<b>Chapter </b><b>210 </b>
<b>Chapter </b><b>6</b><b>: </b><b>What the </b><b>hell </b>happened these <b>past </b><b>four </b><b>years</b><b>?! </b>
Everyone stared at Christian in shock.
<b><i>“</i></b><i>You </i><i>actually </i><i>saw </i><i>them</i>? <i>When</i>?”
Jamie asked as he sat at the table.
<b>75 </b>
<i>“</i><i>Right </i><i>before </i>dinner. <i>I </i><i>went </i><i>upstairs </i><i>to </i><i>tell </i><i>her </i><i>to </ie <i>down </i><i>and </i><i>eat</i><i>…</i><i>that’s </i><i>when </i>I <i>saw </i><i>them</i><i>. </i><i>She’s </i><i>got </i><i>bruises </i>all <i>over </i><i>her </i><i>back</i>…some <i>old</i><i>…</i>some <i>look </i><i>pretty </i><i>fresh</i>.<b><i>” </i></b>
Harold’s face twisted with shock and guilt. These past four years, he all but pretended Josie didn’t
exist. He also failed to honor her list. He told himself he would make it up to her when she got
home, but that wasn’t turning out how he expected. Josie was cold and distant. She wouldn’t even
call him dad anymore. In a harden voice, he spoke to Christian.
“Find <i>out what </i><i>the </i><i>hell </i><i>happened </i><i>these </i><i>past </i><i>four </i><i>years</i>. <i>Even </i><i>if </i><i>we </i><i>didn’t </i><i>visit</i><i>…</i><i>she’s </i><i>a </i><i>Taylor</i>. <i>They </i>
<i>should have </i><i>known </i>not <i>to </i><i>touch </i><i>her</i><i>!</i><i>” </i>
“<i>Even </i><i>if </i><i>we </i><i>disowned </i><i>her</i><i>?</i>”
Christian asked as his father walked by. Harold paused…too afraid to answer…too afraid that was the <b>case</b>. That he’d inadvertently put a target on his daughter’s back the moment he publicly denounced
her. But he had no choice! She wasbeled a murder…the board wouldn’t stand for it!
<b><i>‘</i></b>Just <b><i>find </i></b><i>out </i><i>what </i><i>happened</i><i>!</i><i>” </i>
He barked <b>at </b>Chrisitan before walking away. Upstairs, Laura was talking through Josie’s door.
<b><i>“</i></b>Josie<b>…</b><b><i>I’m </i></b>sure <i>these </i><i>past </i><i>four </i>years <i>have </i>not <i>be </i>the <i>best </i><i>for </i>you. I’m so <i>sorry</i>. But you’re <i>home </i>now<i>. </i>Please try <i>and </i>put it <i>behind </i>you as <i>we </i><i>all </i>move <i>forward</i>. These <i>past </i>four <i>years </i>haven’t been <i>easy </i><b><i>for </i></b><i>us </i><i>either</i><b><i>.</i></b><b>” </b>
Laura immediately felt guilty for saying thatst part. She wasn’t trying to guilt trip <b>Josie</b><b>; </b>she <b>just </b>wanted her to go back to the way she was.
Josie sat <b>on </b>end of her bed <b>staring </b>at the door.
at <b>on </b>end
try <b>to </b><b>co </b>
<b><i>‘</i></b><b>Even </b><b><i>when </i></b><b>you </b>try to <bfort </b>me…<b>It’s </b><b>about </b>you.‘
<b>1/4 </b>
<b>10:38 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>21 </b>
:
<b>75 </b>
Josie shook her head in disgust as she turned her phone on. After four years it flooded with missed calls and texts. Some of them were from her grandmother. Josie began to cry as she read some of the messages from her nana.
<b><i>[05</i></b><b>/</b><b>19</b><b><i>/</i></b><b><i>21</i></b><b><i>–</i></b><b><i>Josie</i></b><b>…</b><b><i>where </i></b>are <b><i>you</i></b><b><i>? </i></b><i>Nana’s </i><b>worried</b>. <b>I </b><b>haven’t </b><i>heard </i><b><i>from </i></b>you <b><i>since </i></b><b>you </b><b>left </b><b><i>yesterday</i></b>. <b><i>Anyway </i></b><i>call </i><i>me </i><b><i>when </i></b><b><i>you </i></b>can. <b><i>It’s </i></b><b>your </b><i>Nana</i><b>.</b><b>] </b>
<b><i>[</i></b><b><i>05</i></b><b><i>/</i></b><b><i>25</i></b><b><i>/</i></b><b><i>21</i></b><b><i>–</i></b><b>Josie</b><b><i>!!! </i></b><b><i>Please </i></b><b><i>tell </i></b><i>me </i>it’s not <i>true</i><b><i>!!! </i></b><b><i>That </i></b><b><i>girl </i></b>Vanessa told <i>me </i><b>you </b><b><i>went </i></b>to <b>prison </b><b>for </b><i>vehicr </i><i>homicide</i><b><i>!! </i></b><b>You </b><b>don’t </b><b><i>even </i></b><b><i>drive</i></b><b><i>!!! </i></b><i>What </i><b><i>did </i></b><b><i>those </i></b><b><i>people </i></b><b><i>make </i></b><b><i>you </i></b><b><i>do</i></b><b>!!!</b><b>] </b>
<b><i>[</i></b><b><i>06</i></b><b><i>/</i></b><b><i>24</i></b><b><i>/</i></b><b><i>21</i></b><b>–</b>Oh <b>my </b><b><i>Josie</i></b><b>…</b><b>I </b><i>miss </i><b><i>you </i></b><b>so </b>much<b>. </b><b>I </b><b>know </b><b><i>what </i></b><b><i>those </i></b><b><i>people </i></b><b><i>did</i></b><b><i>. </i></b>I <b><i>wish </i></b>I <b><i>knew </i></b><b><i>where </i></b><b><i>you </i></b><i>were</i><b>. </b><b><i>They </i></b>won’t <b><i>tell </i></b><b><i>me. </i></b><b><i>They </i></b><b><i>haven’t </i></b><b><i>even </i></b><b><i>held </i></b><i>up </i><b><i>their </i></b><b><i>end </i></b><b>of </b><b><i>the </i></b><b><i>bargain</i></b><i>!!! </i><b><i>They </i></b><b><i>sacrificed </i></b><b><i>my </i></b><b>baby </b><b>for </b><b><i>nothing</i></b><i>!!! </i>I’m <b>sorry</b><b><i>! </i></b><b><i>Sorry </i></b><b>I </b><b><i>couldn’t </i></b><b><i>protect </i></b><b><i>you</i></b><b>! </b><b><i>Sorry </i></b><b>I </b><b><i>became </i></b><b><i>your </i></b><b><i>curse</i></b><b><i>!</i></b><b><i>] </i></b>
<b>[</b><b>03</b><b>/</b><b>03</b><b><i>/</i></b><b><i>24</i></b><b><i>–</i></b><i>I </i><b><i>hope that </i></b><i>this </i><i>message </i><b>one </b><b>day </b><b><i>finds </i></b><b><i>you</i></b>. <b>Oh </b><b>my </b><b><i>Josie</i></b><b><i>…</i></b><b><i>I </i></b><b><i>just </i></b><i>want </i>to <b><i>tell </i></b><b><i>you </i></b><b><i>how </i></b>much <i>I </i><b><i>love </i></b><b>you</b><b>. </b><b><i>Raising </i></b><b>you </b><i>and </i><b><i>Marlon </i></b><i>was </i><i>some </i><b><i>of </i></b><b><i>the </i></b><b><i>greatest </i></b><b><i>parts </i></b><b>of </b><b>my </b><b><i>life</i></b><b>. </b>I’ll <b><i>probably </i></b><b><i>be </i></b><b><i>leaving </i></b><b>soon</b><b>. </b><b><i>I </i></b><b><i>hope </i></b><b>I </b><b><i>get </i></b><i>to </i><b><i>see </i></b><b>your </b><b><i>parents</i></b><b>. </b><b><i>I </i></b><b><i>hope </i></b><i>that </i><b><i>they </i></b><b><i>forgive </i></b><b><i>me </i></b><b>for </b><i>failing </i><b><i>you</i></b><b><i>. </i></b><b><i>I </i></b><b><i>hope </i></b><i>that </i><b><i>you </i></b><b><i>will </i></b><b><i>someday </i></b><b>too</b><b>. </b><b><i>Please </i></b><b><i>remember </i></b><b><i>that </i></b>I’m <b><i>always </i></b><b><i>with </i></b><b><i>you</i></b><b><i>, </i></b><b><i>and </i></b>look <b>to </b><b><i>your </i></b><i>cousin </i>
<b><i>when </i></b><b><i>he </i></b><b><ies </i></b><b><i>home</i></b><b><i>, </i></b><b>Love </b><b><i>Nana </i></b>]
The tears poured out of Josie’s eyes uncontrobly. Thatst message was sent on 03/03/24…that
bitch Vanessa came to the prison on 03/05/24. Just two dayster. Josie’s heart felt like led. So that
confirmed what she already knew. They let her die. They used her grandmother so she could take the fall, and they still let her die!!!
<i>‘</i>It’s <i>okay </i><i>nana</i><i>. </i><i>Because </i><i>not </i><i>only </i><i>do </i>I <i>forgive </i><i>you</i><i>…</i><i>I’m going </i><i>to </i><i>avenge </i><i>you</i><i>.</i><i>‘ </i>
Josie pulled up Marlon’s number. Before her release, she wrote him telling him everything that happened. She also wrote for him not to visit her. She wasn’t sure if the Taylors had eyes there or not. Marlon immediately wrote her back; he also put money on her books for her final month. He’d
just returned home the month before her release and found out everything all at once. That his nana had passed away and his cousin was in prison for homicide. It all felt like a ton of bricks copsing
on his head. He had no idea leaving would tear his family apart like this.
And regardless of how many times she told him not too, he med himself for Josie. He was her big cousin…he was supposed to protect her.
On the first ring, Marlon answered.
“<i>You’re </i><i>home</i>!!! <i>Why </i><i>didn’t </i><i>you </i>call me from the prison so I could pick you up!!!”
<b>10:38 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>21 </b>
Josie smiled warmly, it felt so good to hear Marlon’s voice.
<i>“</i><i>I </i><i>didn’t </i><i>want </i>to <i>chance </i><i>you </i>running into <i>Christian</i>. <i>He </i><i>came </i>to <i>the </i><i>prison </i>to <i>pick </i>me <i>up</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
Steamed fumed in Marlon’s eyes at the sound of Christian’s name. He hated him. What kind of big brother would do something like this to his sister.
“<i>Where </i><i>are </i><i>you </i><i>now</i><i>? </i><i>Are </i><i>you </i><i>there</i><i>? </i>I’m <iing </i><i>to </i><i>get </i><i>you</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
Josie instantly smiled. She began to pack a quick bag.
“<i>Okay</i><i>. </i><i>Park </i><i>down </i><i>the </i><i>street </i>so <i>they </i><i>can’t </i><i>see </i><i>you</i><i>. </i>I’ll <i>be </i><i>ready </i><i>in </i>15 <i>minutes</i>.”
<i>“</i>I’ll <i>be </i><i>there</i><i>!</i><i>” </i>
<b>75 </b>
After Josie hung up with Marlon, she quickly packed a bag. The time was now 5pm, and Marlon had just showed up.
When Josie got downstairs, everyone was in the grand room. Laura was the first to notice her
walking by.
“Josie? <i>Where </i><i>are </i><i>you </i><i>going</i><i>?</i><b><i>” </i></b>
Panic shed in her eyes once she noticed a traveling bag in her hands.
“<i>I’m </i><i>going </i><i>to </i><i>the </i><i>hospital </i><i>to </i><i>retrieve </i><i>my </i><i>grandmother </i><i>and </i><i>give </i><i>her </i><i>a </i><i>proper </i><i>memorial</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
Instant guilt shed into Laura’s eyes. She’d known about the passing of Josie’s adoptive grandmother as well.
“O–Oh….I see<i>. </i><i>Well</i><i>…</i><i>why </i><i>don’t </i><i>you </i><i>have </i>one of us <i>drive </i><i>you </i><i>so </i><i>we </i><i>can </i><i>be </i>there with-”
“No need Mrs. <i>Taylor</i>. <i>With </i><i>all </i><i>due </i><i>respect</i><i>; </i>I don’t need the constant reminder that I threw my <i>life </i>away all for nothing <i>with </i>me as I <i>bury </i>my <i>grandmother</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
Laura’s face waspletely ashen. She wasn’t aware Josie learned they reneged on their deal to save
Darlene,
“J–Josie<i>…</i><i>what </i>do you mean <i>by </i>tha-<i>” </i>
<i>“</i><i>Mrs. </i><i>Taylor</i>…<i>I </i><i>just </i>spent four years in <i>prison </i>for <i>a </i><i>crime </i>I <i>didn’t </imit. The <i>least </i><i>you could </i><i>do </i><i>is </i><i>not </i>
<b>10:38 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>21 </b>
Chapter 210 <fn588b> For more chapters visit FιndNovel</fn588b>
<b>75 </b>
<i>lie </i><i>to </i><i>my </i><i>face</i>…<i>right</i><i>?</i>”
Before she could answer, Christian jumped up.
<i>“</i><i>Exactly </i><i>what </i><i>do </i><i>you </i><i>mean by </i><i>all </i><i>of </i><i>this </i>Josie<i>! </i><i>You </i><i>knew </i>you <i>were </i><i>doing </i><i>the </i>four years for Vane-”
“No….I <i>did </i><i>the </i><i>four </i><i>years </i>for <i>my </i><i>grandmother</i><i>! </i>Let’s <i>be </i><i>clear</i><i>! </i><i>Under </i>no <i>circumstances </i><i>would </i><i>I </i><i>have </i>ever
<i>thrown </i><i>my </i><i>life </i><i>away </i><i>for </i><i>someone </i><i>who </i>was <i>callous </i><i>enough </i>to not <i>only </i><i>drive </i><i>drunk</i><i>…</i><i>but </i><i>to </i><i>MURDER </i>
<i>someone</i>.<i>” </i>
Vanessa’s eyes redden, why would she yell that out!!!
“Josie…you need to <i>rx</i><i>, </i><i>it </i><i>was </i><i>an </i><i>i-</i>”
<i>“</i><i>I </i><i>don’t </i><i>give </i>a <i>shit </i><i>what </i><i>it </i><i>was</i><i>!</i><i>” </i>
Josie cut Jamie off, she was tired of his passiveness. Cutting her eyes back over to Christian, he suddenly shuddered. Early she had no emotion in her eyes…now…pure hatred.
<i>“</i>Look<i>…</i><i>I </i><i>haven’t </i><i>bothered </i><i>you </i><i>all</i><i>…</i><i>called</i><i>…</i><i>wrote</i><i>…</i><i>begged</i><i>…</i><i>asked </i>for <i>ANYTHING </i><i>during </i><i>the </i>fours <i>years </i>I <i>spent </i><i>in </i><i>prison </i>for <i>a </i><i>crime your </i><i>precious </i><i>Vanessa </i><i>did</i><i>! </i><i>The </i><i>least </i><i>you </i><i>could </i><i>do </i><i>is </i><i>let </i><i>me </i><i>bury </i><i>my </i><i>fucking </i><i>grandmother </i><i>without </i><i>an </i><i>audience</i><i>!</i><i>” </i>
Christian’s eyes widen in horror, in that moment…it became clear…the girl he knew as Josie was no more. Before he could say anything, Harold intervened.
<i>“</i><i>Let </i><i>her </i><i>go</i>.”
Josie cut her eyes over to him and without a word; walked out the door.