Chapter 1 Freedom Or Bondage?

CHARLOTTE

As I stepped out of the prison gates, blinking against the bright sun and warm breeze caressing my neck, a single word echoed in my head.

Freedom. I was free.

It had been three years since my arrest—three years since my whole life fell apart at the seams.

I wasn’t exactly sure when or how it happened, but one minute, I was the beautiful heiress of the Windsor’s, and the next, I was a prisoner with no name, my freedom lost to me as surely as if it never existed.

It all started when the Nanny’s daughter, Sophia Smith, came forward with claims that I wasn’t the biological daughter of the Windsor but was instead switched at birth by her mother.

Sophia continued with her story, claiming she was the real heiress and that there was even a paternity test to confirm it. The story seemed crazy initially, but it was proven true after rigorous checks, and Nanny Anna came forward to confess her involvement.

I, Charlotte, was not the biological child of the Windsor’s, and my whole existence was a fabricated lie.

As if that was not enough, Sophia decided to make my life a living hell upon arriving as the new heiress.

She publicly humiliated me at any chance she got. She repeatedly accused me of crimes I never committed until finally, even my husband bought the lies and had me thrown into prison.

I could still remember Liam’s hateful words that night the cops took me away - ‘you’re nothing but a worthless piece of shit, Charlotte, and you deserve this for all the years you stole Sophia’s life. I curse the day I met you, and I hope you rot in prison for the rest of your miserable life.’

The words broke my heart. And now, years later, it was what lingered on my mind, repeating like an echo.

Today was supposed to be my happy day. After all, I had prayed for it for so long. But no, instead of relief, I just felt cold and empty.

There was an indescribable heaviness resting deeply in my heart. One I couldn’t understand even if I tried to.

Blinking again, I scanned the busy prison street, searching for a familiar face. Maybe someone had come to pick me up, but there was no one.

With a sigh, I continued walking when suddenly a sleek black car drove in and stopped a few feet away from me.

The door opened, and my breath caught when I saw a familiar face.

"Liam…” My ex-husband.

My chest tightened as he exited the car and walked towards me.

What the hell was he doing here?

Surely, he didn’t come out of guilt or the love he had for me. He didn’t love me anymore. He told me this several times, years back. So why was he here?

Or… a tiny part of me wondered if he was here because he still cared about me. Maybe he finally believed I was innocent and wanted to apologize. Then we could start anew, start over, and…

“You’re out finally.” He muttered coldly, stopping in front of me.

“Yes. I… Liam, what are you doing…”

“Good. I need you immediately.” A dark look filled his gaze as he looked down at me. “Sophia is seriously ill. And she needs urgent medical attention. I need you to donate your bone marrow to her."

My blood ran cold at his words. It felt like a million needles stabbing deep into my skin, and I blinked, surprised.

"Wait, what?”

He ignored my question and spat coldly. “Now. I don’t have time to waste here.”

At the same time, he reached out to grab my arm, but I flinched, stumbling backward. Different emotions raced through me, from anger to disappointment to heartbreak to sadness.

After all these years… after all my suffering… after the bullying and abuse I endured in that prison… I came out to meet this.

“You son of a…” I half screamed as a tear almost fell down my face. “You must be joking.” I hissed.

A strange look passed Liam’s features before he replied. “I am not joking. I am serious, Charlotte. And you owe her this. We both know you stole her life for 22 years or even more. She wouldn’t have suffered and gotten prone to all kinds of infection if she lived with her real parents and not that trash nanny and shack she grew up in.”

“You are out of your mind if you think I will donate anything to her or do you any favors. I’m done taking the fall for…”

“Oh, you will take this fall because Sophia’s condition is all your fault.” Liam interrupted harshly, and before I could do a thing, he grabbed my wrist roughly, making me wince in pain.

“Liam… Let me go… let me…” I stammered, trying to wiggle free from his grasp as he tugged harshly at my arm. “Liam, stop!”

But he wasn’t listening. “Get in the car, you bitch!” He pushed me into the passenger side, his grip unrelenting.

I continued to struggle and kick at him, desperate to be free, but he just laughed cruelly.

“Stop struggling. It’s not going to get you anywhere, you useless piece of shit,” he hissed. “We only have a few minutes before…”

“Let her go!” A deep voice suddenly bellowed from behind, and suddenly, a hand reached for Liam and pulled him back.

I gasped for breath as I recognized the voice.

It was Noah, my brother. He must have come to pick me up, and a tear welled up in my eye at the thought.

In the blink of an eye, Noah landed a punch on Liam.

“You bastard!” Liam rushed forward to retaliate, but I moved between them, spreading my arms to obstruct him.

“Stop! Stop, please!” I cried desperately and then looked at Liam pleadingly.

But he just scoffed and spat out blood from his bruised lips. “Measly bastards! That is what you both are. You know, right?”

His chest rumbled with wicked laughter as he swiped his mouth with his palm.

Noah moved to punch him again, but I held him back.

“No,” I shook my head. “He is not worth it,” I told him, pushing him back.

Liam clapped, still not giving up. “You want to protect your sister, huh? Then it would be best if you protected yourself first, Noah. Your sister is an imposter, or have you forgotten how she managed to live under Sophia’s identity for so long? She even wanted to kill her out of jealousy!” He spat. “She will do the same to you if you’re not careful.”

“My sister didn't–” I pulled Noah back, shutting him off before he could continue. “Let’s just leave.”

“But sis…”

“Let’s go.” I cut in, dragging him away, but Liam’s next words stopped me.

“If you don’t come with me to the hospital, then just forget about your son.”

“You…you wouldn’t dare.” My feet wobbled as I turned to look at him, but he only smirked.

“Try me.” He began to walk to his car. “I will let little Charlie know that his mother abandoned him when he needed her most. That his mother is a selfish, uncaring liar who has no regard for…”

“Stop!”

“…anyone. She’s a bitch, and she doesn’t care about him.”

“Stop!” I screamed, fingers digging into my palm, but Liam didn’t stop like always.

He wouldn’t stop until I gave him what he wanted. And he wanted my bone marrow for Sophia.

Suddenly, I let go of Noah’s wrist and stepped back.

“Charlotte, what are you doing? I came to take you home. Won’t you…”

“I’m sorry, Noah, but I have to do this. I have to go with Liam.”

“Why? You shouldn’t do anything you don’t want to…”

I cut in again, this time sniffing back the tears. “I don’t have a choice, Noah. I have to do this because of him. I have to do what Liam says because of my son."