Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 63842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Later that evening, I walked past Jade’s partially open door and heard voices inside. I slowed my steps, not wanting to intrude but needing to make sure she was all right. Through the gap in the door, I saw Mia sitting cross-legged on Jade’s bed, a laptop balanced on her knees. Jade sat beside her, looking at the screen.
“I should have done this sooner.” Mia’s voice was clear, resolute. “After I saw what he did to you, I started digging. We can use what I found and make it so he cannot charm his way out of this one.”
I lingered outside, not wanting to interrupt. Jade leaned forward, studying whatever was on the screen.
“How many women did you find?” Jade asked quietly.
“Three who were willing to talk.” Mia clicked through files. “Plus you. Five total. He hadn’t abused me yet, but looking back, I can tell he tried to groom me. All with similar patterns. He has a playbook.” Mia turned to look at Jade directly. “Everything I found shows a clear pattern of behavior I’m sure your lawyers can use. And all of this was gathered by simply reaching out to people on social media. I met all the women who agreed to testify. I think this can really help you.”
I watched Jade straighten her shoulders slightly. “Why are you showing me this?”
Mia closed her eyes briefly. “Because I was wrong about you. About everything. I blamed you for what happened between us when the real villain was him all along.” She opened her eyes. “I should have been there for you. Instead, I wallowed in my own self-pity and hung onto a grudge I never had the right to hold.”
“I hid it well.” Jade’s voice was barely audible. “I’m ashamed of what I did. Especially to you, Mia. He wanted me to be friends with you so he had an opening, but I knew what he intended. He hung on to me because I was an easy target for him. He met me young, and I thought I loved him. When he went to other women, he always came back to me, which I took to mean he needed something I just couldn’t give him sexually.” Jade looked down at her hands. “Looking back, I think he used me for his fits of rage. Because once he started getting physical, the woman of the month left, and he came back to me.” She shook her head. “I wanted to leave but didn’t think I had the means. Then, I got so used to my life, my reality, it stopped occurring to me I had the choice to leave.”
“I’m betting having a woman under his complete control was his goal.” Mia gestured to the screen. “Look at all of these women. All of us. He isolates. He shames. He abuses. He makes it seem like our fault.” Mia included herself in the situation, but I wasn’t sure I agreed. Maybe she’d been headed in that direction, but Mia had proven she could and would get out of a relationship when a line had been crossed. Eric had beaten Jade down so much for so long, I didn’t think Jade had been capable of leaving.
The two women looked at each other for a long moment. “I am so sorry about what happened, Mia.” Jade spoke first. “Not just the part with you. All of it. I should have left him sooner. Then he might never have come into your life.”
“And I should have checked on you instead of just hating you. I knew something seemed off that day at the cabin. I let myself get too caught up in my own hurt and betrayal to listen to my instinct,” Mia replied. “So what do you say? Ready to take this bastard down together?”
Jade nodded slowly. “What do we do with all this?”
“We give it to Lana. She can take it from there.” Mia clicked through more files. “And we prepare to testify. All of us. He can intimidate one woman. Maybe even two. But five? With evidence? Not even his money can make that go away.”
I backed away from the door, feeling like an intruder in a moment that wasn’t mine. But as I turned to leave, I caught the small smile forming on Jade’s lips. Not happy exactly. But I thought she might get there.
The afternoon dragged on after Ethan and Lana left. Jade had retreated into herself after her talk with Mia. She’d mostly stayed in her room, though I’d brought lunch. Penny had brought her a cupcake and had stayed with her for an hour or so. The few times she’d wandered out of her room, she seemed so deep in thought she didn’t register anything around her.
By early evening, I couldn’t stand seeing her trapped in her head anymore. I found her in the kitchen staring out the window, her gaze unfocused. “You want to get out of here for a few hours?” I asked. “Come have dinner at the compound.”