The Prison-Made Queen novel Chapter 108

"What, only remembering to care now? You didn't think about it when you sent me in. In a place like prison, if I couldn't protect myself, would I have made it out alive?"

Leilani's tone was airy, but it cut slowly across Josiah's heart like a dull knife. His breath hitched. His heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand. He suddenly remembered four years ago, when Leilani was taken away by the police—those stubborn, despairing eyes. A rare sense of guilt surged like a tide.

Josiah opened his mouth but found he couldn't say a single word.

Seeing Josiah softening, Tamara suddenly let out a sob and burst into tears. Huge teardrops falling.

"It's all my fault..." She sobbed, her voice choking. "If it weren't for me, Leilani wouldn't be so angry..."

As she spoke, she backed away, looking utterly full of self-blame.

"I... I should just go... Leilani will only be unhappier seeing me..."

Leilani watched her posturing and felt her stomach churn. She almost vomited on the spot.

"Tamara," she said coldly. "Your acting is getting worse."

Tamara froze. The tears hanging on her face, unsure whether to fall or not, looked ridiculous.

Leilani glanced with amusement at Tamara's feigned grievance, her lips curving into a mocking sneer.

"But... since you're so considerate." Leilani spoke slowly, her eyes sharp as knives. "Then go. If you leave the Sloan family, I'll stay. How about that?"

Josiah looked at Leilani with strong disapproval. The guilt that had just risen vanished completely under Tamara's performance. "Leilani! Tamara has humbled herself so much. Can't you yield a little?"

Did she really have to make it so neither side was happy to be satisfied?

"Enough. It's not like I forced her to leave. She said she wanted to go first, so I just went along with it. If she says she's leaving, she should just go. Why put on a performance first? Tamara, you should go build a stage and sing opera."

Leilani couldn't be bothered to watch her act anymore. Looking at the Sloans one second longer annoyed her. She turned to leave.

"Stop! We haven't finished talking. Where are you going!" Zadie shouted sternly, grabbing Tamara's hand and patting her back soothingly while glaring furiously at Leilani.

"Watch your mouth! Tamara is thinking of you out of the kindness of her heart, and this is how you treat her?"