A Hurt So Sweet Volume Four - Isabella Starling Page 0,38

me. But something keeps them there, at Oakes Estate, serving the man who's hurting them every day. I now realize staying with us will be a small reprimand for Minnie. But we all know she'll have to go back to the house of horrors soon enough... there's no escaping a man like Emilian Oakes.

I listen as the two girls catch up. Minnie seems calm but sad, but Pandora is visibly better because of her presence. I vow to make things easier for both of them. I'll do anything in my power to change things.

It's the first time I start to think about this fucked-up town and it's rituals that favor the rich.

If you have power in Eden Falls, you can have it all.

But if you don't, you're doomed to a life of being ordered around by those who have more than you.

And it's time that changed.

We show Minnie to her room later on, and she quietly retreats to it, leaving Pandora and me alone.

"I'm worried about her," Pandora says the moment the door closes. "She's hurting. How can we help her?"

"She'll be fine while she's here," I mutter. "But we need to get her out of that house for sure."

"I was thinking we could help her get into Prep," Pandora suggests. "If she attended classes there, it would be good for her future, and it would get her out of the Estate as well."

"You might be onto something there. I'll see what I can do."

She springs toward me, shocking me by enveloping me in a tight hug. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, toy." I pull back while still holding her in my arms so I can look at her face. "It's very sweet that you're trying to help her, Pandora."

"I feel responsible. Father wouldn't be able to pick on her as much if I was still in the house."

"We'll work together to get her away from him."

"That's what I want." She nods resolutely. "We can save her from him."

I nod, even though I don't necessarily agree.

Emilian Oakes is a man who always, always gets what he wants. I should know—I was exactly like him when Pandora came into my life.

I fucked whoever I wanted, and they were more than willing to let me take the prize between their legs.

I hurt everyone around me just because I could.

I used my power and influence to get what I wanted.

Maybe it's time someone put me in my place.

This town enables people to hurt others. It tells us to use the power we have over the mere mortals of Eden Falls and take what we want. But some day, maybe someone will come along who can change that.

As I watch my toy smiling, I wonder whether that person is her.

Whether she has it in her to change things and turn this town around.

Only time will tell...

15

Pandora

The morning we get the news about Brazen, Minnie and I are sitting in the Booth Manor powder room, flipping through books to distract ourselves from the sad reality of our lives.

Dexter walks into the room with a stormy expression and asks to speak to me. I look up from my book and narrow my eyes at him.

"Tell me here," I suggest. "I don't keep any secrets from Minnie."

He glances between the two of us. Minnie's eyes are wide and trusting, and for a split second, I regret my words. What if this is something Minnie shouldn't know? What if it could hurt her?

"It's Brazen," Dex mutters. "Something happened and I need to talk to you about it."

"B-Brazen?" Minnie repeats. She closes her book, her hand trembling as she puts it on the coffee table. "It's okay, Master Booth... You can say it in front of me."

An awkward silence lays on the room as Dex struggles with his answer. I know he doesn't want to hurt Minnie. His expression is troubled and I know this won't go over well, whatever it is. The last thing I want is for Minnie to get hurt, but she deserves to know the truth just like I do.

"Oakes has decided Brazen will marry," Dex finally spits out through gritted teeth. "Brazen is now engaged to Coco Rose."

"W-What?" I look over to Minnie. She looks frozen and her face is deathly pale. "Who told you?"

"Everyone knows." Dex rubs his chiseled jaw. "I'm sorry, Minnie."

The maid nods with a small smile, but it's painfully obvious she's breaking on the inside. I reach out for her but she turns away, showing me she doesn't want me comforting her.