Love & Betrayal

LOVE & BETRAYAL J.A. OWENBY CONTENTS TRIGGER WARNING Download your FREE BOOK Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60 Before you Go … Download Your FREE Book Also by J.A. Owenby A Note From the Author About the Author TRIGGER WARNING Dear Readers, As my author career has grown, I’ve dived into a darker world, book by book. By the time I was ready to write Zayne, the story showed up to me as very dark … rape, murder, and adopted sibling abuse, to name a few. Read on if you’re comfortable with stories similar to K Webster and Shantel Tessier. Although Zayne’s book differs from those two authors, the content is highly triggering. Zayne isn’t an asshole antihero, but he crosses lines for the woman he loves, and I cheered him on! I also wanted to write Giselle’s story. Torture, tears, and abuse happen every day in our twisted and dark world, and it’s hidden by the shadows of evil, sick people who pretend they’re loving and kind. I’m a survivor myself. I’ve recreated my world to be an amazing and loving place. There’s always hope of escape and healing. Giselle and Zayne’s story is just one example. With that said, please review the trigger warnings. Love & Betrayal is recommended for readers who are comfortable with triggers, including but not limited to rape, adopted sibling abuse, emotional abuse, and attempted suicide. Due to dark, mature content, graphic and violent scenes, and sensitive topics, please consider this your trigger warning. J.A. Owenby DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE BOOK SIGN UP FOR J.A. OWENBY’S NEWSLETTER and download your FREE book, Love & Sins. Stay up to date concerning exclusive bonus scenes, updates on upcoming releases, and more. https://authorjaowenby.com/newsletter/ PROLOGUE Giselle The wall clock ticked loudly, marking each second that passed by as I closed my eyes and counted with the sound, hoping it would all be over soon. The curtain of perfection I’d carefully constructed and presented to the world was tearing, and there wasn’t a thread strong enough to stitch it back together and fix my brokenness. Not after … No one knew the dark secrets I hid. The ones ripping me to shreds from the inside out. As hard as I’d tried to escape, the monsters hunted me down, clawing at my soul. I lay still on the mattress in the guest bedroom of the home I shared with my husband, Ander, wiggling my numbing fingers while I listened to the soothing classical music from the string quartet downstairs. Staring at the stark white ceiling as my vision blurred in and out, I swallowed hard as I prayed to a God I no longer believed in. My hand wrapped around the half-empty fifth of vodka as a single sleeping pill wobbled on the nightstand. The rest of the medication had traveled down my throat and into my stomach an hour ago. A tear streamed down my cheek as I closed my eyes, releasing all the pain, frustration, and fear that had chained me to this world. Once I’d finally made the decision to end my life, in that split second, I’d had peace for the first time in years. My ears perked up at the sound of my phone ringing. I suspected it was my husband since I was supposed to meet him for our anniversary party downstairs instead of lying here dying. My stomach churned as Ander’s words from earlier ricocheted in my mind. You’re a no-good little bitch. Maybe I was. But what I needed to do had become crystal clear. There was no other escape—this was my only option. Soon, I would be free forever. I softly chuckled as the childhood memory of my mother kneading dough flashed through my groggy brain. Flour dotted her nose and sharp cheekbones, giving her a gentle appearance. The aroma of sweet baked goods invaded my senses as if it were still that day. “Giselle, wedding rings are the world’s smallest handcuffs.” Her face turned grim as she continued telling me about all the tragedies of marriage and how a woman was subjected to the will of the man in his role as the head of the household. It didn't matter if those handcuffs are diamond encrusted. A dull ache spread through me at the memory. At the time, I’d been young enough to think her words were a joke. But not anymore. The only key I could find to release me from Ander's chains was at the bottom of a pill container and a fifth of Absolut. The glass bottle slipped from my fingers, and I blinked as it shattered against the hardwood floor. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply as the fatal combination of pills and vodka infiltrated every cell of my being, then began counting backward from one hundred. Ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-seven … and with every number, the darkness of death began to tease me with its presence. Suddenly, my body revolted. Rolling to the edge of the bed, I searched for the trashcan to empty the contents of my stomach. I blinked rapidly, willing the drugs to stay in my system, to take effect faster. The room tilted on its side, and I gasped for air. I grabbed the nightstand and stood on wobbly legs, needing to be anywhere else other than