Lethal Temptation (by Michelle Ray) novel Chapter 265

<265 Forgiveness and Farewell

Clam

265 Forgiveness and Farewell

Mara

“If you say so, Martha,” Olivia said, her voice firm but raw with emotion. “Then I’m in. Any man who does

what Alaric Moongrove did doesn’t deserve to breathe free air, let alone win. I saw the broadcast. I saw ev

erything. Count me in-with all hundred and twenty women in my club.”

That hit me like a bolt. One hundred and twenty trained fighters. Now I understood why Martha had

pushed so hard to win Olivia over. She wasn’t just a leader-she was the army.

“That’s amazing,” I said, grinning with relief. “Thank you, Olivia. We’ll be gathering at the second military base near headquarters. I’ll send the details as soon as we finalize the time-and I’ll assign ranks to everyone, just to make it fun.”

Olivia beamed. “I like that. A little recognition goes a long way.”

She and Martha slipped into reminiscing, catching up on old memories-though I could tell Martha was holding some things back. Strategically, for our sake.

We eventually left Olivia’s place and made our way back to the mansion. As we stepped through the gates,

Martha looked at me with unexpected softness.

“Mara, I’m really glad we did this together.”

She asked me to join her in the breakfast lounge for tea and snacks. Honestly, I was drowning in chamomile at this point-but I nodded and followed her in.

The house was quiet. We’d let the entire staff go earlier that week-told them it was for their safety. And it was. With war looming, the last thing we needed was innocent lives caught in the middle. We framed it as protection, and most of them had left with heartfelt thanks. A few insisted on staying, but we suspected they were Alaric’s eyes inside our walls. We thanked them for their “loyalty”… and sent them on their way.

Jason served the tea and left. Then it was just me and Martha.

She placed her mug down gently, then reached across the table and touched my hand.

“I’m so, so sorry, Mara,” she said, her voice breaking. “For everything. For tearing you and Darian apart. For

the way I treated you in this house. I broke his heart. I broke yours. And I see that now.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks, unfiltered and real,

“I was jealous, frustrated. And instead of dealing with it, I lashed out at you. I tried to push him toward Tiffany, just to get money to pay Alaric off. It was desperate. And cruel. I know that now. I hope… I hope

you can forgive me.”

It was quiet for a moment. And in that silence, all the weight of the past settled between us.

Martha had hurt me. Hurt Darian. Hurt Lucian too. She had broken things that would take time to rebuild.

13

265 Forgiveness and Farewell

But somehow… we had survived. Maybe even grown stronger.

Cha

If Lucian hadn’t come into my life the way he did… if he hadn’t loved me with such quiet certainty, I might

never have been able to let go of Darian. But I had. Because what I felt for Lucian-it wasn’t infatuation. It

was real. The kind that stays.

“It’s okay, Martha,” I said softly. “Knowing what you were going through… I get it. I was furious at you, honestly. I lost every ounce of respect I had. But now? I’m grateful. You tore apart the illusion. And

because of that, I found Lucian. And I finally learned the difference between obsession and love.”

She wiped her eyes and nodded slowly, her shoulders relaxing.

“I’m glad we had this talk,” I added. “As far as I’m concerned-it’s forgiven. And forgotten. Let’s start over.”

She gave me a small, sad smile. But then she looked away.

“I’m glad you’ve forgiven me,” she said. “Now my heart can rest easy… when I leave.”

I blinked. “Leave? What do you mean, leave?”

I had thought she and Vander were on better terms. I thought maybe-just maybe-they were mending the

damage. Apparently, I was wrong.

Martha smiled again, but this time there was something final in it.

“I don’t think I want to stay here anymore, Mara,” Martha said, her voice low, but steady. “This house… it’s filled with memories. Some beautiful. Most painful. Half of them, I caused. The rest… Vander did.”

She paused, her eyes drifting to the window, lost in something only she could see.

“I don’t even know what’s left between us. Vander hasn’t said a word. Maybe he’s afraid. Maybe he’s just

done. And maybe… I am too.”

She looked back at me, more certain now.

“But I can’t go back to being the woman I used to be-the one who waited for scraps of love, who traded dignity for protection. I sold all the expensive clothes, the jewelry Everything that ever made me feel like I had to perform wealth to be safe.”

She let out a breath, lighter now.

“I’ve got enough money. Enough to start over. And with Alaric about to face what’s coming… I think I want to go back to Goldenpeak. Start something real. A foundation. For women like Olivia. Like me. Women trapped in marriages they didn’t choose, living under men who treat them like assets instead of people. It’s

worse than anyone talks about. Especially in Goldenpeak and Kentville. The abuse is so normal, no one even calls it abuse anymore.”

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