Ford Crawford sat behind the wheel. He was wearing sunglasses, even though the sky was overcast. His jaw was set in a hard, unforgiving line. He looked impeccable, untouched by the three years that had eroded Imogen down to the bone.

"Ford," she breathed, the name a dry rasp on her tongue.

He didn't look at her. He stared straight ahead at the prison gates.

"Get in," he said. His voice was devoid of inflection. "Don't let the media see you."

The lock on the passenger door clicked up with a sharp snick.

Imogen pulled the handle. The door was heavy. She slid into the seat, the sudden warmth of the climate control hitting her face, making her dizzy.

The interior smelled of leather and something floral. Sweet. Cloying.

It was White Rose. Bella's signature scent. A territorial marking.

Imogen closed the door, sealing herself in.

She turned to look at him, not for eye contact, but to assess his state. His jaw was tight.

A sign of stress,Good.

Ford slammed his foot on the gas.

The car lurched forward, the G-force throwing Imogen back against the leather seat. Her head snapped back, hitting the headrest.

"Careful," she whispered, her voice raspy from disuse. "I'm happy to see you, too." The sarcasm was a razor blade wrapped in silk.

"Quiet," Ford snapped. He finally glanced at her, but only for a second. His lip curled. "Some smells don't wash off."

Imogen froze. She looked down at her sleeves. She had scrubbed herself with the harsh, orange soap they gave inmates until her skin was raw, but the smell of the prison-of bleach, sweat, and fear-clung to the fibers of her coat.

She folded her hands in her lap, covering her cracked knuckles. She looked out the window as the prison disappeared behind them.

Phase one, extraction, was complete.

Phase two, survival, was beginning.

Ford reached out and turned on the radio. The volume was low, a hum of financial news filling the suffocating silence between them.

"...and in local society news, the Willis family is hosting their annual Winter Gala tonight at the estate..."

Imogen's head snapped toward the dashboard. A gala? Tonight?

"...sources say the event will proceed despite the release of the disgraced eldest daughter, Imogen Willis. It is expected that Bella Willis will be announcing the new foundation initiatives..."

Imogen looked at Ford. "A party? Today?"

Ford's knuckles were white on the steering wheel. A cruel, humorless smile touched the corner of his mouth.

"Yes," he said. "It was Bella's idea. To 'celebrate' your return."

Imogen felt the blood drain from her face.

A celebration.

Or a public execution.