The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes - Chapter 64- A game of vengeance

... bling in his throat. "To me, she was an angel..."

That word—angel—shook in his voice like a wound ripped open.

Janet saw it—an unmistakable glimmer of longing in his eyes. He must have loved her deeply, once. Maybe too deeply. And maybe... that’s why he ended up hating women so much.

"She... hurt you?" Janet asked quietly.

Manfred covered his face with one hand, his voice turning bitter, laced with scorn. "She was a whore—willing to spread her legs for any man who ...