The Marriage That Never Existed novel Chapter 27

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“Miss Ruby, your father has been searching for you all night.”

“Where’s my brother…?”

“Mr. Blake Harrington went home hours ago. Please, come with me before your father gets

upset.”

Compared to my brothers, I feared Father’s anger more.

I climbed into the Harrington town car. Before I even entered the house, I heard laughter.

“That idiot’s probably still waiting outside the mall,” Carter snickered, holding a red toy truck in

his hands. “She believes whatever we say. So obedient… though she’ll still cling to us like a leech

afterward.”

Blake rolled his eyes. “Why does she have to be my sister? Chloe next door is much cuter. I’d trade

in a heartbeat.”

Andrew’s voice was low but filled with disgust. “If it weren’t for her, Mom wouldn’t have left.”

I stood dripping wet at the door, shivering in the draft.

When they saw me,

their dark eyes darted away.

Father descended the stairs, his expression cold. His first words were an accusation.

“What happened?”

I didn’t dare say it was because of my brothers.

“After we went out yesterday… I got lost.”

His face darkened. “Didn’t I tell you not to wander off? To stay with your brothers?”

I clutched my skirt, murmuring, “But… I didn’t get the place wrong.”

Blake cut in smoothly, “I told her to wait exactly where she was. But the driver never saw her there, right?”

Father believed him. His anger exploded. “Still refusing to admit your mistake?”

He pulled out the wooden ruler. “Hands out.”

Chapter1

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I remembered the last time I disobeyed. Father had locked me in my room for an entire day.

He was so busy, he forgot me there, until I fainted with hunger. Only then did I finally get porridge

and bread.

I didn’t want that again.

So I obediently stretched out my hands.

Crack! The ruler came down hard across my palms.

“Stop running off. Will you remember this next time?”

My hands trembled, tears soaking my skin.

“I will.”

“Louder!” Another harsh strike.

I flinched, sobbing. “I, I will!”

At noon, Father left on business.

Ms. Doyle, the housekeeper, changed me into dry clothes.

At the table, there was only a single bread roll left.

Blake scrunched up his face in mockery.

“Crybaby. You think tattling will help? Father never believes you.”

I devoured the bread in silence.

Then Carter appeared with a glass of water. His smile was gentle.

I was thirsty, and so I tilted back my head, trusting him, draining every drop he handed me.