Chapter 143. Nowhere Safe

Rose

“Rose?” asks Shelby. There’s a pleading look in her eyes as she looks at me. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I don’t know,” I say. Instantly I regret the words because she gives me a pained look, and I don’t want to hurt her feelings.

I expected her to stand up and walk away from me, but instead, she moves in closer and takes my hand. “Adam is a good man, Rose,” she says. “He would never hurt you.”

I nod and say, “I know you believe that. It’s just that…”

“Just what?” she asks. “He’s a wonderful husband and a caring man.”

I feel horrible because she’s been so nice to me, so I try to find the right words to explain how I feel. “Shelby, please understand,” I begin. “I’ve been told a lot of things, even before I got here. First, my parents told me that coming here was the best thing for me and my family, but they were lying. It was really all about them.”

“I’m so sorry, Rose,” she says.

“Then there was the king,” I conti