Chapter 23
Laura’s voice cut sharply through the tension, but Georgia’s gaze stayed calm, resting steadily on her agitated roommate.
“If you
don’t need money, then why are you working at the Vetro Club?” Georgia asked evenly, devoid of emotion.
Laura hesitated, then snapped, “I work there as a waitress. You know my family’s situation. I need money for tuition and
living expenses.”
Her eyes burned with contempt as she stared at Georgia like she was beneath notice. “I’m not like you. I have limits. I won’t do just anything for money.”
–
Georgia smiled quietly. Laura claimed she had boundaries, but that wasn’t true. Georgia’s only limit was survival.
“Stop smiling,” Laura demanded, stamping her foot. “Listen to me. Earning money by sacrificing your dignity is pointless. People will despise you. No one will respect you.”
She finished with a cold snort and turned away.
Georgia stood there a moment longer before retreating to her room, drained.
Laura’s words echoed relentlessly in her mind.
She smiled softly.
She earned what she could to fill her stomach and keep a roof overhead. She didn’t want to live on the streets. That was
all
Georgia had helped Laura before. Had she known it would cause such a storm, would she have done it again?
Her thoughts spiraled as sleep claimed her.
When Georgia woke, she found herself in a hospital bed.
“You’re awake.”
Her eyes fluttered open to see Charlotte sitting nearby. Her throat burned painfully as she croaked, “Charlotte, where am
12”
“You’re in the hospital, Charlotte said, cutting an apple into small pieces and feeding one to Georgia. “Eat a little. We’ll talk
later.”
The sweetness was unfamiliar on her tongue, but Georgia chewed slowly. “Why am I here?”
high fe
Charlotte’s face grew serious. “How many days have you had a high fever?”
Charlotte explained she hadn’t seen Georgia at the club the night before, Worried, she had checked the dorm and found Georgia burning with fever. The doctor said if they’d arrived any later, no one could have saved her.
“Why didn’t you tell your roommates you were sick? Charlotte scolded. “You nearly died.”
Georgia listened quietly. Despite Charlotte’s frustration, she sensed genuine concern beneath it.
Tears welled unbidden after years of dryness. Charlotte’s care cracked a window in her heart, letting in fragile light.
But fear tightened its grip. Losing something precious always hurt more than never having it.
Finally, voice trembling, Georgia asked, “Why?”
Charlotte’s gaze softened. “Nobody else cares about you. If I don’t look out for you, who will?”
Charlotte’s own history mirrored Georgia’s pain–maybe her words were a balm for herself, too.
She studied Georgia’s fragile expression. The trembling lashes betrayed her attempt to mask emotions.
“Can I ask you something?” Charlotte said gently
“Go ahead.”
Chapter 23
“What happened with Mr. Hill?” Charlotte asked cautiously. Preston was cruel, but he shouldn’t have treated a woman so brutally.
Georgia froze for a moment, then Charlotte softened. “Forget it if it’s too much.”
Three years ago, Georgia confessed, she killed the woman Preston loved.
Charlotte paused, fork hovering near her mouth. Then she placed the apple slice in Georgia’s mouth and said, “But you. didn’t kill her, did you?”
“You would never kill anyone,” Charlotte insisted with quiet certainty. “What really happened?”
Though Georgia endured Preston’s abuse and scom in silence, Charlotte’s words cracked her composure, and she broke down in sobs.
Her thoughts raced: Preston… Charlotte barely knows me, yet she sees through it all.
Finally, someone believes I’m not a murderer.
Charlotte set down her fork and didn’t ask Georgia to stop crying. Instead, she gently stroked her hair.
it’s okay. You’re just too proud to kill anyone. You’re not brave enough for something like that.”
Charlotte continued softly, “You must have loved Mr. Hill deeply, but you wouldn’t kill his lover just to win his affection. Your pride wouldn’t allow it.”
Georgia’s tears spilled freely, years of anguish pouring out in waves.
That afternoon, she wept without restraint.
Through choked sobs, she whispered, “I didn’t do it…He never believed me… No one did..
“Everyone knows he hates me. I thought once I got out of prison, I’d have peace.
“Charlotte, they insult me, say I’m cruel and wicked. I don’t care what they say. I don’t care about money either.”
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