CHAPTER 0156
Alaric’s POV:
“My father died, and you continued to live your life of lies with your family. Your wife, your daughters. Fuck, I fell for your sister–in–law, not even knowing she was related to you.”
Finding out that he was related to Clarissa–the only person I could feel–was the last fucking straw. I was twenty years old when I made the decision to frame Clint Russell. If I didn’t frame him, I was going to kill him.
And so, I found the gun I shot my father with, wiped every single bit of my left–over prints off of it, and then I planted it in his home. That was a risky mission on its own. I was nearly caught, but I managed to escape. And I didn’t look back.
Well, I did look back.
Putting him in prison wasn’t enough, I was going to ruin his daughters, Juniper and Meadow. That was how hateful I was, how hateful I felt. But among the twins, only one of them caught my attention.
Meadow.
I had hoped she was a terrible human being. Fuck, I had really hoped that. But all I got from the men I hired to watch her was that she was practically an angel.
And then, that angel accidentally brushed her hand against mine that day.
I was never the same after that.
But how on earth was I going to explain something like this to Meadow without looking like the villain?
“So that’s why you locked me up?” he scoffed. “Because I was happy with my family?”
For a moment, I didn’t respond. Clint leaned back in his seat, shaking his head as he ran his hands down his face. “Can’t fucking believe this. You could’ve easily buried the entire case, but you brought it up again seven years later? What the fuck did you gain from that? From framing me and making sure I was locked up?”
I scrubbed a hand along my jaw. The truth was that if he had asked me this question many months ago, my answer would’ve been nothing. Because there was nothing tangible actually gained from throwing him in jail. Or maybe I’d have said peace, but the fact that my mother already knew that Clint wasn’t the culprit meant she didn’t have any peace within herself all these years.
However, knowing how Clint treated his daughter. How he treated my doe, ruined her confidence and made her feel like she deserved nothing good in life… he deserved everything he was getting right now. Deserved to be here for as long as it took Meadow to forgive him.
Which, hopefully, would be forever.
“Your daughter is happy without you, Clint,” I said with a chuckle. “And that is enough for me.”
“That bitch is not my daughter!” he growled all of a sudden, shaking profusely. “She killed my wife. She came here and she bragged-”
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CHAPTER 0156
+25 BONUS
I rose to my feet. “Your wife killed herself. Besides, neither of you cared about Meadow, so why the fuck would she care that her mother was trying to kill herself?”
He moved to stand but I was faster, walking over to him and pushing his shoulder down hard before leaning against the side of the table. “By the way, the person who was coming here to brag wasn’t Meadow, but Juniper.”
His lips parted, eyes widening in shock.
“Fooled you, huh?” I murmured.
“No…” he breathed nervously. “No. If my Juni was here, I would know. I always knew…”
Disgust roiled in the pit of my stomach, threatening to claw its way out. The way he was speaking so fondly of Juniper and talking about Meadow like she was trash made me want to slam his head against the fucking desk.
“Really,” I muttered half–heartedly. “Well, I hate to break it to you, old man, but Juniper has been the one coming to see you. Meadow doesn’t care that you’re here. In fact…”
My throat tightened but I kept my expression neutral. “Meadow’s forgiveness is the only thing that’s keeping you here right now,” I admitted. “The day Meadow forgives you is the day you get released.”
Something resembling hope swirled in his eyes and I smirked, finding delight in ripping it out of him. “Don’t look so hopeful, Clint. Meadow hates you with everything in her. And coupled with the fact that you threatened her last month?-well, Juniper AS her–trust me when I tell you that Meadow is never going to forgive you.”
Watching the hope dwindle from his eyes made a warm feeling spread across my chest. “No,” he whispered.
I pushed away from the table. “Best to take my leave now-”
“You’ll regret this, Ashford,” he gritted out.
“No, I won’t,” I replied casually. “Also, if you’re thinking of telling anyone the truth, don’t bother. All you’ll do is end up sounding like a lunatic.” I chuckled. “But don’t worry, I’ve got that covered for you.‘
I didn’t elaborate, and he didn’t ask me to. But I was sure he had an idea of what I was referring to.
I had his medical records altered, so he had a history of “mental illness.” Anything he tried to put on me would just end up backfiring on him.
“You also will not be seeing your beloved Juniper anymore, so you won’t… feed her ideas the way you did when she was only a child.”
I hated Juniper–that would never change. But one fact that remained true was that she was also a victim. The hate for her sister was instilled in her as a child by these monsters who called themselves her parents. I was going to make sure she would never be allowed in here–which meant that Clint Russell was never going to have any more visitors.
He remained still, staring down at the cuffs, and I walked toward the metal door, knocking on it twice so the guards knew to come in.
However, before I could walk out of the room, the sound of his voice stopped me in my tracks.
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CHAPTER 0156
+25 BONUS
“You two deserve each other,” he said, voice dripping with enough hate and venom to burn through the floor.
I watched, tilting my head as the guards picked him up on either side of him.
And then I clicked my tongue. “Best thing I’ve heard all day.”
CHAPTER 0157

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
Summary & Review: Fallen