{"id":22584,"date":"2025-12-05T20:23:30","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T20:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=22584"},"modified":"2025-12-05T20:24:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T20:24:14","slug":"22584","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=22584","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

Standing over her, arms crossed, a look of smug, reptilian satisfaction on his face, was my cousin, Ben.<\/p>\n

He was in the act of locking the front door, the final, definitive\u00a0click<\/span>\u00a0of the deadbolt echoing in the quiet, tree-lined neighborhood like a gunshot.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat in God\u2019s name is going on here?\u201d I demanded, slamming on my brakes, my car lurching to a stop. I was out of the car and running up the walk before it had even settled, my heart a cold, hard knot of dread in my chest.<\/p>\n

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Elaine looked up, her face streaked with tears and a raw, utter humiliation that tore at my heart. \u201cAnna! They\u2026 they said I have to leave. Ben<\/p>\n

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Standing over her, arms crossed, a look of smug, reptilian satisfaction on his face, was my cousin, Ben. He was in the act of locking the front door, the final, definitive\u00a0click\u00a0of the deadbolt echoing in the quiet, tree-lined neighborhood like a gunshot. \u201cWhat in God\u2019s name is going on here?\u201d I demanded, slamming on my…<\/p>\n

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