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  A Chance for Love

  D. L. Biranen

  Copyright 2017 by D. L. Biranen

  This book is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the author, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be direct infringement of the author's rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly. This is a work of fiction and any resemblance between the characters and persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Book jacket description

  Prologue

  Chapter 1: Sick

  Chapter 2: Sickbed

  Chapter 3: Failure

  Chapter 4: Threatened

  Chapter 5: Truth

  Chapter 6: Voice

  Chapter 7: Allergy

  Chapter 8: Sleuthing

  Chapter 9: Suspect

  Chapter 10: Culprit

  Chapter 11: Farewell

  Chapter 12: Friends

  Chapter 13: Outing

  Chapter 14: Sisters

  Chapter 15: Freedom

  Chapter 16: Forgiveness

  Chapter 17: Home

  Chapter 18: Danger

  Chapter 19: Rescue

  Chapter 20: Loss

  Chapter 21: Grief

  Chapter 22: Hate

  Chapter 23: Grave

  Chapter 24: Broken

  Epilogue

  About the author

  Contact the author

  BOOK JACKET DESCRIPTION

  The loss of her father leaves Victoria Brown at the mercy of her stepfamily who are bent on making her life miserable. Turning her into a pitiful maid, they force her to live a modern day reenactment of Cinderella. But they don't know that where there's a Cinderella, there's a Fairy Godmother and a Prince Charming who would do anything to bandage the damage in her life.

  When an arrogant new student shows up in class, Victoria hates him at first sight. She seeks to avoid him, but finds herself partnering with him in solving a mystery revolving around a ghost. And against her will, sparks fly.

  Life takes a turn that rips her off her innocence and places her stepmother as her footstool. Once, she'd wanted a chance for love, but all she wants now is revenge. And not even her Prince Charming can stand in her way.

  Will she follow her heart and let love win, or will she follow her head and be a slave of vengeance?

  PROLOGUE

  Sweat trickled down my face, blurring my vision. The indistinct image of a teammate bounced on the balls of her feet and waved to catch my attention. But I had no intent to pass the ball. I would claim the goal, and I'd be proud to have added one more goal to my collection.

  Feigning ignorance at my teammates hinting for the ball, I shot ahead. Opponents darted after me and three caught up, but dribbling came easy. Would Cynthia not try to make this a challenge? Maybe she doubted the ball would make it to the net. I looked forward to the look on her face when the rival goal keeper conceded my goal.

  Although Cynthia played on my team, our personal differences had driven her to become my deadliest attacker on the field. I'd lost count of how many times she had launched herself at me in game play, causing me to dislocate a bone or two. Today though, I had planned tactful ways to escape her advances. And so far, I had a firm hold on success.

  Standing face to face with the goal keeper, my heart lurched, forcing me to acknowledge her monstrous build. Having the body of a ballerina, I stood no chance against the legged intimidation before me. What did she do with her spare time? Lift bags of cement? Maybe she spent all her time at some local gym?

  Even as the goalkeeper towered above me, I caught a glimpse of uncertainty. Surely, she reminisced over the other occasions my flaming ball had flown past her and into the net. The fear on her face could not be mistaken. It assured me of the victory in my grasp. This time, I would not miss. I would be the one to turn things around; score a last-minute goal to save Western High from the clutches of near-defeat.

  Only after the ball left my foot did I realize I had ruined our final chance of victory. Disappointment flittered across my sweaty face as I watched my effort carve through air and toward the sky. I had raised the hopes of my supporters only to dump them in the sewer.

  The referee's whistle shrieked, piercing through the uproar snaking through the stadium. Somewhere behind me, someone cackled. Cynthia.

  "Yeah, right," she said. "Aim for the birds."

  Eyes watering, I headed for the exit. Maybe if I had passed the ball, we would have won. But what guaranteed that? All through the match, my teammates had tossed chances into the gutter. Who said the last chance would have been any different?

  "You're such an occasional mess, Victoria," Amarachi, my best friend, said, catching up with me. "I should spank your pompous ass for letting me down like that."

  I glared at her. "Then what's stopping you?"

  CHAPTER ONE

  Sick

  "Do you not care at all about your life, Victoria?"