Chapter 9
Everyone turned to look at me [
“Who the hell is she? |
“Dressed like a thrift store mannequin–how’d she even get in here?”
“That’s Frederick sex wife.”
Well technically his mistress now. No wonder she looks so washed u
“Looks like the drama’s about to start“||
I tap.” []
Frederick gave the President a respectful nod and apologized:
“Mr. President, this woman went a little unhinged after giving birth.”
I’ll have someone escort her out right away.”
Lavinia’s glare could’ve cut glass, but with so many people around, she forced a smile.
I pulled our the divorce papers and raised my voice:[]
“Mr. President, First Lady. I am no
am no mistress.“]]
my will.” []
“I legally divorced Frederick, yet he’s had me locked up in his house against my
“He once swore he’d use his military honors to clear my father’s name.“]]
“But now, he’s moving on with a new bride. I’ve accepted that.” |
“All I ask is your permission to present evidence and restore my father’s honor.“[]
A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd
Some of the White House officials were now eyeing Frederick with suspicion and disdain.
Lavinia, spoiled and proud since birth, had never been humiliated like this in public.
When she heard someone whisper that she had seduced Frederick and caused him to demote his ex–wife, she lost it.
She ripped off her veil and threw it at the person who spoke.
Then she stormed up to me and slapped me across the face.
“You bitch! You’re trying to ruin my wedding on purpose! I swear I’ll kill you! I’ll kill your
“Your daddy was just some minor bureaucrat! He died, so what?“||
Ten more like him dead wouldn’t matter as much as my wedding!”
I clutched my baby tight, even as she kept hitting and screaming.
The President shot Frederick a sharp look.
Before things escalated further, the First Lady raised her voice:]
“That’s enough
The room fell silent. Even Lavinia froze in place.
Maybe I had ruined the President’s good mood, but with so many dignitaries watching, he held back his anger and finally looked at
“You said your father was wrongly accused. What evidence do you have?”
Trook out my father’s letter and the small bor I had hidden in my sleeve. []
Frederick fonged to stop me, hot a single glare from the President rooted him in place.
The Chief of Staff handed over the items.
The Preudent glanced at them, his expression darkening–but he didn’t open them yet.
“You do realize accusing someone in court takes serious proof,” he said.
“If you’re just here to crash this wedding, the consequences will be on you.”
1 dropped to my knees and bowed deeply.
“My family was exiled. I shouldn’t have survived
“I don’t lear death.” ||
“But I won’t let
child grow up with a fabricated crime hanging over his head.”
Silence. You could hear a pin drop in the ballroom.
After a moment, the President said:
“If you re willing to crawl across that bed of nails, I’ll believe you–even if your evidence turns out to he fake. At least you’ll have paid a price for it.”
Guards brought out the nail bed.
Gasps echoed through the room.
The nails were thick and packed tight–crawling across it would mean shredded skin at best. [
Frederick tried to stop me:
“Serena, I already promised you.”
“I will clear your father’s name. Please don’t make a scene here.”
He looked geminely worried.
Maybe he meant it.
But I didn’t need him anyandre.
Men–they’ll always let you down.
So, with everyone watching, I crawled across the bed of nails. []
By the time I reached the end, I was unconscious, bleeding and broken. []
The blood pooling under me soaked into the aisle runner, red on red–almost beautiful in a twisted way.
Frederick dropped to his knees, stunned, staring at my bloodied hody.[
Behind him, Lavinia’s shouting was cut off by the sharp crack of a slap |
The wedding had officially turned into a complete disaster. D
Two weeks later, I woke up in the East Wing of the White House. []
The First Lady was playing with my chalid. []
When she saw me stir, a soft smile appeared: []
Thanks to your evidence, everything changed.”
The President’s wanted to clean house for years–but the pressure from Congress and donors kept him in check” ||
“This time, with the public watching, he had his chance.“]
“The corrupt officials have been swept out.“[]
“Your father’s:
name
has been cleared”
“You’re no longer the daughter of a traitor.”
I couldn’t help it–tears rolled down my cheeks
I’d done it. I’d cleared my father’s name with my own hands.
Because the evidence came from Frederick, he was spared exile. Instead, he was reassigned to a remote military hase with his family.
The day before he left, he snuck into the White House grounds, trying to see me,
The guards threw him out b
before he even made it past the second gate.
Lavinia, now a married woman avoided a prison sentence–but became a pariah in D.C. society.
Frederick often sat in silence, staring in the direction of the capital.
Whenever Lavinia caught him, they’d get into screaming matches that shook the walls
Their perfect love story ended in pieces.
As for me, the President adopted me as his goddaughter and awarded me the Presidential Medal of Freedom. [
With my child in my arms, I began a new, peaceful life.
