Rewriting My Heart's Fate

But as soon as I thought about Zachary's sweet, innocent face and the sadness in Ethan's eyes, I just couldn't go through with it. I couldn't leave them behind. I had to stay strong, keep going, and wait for the day I could finally get my freedom back.

In the blink of an eye, a year had passed since I ended up in prison. Madison had given me no end of trouble over these months. She'd start a fight over anything-hitting me, throwing insults, stealing my food, even making me wash her disgusting socks.

One time, she made me kneel and beg for mercy in front of all the other inmates, humiliating me.

"Well, well, aren't you the high-and-mighty fashion queen? Get on your knees and call me 'Queen'!" Madison looked down at me, smug as a cat that had just caught a mouse, while everyone else waited, eager for the drama.

I bit my lip hard, holding back my anger and shame, my knees shaking as I lowered myself. "Maddie, please... Just show me some mercy, just this once..."

My dignity didn't matter when my survival was on the line. But just as my knees were about to hit the floor, something inside me snapped.

To hell with Madison! I was a proud, strong woman-why should I let her walk all over me? I shot up at that thought and threw a punch straight into her smug face!noveldrama

"Damn it, you think you can humiliate me? In your dreams!" I yelled, charging at Madison, leaving her too shocked to react.

She never expected me to fight back and was caught off guard. She hit the floor, and blood streamed from her nose.

"You bitch, you're asking for death!" Madison hissed, clutching her nose, her eyes blazing with fury. The other inmates around us began to stir restlessly.

I glared at her, not a hint of fear in my eyes, and said coldly, "Madison, you've seriously underestimated me. I, Evelyn Wiley, don't take crap from anyone! Touch me again, and you'll regret it!"

"Y-You're threatening me?" Madison laughed, her anger boiling over. "Who do you think you are? Just because you've got a rich husband doesn't make you better than everyone else. That doesn't mean a thing here! "I would've dealt with you by now if I didn't feel sorry for you. You'd better watch your step or-"

I cut her off with a hard slap across the face. The sharp crack silenced everything.

"Enough!" I grabbed her by the collar, my voice ice cold. "Madison, this is your last warning. Don't think you can push me around just because I've been holding back.

"I'm not scared of you! Go ahead, tell

the guards! Do you think they'd punish me based on the word of a murderer? I will take you down with me if you lay a finger on me again!

"Don't forget, I'm in for a financial crime for only ten years. It's still better than you rotting in here until you're dead!"

Madison's face went ghostly pale, and she was speechless for a long moment.

I sneered and shoved her aside. "Get lost, and don't ever show your face around me again."

I turned and went back to my bunk. Everyone around was quiet. Nobody tried to push my buttons after that.

From that day on, things at the prison turned unusually peaceful. I scared Madison so bad she never came at me again.

The other inmates started seeing

me differently-the woman who

wasn't afraid to take on the top dog.

Some tried to get close, but I

dismissed them coldly. I had no time for fake friendships.

I spent my days waiting quietly for any word on my appeal. I knew Ethan must be working himself to the bone to clear my name. He

wouldn't let me waste my best years locked up.

Finally, three months into my sentence, the guards called me to the visiting room. Behind the glass sat Ethan, his eyes bloodshot, but he was still wearing a smile. "Darling, the worst is almost over," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

"What do you mean?" My heart pounded wildly.

"I found the evidence." Ethan reached into his bag and pulled out a stack of documents.