Chapter 517

But as soon as I thought about Zachary's sweet, innocent face and the sadness in Ethan's eyes, I just couldn't go through with it. I couldn't leave them behind. I had to stay strong, keep going, and wait for the day I could finally get my freedom back. In the blink of an eye, a year had passed since I ended up in prison. Madison had given me no end of trouble over these months. She'd start a fight over anything—hitting me, throwing insults, stealing my food, even making me wash her disgusting socks. One time, she made me kneel and beg for mercy in front of all the other inmates, humiliating me. "Well, well, aren't you the high-and-mighty fashion queen? Get on your knees and call me 'Queen'!" Madison looked down at me, smug as a cat that had just caught a mouse, while everyone else waited, eager for the drama. I bit my lip hard, holding back my anger and shame, my knees shaking as I lowered myself. "Maddie, please… Just show me some mercy, just this once…" My dignity didn't matte