When the Pedestal Shatters
by Cheyenne Maryland Quinn
When Sasha escapes her controlling ex and the explosive fire that destroyed her home, she settles in Texas.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Book 2 of 2: Foundations of Glass
Sasha’s fight for freedom begins when she escapes her abusive ex , Jeff, fleeing to a secluded limestone ranch in Liberty Hill, Texas, with her infant daughter, Grace. Traumatized by years of Jeff’s severe coercive control and a past tragedy in New York, Sasha hopes the quiet hill country will offer sanctuary. However, Jeff quickly tracks her down and launches a terrifying campaign of psychological warfare.
Rather than threatening physical violence, Jeff uses legal terror. He sends malicious text messages threatening to weaponize Sasha’s past trauma to paint her as an unfit mother in a Texas court. Terrified of losing Grace, Sasha consults Eleanor, the sharp-witted attorney who helped close on her house. Eleanor directs her to Marcus, a pragmatic local private investigator, and instructs Sasha to meticulously document every interaction.
As Sasha gathers evidence, she finds an unexpected anchor in Derrick, a local former Marine. Derrick’s quiet, protective presence and genuine warmth offer Sasha a glimpse of a safe, healthy relationship, and a deep romance grows between them. Derrick’s support keeps her grounded as Jeff’s tactics escalate to stalking and digital extortion, including threats to leak intimate images to ruin her reputation.
The climax unfolds in a tense Texas courtroom. Armed with Marcus’s surveillance and a mountain of documented text messages, Eleanor exposes Jeff’s insidious patterns of manipulation, stalking, and illegal digital harassment. Confronted with undeniable proof of his own misconduct, Jeff’s legal threats crumble. He is forced to surrender his parental rights, giving Sasha sole custody of Grace. Standing on truly solid ground, Sasha finally secures her freedom, ready to build a peaceful life on the ranch with Derrick and her daughter.
Book Details:
- Genre: Thriller & Suspense
- Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
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