Sick to my stomach, I sat in that room, listening to what sounded like something out of a gothic novel, and I realized Caro was so much stronger than she knew. Many people would have given in to such emotional and mental abuse, but deep down Caro knew her aunt was wrong.

We lapsed into silence, Caro’s head resting on Viola’s shoulder as the young girl hugged her close.

“I don’t want to push you, like Helena has bullied you,” I announced, “but I think you know you need to make a move and do it now. Move in here, with me, and then we’ll find you something more permanent later.”

Caro sat up slowly, her big dark eyes round with sorrow and fear. “I know she’s wrong . . . but there’s a part of me that’s scared she’s right.”

That was the impact of years of mental warfare, and it wouldn’t go away with a snap of anyone’s fingers.

“She’s wrong. But no one can make this decision for you. Only you can. I can promise we’ll all be here to help you through this.”

“Maybe you should speak to someone,” Viola offered with a hint of trepidation.

She’d plucked the thought right out of my head.

Caro frowned. “Someone?” Her brow cleared, and her lips pressed together for a second in displeasure. “You mean a therapist?”

Viola and I shared a look, worried we’d scare Caro away. Coming to a silent decision, we both nodded.

Looking down at the floor, Caro whispered, “I’m scared.”

I swear I thought my chest might splinter with the aching pain I felt for her. Roane’s cousin was such a gentle soul. How could anyone do what that wicked woman had done to her?

“Anyone would be. But we’ll be here.” I reached across Viola to take Caro’s hand again. “You don’t have to go back there. We can get your stuff for you.”

Caro shook her head, and I felt my stomach drop with the fear she’d return to that woman. “No.” She tilted her chin up with a hint of stubbornness and looked between Viola and me. “I should go back. To get my things.” Her lips trembled. “There’s not much I want to take with me, but I have a few things I’d like to keep.”

Relief swamped me. “Do you want one of us to come with you?”

“I think I’ll need you.” Anger flashed across her eyes. “She has all the passwords to my bank account details. All the money that my mother and father left me. I haven’t been able to touch it.”

Fury ripped through me. “Excuse me?”