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With a GED and no other job prospects, I picked up more side work for Ulfric and other nments my way

As Juliet’s eighteenth birthday approached, we stopped living in fear that her aunt and uncle ht try to force her back into their house Mr Porter worked hard to protect Juliet’s inheritance and honor Mrs Shields’ wishes He wasn’t going to let anyone interfere, no matter how much her aunt and uncle bitched

For St Patrick’s day, Juliet and I stuffed ourselves with corned beef and cabbage Juliet baked an Irish Apple Cake that I was dying to dig into

“I know it has the sauce, but I think ice creaood with the cake,” she said as I helped her clear the table

It did sound good “Is that a hint that you want rab ice cream?”

She flashed the sweetest smile that I couldn’t resist “Would you? Vanilla”

“Anything for you Be right back” I kissed her cheek, grabbed my wallet and keys, and headed to Stewarts

Juliet

Roed on the door

I raced out of the kitchen to answer “Did you forget your key?”

Without peering through the curtain-covered , I slid the latch free

Solass

The door crashed open

I let out a short scream and jumped from the intruder

Uncle Jared

Instead of relaxing when I recognized hter

“Uncle Jared, what are you doing here?”

Like a snake, he struck His hand wrapped around h force to shove a car over a cliff, he pushed my back into the wall

Pressure at my throat choked off my air I kicked out and clawed at his arm, desperate to breathe

“Think you’re so clever, huh? Got that old bitch to leave you all thatall the years we let you live under our roof?”

“Letto free myself

“Letting that cri like a whore Your aunt’s sick to her stomach What would your mother think?”

I couldn’t answer any of those questions His hand was too tight

My vision darkened at the edges

No

I kicked out again, too feeble to do dahed

“Trying to hurt ain”

He released me I crumpled to the floor

Air Breathe!

I wheezed and gasped

My gaze strayed to the broken front door

There was nowhere to run to He’d followme back by my hair No one would hear me scream

“I liked you better when you were little,” he spat “When you listened to me”

“I was scared of you” I coughed “You hurt me”