Matilda wasn’t always a smoker.
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Back in the day, she was a star–straight–A student, drop–dead gorgeous, the kind of girl who owned any room she walked into.
But losing her parents crushed her, locking her in a dark place she couldn’t escape. That was when cigarettes became her crutch.
Brandon understood why she’d changed, but he couldn’t stand how cold and biting she’d gotten.
Shelby, his little sister, had only been back from abroad for two months, and already Matilda treated her like the enemy.
‘How could a woman so heartless still make my heart ache?‘ he thought.
With a hard look, Brandon turned and slipped back into their bedroom.
Matilda caught his icy stare and flashed a bitter, self–mocking smirk.
Everyone called Brandon the perfect husband. But she knew the real him–this guy could hold a grudge like nobody’s business.
When he was mad, he’d give her the cold shoulder. And when he did talk, it was only because of their unspoken rule: Matilda’s always right. Even then, his words were laced with resentment.
At night, Brandon planned to freeze her out.
But Lola’s words stuck with him, and he spoke, his voice like gravel. “Birthdays are for the real day, Matilda. Lola’s done with celebrating early this year.”
Matilda stopped short, blindsided.
Lola’s birthday was special, and every year, Matilda planned it three days early, pulling out all the stops to make her daughter’s dreams come true.
Each time, Lola would throw her arms around her, grinning ear to ear, saying, “You’re the best, Mom! Thank you!”
But this year was off.
“It’s Shelby’s doing, isn’t it?” Matilda said, her tone sharp with certainty.
Brandon’s temper flared. “Why’s it always gotta be her fault? It’s been five years since your parents passed, Matilda.
“When are you gonna climb out of that hole you’re stuck in?”
Matilda’s fists balled up, her chest tight, like a boulder was crushing her heart.
9:12 Mon, Oct 13
Chapter 2
That night, she dreamed of the Domburgh earthquake five years ago.
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Her mother had shielded her, pregnant and helpless, from collapsing rubble, giving her life to save Matilda’s.
She woke up crying, her face wet with tears.
The bed beside her was empty.
Brandon stood by the big window, phone pressed to his ear. “Shelby, what’s wrong? Don’t cry–just tell me. You okay? Where are you?”
His face was pure panic. Without even swapping his pajamas for real clothes, he bolted out the door.
‘But Brandon,‘ Matilda thought, her heart splintering, ‘didn’t you see me falling apart too?‘
Her hope burned to ashes. She slid off her wedding ring and chucked it in the trash.
At the crack of dawn, Matilda trudged downstairs.
Shelby, waiting like she’d planned the whole thing, walked over with a fancy covered tray. “I’m sorry, Matilda. I know I shouldn’t be here, but I was so worried about Brandon and Lola.”
Matilda gave her a sidelong glare. “Worried, huh? What’s your angle, Shelby? You trying to slide in and play house with him?”
Shelby, seeing no one else around, dropped her sweet act.
A sly grin spread across her face. “Guess you’ve got me pegged. You gonna step aside and give me a shot?”
Matilda’s sharp, elegant features turned cold as ice.
“Don’t get mad,” Shelby purred, her voice all fake honey. “I shouldn’t have dragged Brandon away last night. I baked these to make it up to you.”
Matilda saw right through Shelby’s fake tears and started to walk away.
But Shelby’s voice turned low and mocking. “Rose… petal… cookies.”
Matilda froze, her blood turning to ice.
Before the earthquake, her mother had teased her, begging for her homemade rose petal cookies. Matilda had brushed her off, too wrapped up to bother.
Her dad, always spoiling her mom, went out to buy some instead.
Then the earthquake hit. Her mother used her body to shield Matilda and her unborn baby, her own body crushed beyond recognition.
Yet she’d smiled through the agony, whispering, “Good thing you didn’t make those cookies, sweetie. Gives
9:12 Mon, Oct 13
Chapter 2
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me something to dream about on the other side.”
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Tears welled in Matilda’s eyes. She hadn’t touched rose petal cookies since.
The roses in their garden hadn’t bloomed since that day either.
“Thy one,” Shelby said, her smile sugary and cruel. “How’re my rose petal cookies?”
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Matilda knew Shelby was twisting the knife on purpose. Brandon must’ve spilled her deepest wound to his sister.
“Get out,” Matilda hissed through gritted teeth.
Shelby played deaf. “You know, your parents‘ memorial is coming up. I figured I’d do something nice, bring these cookies to your mom’s grave.
“Maybe it’ll help her rest easy, find a better life next time.”
Matilda’s rage erupted. She spun around and slapped Shelby hard across the face.
Shelby stumbled, the tray crashing to the floor, her cheek swelling fast.
But she just clutched her face and laughed, like she’d won some twisted game.
Matilda glanced at the spilled tray. Jasmine cookies, not rose petal ones. Shelby had lied to set her off.
She steadied herself, her voice like steel. “Think you can play me? You’re gonna pay a bigger price than that.”
Before Shelby could blink, Matilda slapped her other cheek, the crack ringing out like a whip.
She grabbed a jasmine cookie and shoved it into Shelby’s mouth. “Didn’t Brandon teach you to respect the dead? You’re gonna regret that one.”
Brandon, hearing the commotion, raced downstairs with Lola in tow.
“Matilda!” he roared, his face dark with fury. He grabbed her arm and yanked her back.
Matilda, caught off guard, slammed into a glass cabinet, pain shooting through her back as she winced.
“Brandon!” Shelby whimpered, tears streaming, looking like the world’s biggest victim.
Brandon reached to touch Shelby’s swollen cheek but stopped, afraid of hurting her more.
His eyes burned as he glared at Matilda. “Say you’re sorry. Now.”
Matilda, biting back the pain, locked eyes with him, her gaze fierce. “This man isn’t just blind–he is heartless, picking his scheming sister’s side without even asking what happened!
“Here’s a deal,” she said, her voice cool and cutting. “How about you two get on your knees and listen up?”
Brandon’s face turned to stone. “Matilda, I love you, but I won’t let you treat Shelby like this.”
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Chapter 2
…
He grabbed Shelby’s wrist, raised it, and swung.
The slap cracked across Matilda’s cheek, leaving a stinging red handprint.
The room went dead silent.
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Matilda heard her heart shatter, piece by jagged piece, beyond repair. She let out a low, bitter laugh, a dangerous edge in her eyes.
She grabbed Brandon’s arm, stepped in, pivoted, and with one swift move, threw him over her shoulder, slamming him to the floor.
Lola burst into sobs, screaming, “Bad Mommy! You hit Aunt Shelby and hurt Daddy! Get out! Leave our house!”
A wave of pain crashed through Matilda. Her eyes blazed red as she glared down at Brandon.
“Brandon,” she said, her voice steady but deadly. “We’re through.”
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9:13 Mon, Oct 13
Chapter 3
