The Road to Rebirth Her Fresh Start and His Late Sorrow by Helena R. Bates

Chapter 255
The air was thick with tension as John's expression turned icy and unreadable. He stood abruptly, his eyes fixed on Nancy,
though she seemed unfazed by his
presence.
Nancy's gaze was cold, her eyes devoid of any warmth. An inexplicable chill crept into John's heart, unsettling him in a way he
couldn't quite articulate.
"You... you..." he stammered.
"What, you think you're clever, putting on a show for us by striking Ember?" Ramona placed a hand on Nancy's shoulder, her
smile more a sneer as she stared John down.
"I may not control what happens in your household with Ember, but I can decide whether she walks in this fashion show tonight,"
Ramona declared, her tone casual yet firm.
John and Ember's faces fell, disbelief etched across John's features as he turned to Ramona. "Are you threatening me? Ember

is your opening model! This show exists because of her."
"No, not because of Ember," Ramona corrected, her voice steady. "It's for a special cause. And without Lena, my designer, this
show wouldn't be happening at all."
While Nancy remained impassive, something about Ramona left John feeling more unsettled than ever.
"John, I only negotiate with my models. I'll count to three, and if you're still here, Lena and I will leave. Without us, there's no
show for Ember," Ramona warned, a playful smile playing on her lips as she counted, "Three, two..."
Before she reached one, John shot to his feet, his face contorted with anger. "Fine, I'm going. I'll be in the bedroom," he spat,
casting Ember a twisted look. "You behave yourself with them."
Ember nodded shakily, her eyes wide as the door slammed shut behind John. She glanced nervously at Nancy and Lena, her
silence speaking volumes.
"Come on, sit down. Yvonne's brought water," said a girl who had been lurking in the background, carrying two glasses over to
Ramona and Nancy.

Ramona accepted a glass, pulling out a chair with a flourish. "Ember, is it the offer? Are you unhappy with it?"
"Ramona, it's not that. You've seen it; I can't decide," Ember replied bitterly, taking a deep drink from her own glass.
Ramona was about to press further when Nancy gently shook her head, signaling to let it go.

Nancy settled next to Ramona. "Ember, tell us what's going on with you and him." Ember instinctively looked at her daughter,
prompting Nancy to dig into her pocket and pull out a few chocolates. "Here, share these with your sister," she said softly.
Fortunately, Judson had always been mindful of her low blood sugar, ensuring her pockets were never empty of sweets.
Yvonne took the chocolates, swallowing hard. "Thank you, but... could you drink some water? If you don't, Dad will get mad at
me..."
Nancy recognized the anxiety in Yvonne's eyes, reminded of her own past when she had been at the
The Tonet
mercy of others. Unlike her, Yvonne had her parents, yet still lived in fear.
Nancy took a sip of the hot water, as did Ramona. "Go on, share the chocolate with your sister," Ramona encouraged gently.
Yvonne nodded, clutching the
chocolates tightly. As she turned to go, she hesitated, glancing back at Nancy and Ramona, her lips moving as if to speak, but
no words Came out. Then, she scurried away.
Ramona raised an eyebrow but didn't pursue the thought.
"I was sold to John," Ember's voice broke, tinged with a deep sadness.
Ramona and Nancy's eyes snapped to Ember, who was now covering her face with her hands. "I was
about to start college when I wasne
kidnapped, hit over the head, and sold to John. He forced me to have a child, and when he feared I'd
escape, he marred my face."

Nancy's brow furrowed. "Have you thought about leaving? You can walk out now."