Trigger Warning: Domestic Violence

Peggy held the miniature painting of her and her late husband John Laurens. She sighed and looked at it with a sad smile on her face, as she traced a heart around John's face with her fingers

"I think you'd be proud of me, mon chère. I've been writing the essays just like you asked. I'm planning on having someone write your biography to secure your legacy. I haven't been feeling very well recently, but that's alright. I'll do anything for you, regardless of my health. Are you proud of me? I hope so, I've been doing everything I can to make people know your name." Peggy talked to the portrait

Even though Peggy had remarried, she wasn't very happy. Stephen was never home and he barely acknowledged her, but she didn't mind. She had more alone time to talk to John. Was she aware that he couldn't hear her? Yes. Did she care? No.

Unfortunately, Peggy had lost another baby. This one didn't even last for a month. It hurt, but she was not that fazed. She had little Frances, her daughter, and Stephan, her son. She was quite proud of herself because she was able to hide the fact that Frances wasn't his daughter since 1781, and he was stupid enough to believe it.

"Your daughter is fine. She is a very beautiful young lady and she has your eyes. She's 10 years old now, but Stephen doesn't care. It doesn't matter. She's not his daughter anyway, she's yours, mon chère. I—" Peggy was interrupted

"What do you mean she's not my daughter?" Her husband was right behind her, listening to everything she said to Peggy's dismay

She gasped "S-Stephan! Hello my love, how was Monticello? D-Did you have a good time? How is Jefferson—" Peggy tried to change the subject, but the damage was already done

"Margarita, what do you mean she isn't mine? What are you, some sort of whore? Have you been committing adultery?! You filthy slu—" Then Stephan realized, what she meant

"She-She's John's isn't she. Is she John's daughter?" He asked her with rage in his voice

Peggy couldn't hold back her tears and she started sobbing in her hands

Her husband knew it was true, but he wanted to hear it from his wife

"Answer me woman! Is she John's daughter?!" He started rushing towards Peggy in large strides. She was backing up quickly, still sobbing, until she hit a wall

He grabbed her wrist with and iron fist

"MARGARITA VAN RENSSELAER IF YOU DON'T ANSWER, I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO FORCE YOU TO TELL ME! IS. SHE. JOHN'S. DAUGHTER."

Peggy refused to answer, for she was not to be bullied into telling him.

———domestic violence here———

She couldn't register what happened next. All she knew was that she was on the floor and her knees hit the ground with such force you could hear a crack from her bones. She supported herself with the palm of her hand flat on the ground. Peggy felt a stinging sensation in her cheek and that's when she realized;

He slapped her

Peggy looked up into his eyes to search for something, God, anything. All she found was rage and apathy. His eyes held no remorse for what he had done.

"I told you. I told you, Peggy, you didn't listen—"

"No. You don't have the right to call me Peggy anymore. Or your wife." She stood up and got ready to leave but he grabbed her arms and shoved her roughly onto the bed

"You're staying right here! I want to know if Frances is my daughter now."

"For the love of God, Stephen. What do you think? You made this scene over it so you must know the answer, yes? She's not your daughter. There. Happy?" Peggy answered in blatant sarcasm

Unbeknownst to Peggy, something snapped in Stephen. All those times where she seemed in a different place

The time Peggy said John's name during intercourse

The time she told Frances a "secret" and she started to cry

Every time she left the house to write for John

The time she told Stephen she wanted to be alone, but was talking to a portrait

The time Peggy lied for 10 years

The goddamn biography she kept talking about

He was fed up

Stephen grabbed Peggy by her hair and dragged her out of the bedroom. He threw her onto the floor and went to the kitchen to grab a large knife.

He was about to sacrifice everything he and his family had ever built

Because of the bitch in front of him

Peggy was crying and was trying to get away but he told her if she moved he would throw her out a window

"Stephen, please! Think of the children, your legacy, look around! You have your life on track, don't throw it away..."

"Shut up! I don't want to hear you speak." He grabbed his knife and was walking towards Peggy with an insane look on his face

She was crying and begging for her life, but to no avail

"I don't want to hear you speak, I want to hear you scream." He said with a hint of laughter

———Domestic Violence Over———

However, he was cut off by two gunshots into the wall

"Get away from my mother."

"And our sister."

Peggy looked up and saw her sisters, Eliza holding Stephan, and her daughter, Frances, holding a shotgun and a look of pure rage on her face. How she learned to use a shotgun and why her sisters allowed her to use it was unknown. But she saved her life.

Peggy got up and ran to her family and patted Frances' head

"You are your father's daughter. Not him, though, he was never a real father to you anyway."

Stephan was now enraged. The Schuyler women and his two children were put against him by his own wife

"How pathetic. You hide behind a child? You let her fight your battles for you? Not to mention she's a girl!" Stephan taunted her

"She didn't ask for our protection. She doesn't have to hide behind anyone, you bastard. I love my mother more than anything in this life. I would die for her if need be. You are truly the pathetic one here, father. Sorry, Stephan." Frances told her father with a scary amount of patience and calmness

"I raised you! Your father is dead. He will never be your real father." Stephan retorted

"He maybe dead, yes. But he died for me. I can't say you'd do the same. Goodbye Stephan, I'll see you in Hell."

Frances shot him twice. Right between the eyes

"My God." Angelica looked at Stephan with wide eyes

The women were silent

"What do we do with the body?" Peggy asked

"We'll alert the police. We bury the weapon where no one will find it. Act heartbroken and scared when they police come. We shall have a proper burial, unfortunately." Frances ordered the women

"Are you alright, Peggy?" Eliza asked her

"I came to check on you while we were here. We'll gladly take you upstate with us. In fact, we came back early to check on you." Angelica said

"What? Why?" Peggy inquired

"I had a bad feeling, alright? I don't know why. I just felt like I needed to check on you." Angelica answered

Peggy jumped into both sister's arms and pulled Frances in for the hug too. She loved all of these women who surrounded her and they helped her realize what was important

Family

Peggy couldn't believe it, her daughter did what she could not. At 10 years old. She rushed into her bedroom and grabbed the portrait of her and Laurens

"Mon chère. I'm free. We're free. Frances really is your daughter."

.

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Author's note: ok wow. I didn't think this chapter would go in this direction. Holy hell. I planned on doing something shocking in this chapter, but I didn't think this was it. However, I did plan on adding domestic violence. If you or a loved one are in a bad situation and you need help, here some hotlines for dv for each state

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Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence

P.O. Box 4762

Montgomery, AL 36101

Phone: 1-800-650-6522 (in state)

Fax: 334-832-4803

TTY: 1-800-787-3224

Another State: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

Email:

Crisis help lines are open 24 hours

Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

130 Seward Street, Room 214

Juneau, AK 99801

Phone: 907-586-3650

FAX: 907-463-4493

Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence

301 E. Bethany Home Rd.

Suite C194

Phoenix, AZ 85012

Phone: 602-279-2900

FAX: 602-279-2980

TTY: 602-279-7270

Toll-Free: 1-800-782-6400

E-mail:

Hours: 8:30am-5-00pm Monday - Friday

Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence

1401 West Capitol Ave, Suite 170

Little Rock AR 72201

Phone: (501) 907-5612

FAX: (501)907-5618

Toll Free: (800)269-4668

Coalition to End Family Violence

1030 N. Ventra Rd

Oxnard, CA 93030

Phone: 805-983-6014

FAX: 805-983-6240

24-Hour Hotline: 805-656-1111

Spanish Hotline: 800-300-2181

TDD: 805-656-4439

Statewide California Coalition for Battered Women

PO Box 19005

Long Beach CA 90807

Toll-Free: 888-SCCBW-52

Phone: 562-981-1202

Fax: 562-981-3202

E-mail:

Alternative Horizons

P.O. Box 503

Durango, CO 81302

Phone: 970-247-9619 ( 24-hour hotline)

E-mail:

Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence

1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 900

Denver, CO 80203

TOLL-FREE: 888-778-7091

Phone: 303-831-9632

FAX: 303-832-7067

E-mail:

D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence

5 Thomas Circle, NW

Washington, DC 11005

Phone: 202-299-1181

FAX: 202-299-1193

E-mail:

Hours: 8:30am-5-00pm Monday - Friday

SOS Program (A part of DC Coalition)

Domestic Violence Intake Center Satellite Office

Greater Southeast Community Hospital

1328 Southern Ave SE

Room 311

Washington, DC 11032

Phone: 202-561-3095 x12

Fax: 202-561-3093

Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm

My Sister's Place

P.O. Box 29596

Washington, DC 11017

Phone: 202-529-5991 (24-hour hotline)

Administrative Office: 202-529-5261

Fax: 202-529-5984

Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence

100 W. 10th Street Suite 703

Wilmington, DE 19801

Phone: 302-658-2958

FAX: 302-658-5049

Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

E-mail:

Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence

425 Office Plaza Dr.

Tallahassee, FL 32301

TOLL-FREE: 800-500-1119

Phone: 850-425-2749

FAX: 850-425-3091

FL Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-500-1119

FL Domestic Violence Hotline TTY: 1-800-621-4202

Georgia Advocates for Battered Women and Children

250 Georgia Avenue, S.E., Suite 308

Atlanta, GA 30312

TOLL-FREE: 800-334-2836

Phone: 404-524-3847

FAX: 404-524-5959

Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

716 Umi St., Unit 210

Honolulu, HI 96819

Phone: 808-832-9316

Fax: 808-841-6028

Email:

24 Hr Hawaii Shelters by Island:

Hilo: 959-8864

Kauai: 245-8404

Kona: 322-SAFE (7233)

Maui/Lanai: 579-9581

Molokai: 567-6888

Oahu: 841-0822

Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence

515 28th St

Suite 104

Des Moines, IA 50312

TOLL-FREE: 800-942-0333

Phone: 515-244-8028

FAX: 515-244-7417

E-mail:

Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence

300 E. Mallard Dr., Suite 130

Boise, ID 83706

TOLL-FREE: 888-293-6118

Phone: 208-384-0419

FAX: 208-331-0687

E-mail:

Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence

801 South 11th Street

Springfield, Illinios 62703

Phone: 217-789-2830

FAX: 217-789-1939

TTY: 217-241-0376

E-mail:

Between Friends

(Formerly The Friends of Battered Women and Their Children)

P. O. Box 608548

Chicago, IL 60660

Phone: 773-274-5232

FAX: 773-262-2543

HOTLINE: 1-800-603-HELP

E-mail:

Life Span

P.O. Box 1515

Des Plaines IL 60017

24-Hour Crisis Line: 847-824-4454

Phone: 847-824-0382

Fax: 847-824-5311

E-mail:

Special site on Police Domestic Violence

Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence

1915 W. 18th Street, Suite B

Indianapolis, IN 46202

TOLL-FREE: 800-538-3393

Phone: 317-917-3685

Fax 317-917-3695

Crisis Line: 1-800-332-7385

Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence

634 SW Harrison

Topeka, KS 66603

TOLL-FREE: 888-END-ABUSE (Kansas state-wide hotline)

Phone: 785-232-9784

FAX: 785-266-1874

Kentucky Domestic Violence Association

P.O. Box 356

Frankfort, KY 40602

Phone: 502-209-5382

FAX: 502-226-5382

E-mail:

Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence

P.O. Box 77308

Baton Rouge, LA 70879-7308

Phone: 225-752-1296

FAX: 225-751-8927

HOTLINE: 1-888-411-1333

Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence

170 Park St.

Bangor, ME 04401

Phone: 207-941-1194

FAX: 207-941-2327

HOTLINE: 866-83-4HELP

Email:

Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence

6911 Laurel Bowie Road, Suite 309

Bowie, MD 20715

TOLL-FREE: 800-MD-HELPS

Phone: 301-352-4574

FAX: 301-809-0422

Email:

Jane Doe Inc./Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence

14 Beacon Street, Suite 507

Boston, MA 02108

Phone: 617-248-0922

Crisis / Information: 989-686-4551

FAX: 617-248-0902

TTY/TDD: 617-263-2110

Email:

Bay County Women's Center

P.O. Box 1458

3411 E. Midland Rd.

Bay City, MI 48706

TOLL-FREE: 800-834-2098

Phone: 517-686-4551

FAX: 517-686-0906

Michigan 24-Hour Crisis Line: 517-265-6776

Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women

590 Park Street North, Suite 410

St. Paul, MN 55103

TOLL-FREE: 800-289-6177

Phone: 651-646-6177

FAX: 651-646-1527

E-mail:

Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence

217 Oscar Dr., Suite A

Jefferson City, MO 65101

Phone: 573-634-4161

FAX: 573-636-6613

Women's Support and Community Services

2165 Hampton Ave

St. Louis, MO 63139

HOTLINE: 314-531-1103

Office: 314-646-7500

Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00am-7:00pm; Friday 8:00am-1:00pm

Mississippi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

P.O. Box 4703

Jackson, MS 39296-4703

HOTLINE: 800-898-3234

After Hours HOTLINE: 1-800-799-7233

Phone: 601-981-9196

FAX: 601-981-2501

E-mail:

Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

Crisis Line

P.O. Box 6644

Great Falls, MT 59406

Phone: 406-453-HELP

TOLL-FREE: 1-888-587-0199

Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

Montana Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence

PO Box 818

Helena MT 59624

Phone: 406.443.7794

TOLL-FREE: 888-404-7794

Fax: 406.443.7818

Nebraska Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition

1000 "O" Street, Suite 102

Lincoln, NE 68508-2253

TOLL-FREE: 800-876-6238

Phone: 406-443-7794

FAX: 406-443-7818

Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence

220 S. Rock Blvd. Suite. 7

Reno , NV 89502

TOLL-FREE: 800-500-1556

Phone: 775-828-1115

FAX: 775-828-9991

Safe House

921 American Pacific Dr. Suite 300,

Henderson, NV 89014

Phone: 702-451-4203

FAX: 702-451-4302

HOTLINE: 702-564-3227

E-mail:

New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

P.O. Box 353

Concord, NH 03302-0353

TOLL-FREE For Domestic Violence: 866-644-3574

TOLL-FREE For Sexual Assault: 1-800-277-5570

Phone: 603-224-8893

Fax: 603-228-6096

New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women

1670 Whitehorse/Hamilton Square Road

Trenton, NJ 08690

TOLL-FREE: for Battered Lesbians: 800-224-0211 (in NJ only)

Phone: 609-584-8107

FAX: 609-584-9750

HOTLINE: 1-800-572-7233

TTY: 609-584-0027 (9am-5pm, then into message service)

E-mail:

Strengthen Our Sisters

P.O.Box U

Hewitt, N.J. 07421

HOTLINE: 800-SOS-9470 (800-767-9470)

Office: 973-248-0776

E-mail:

New Mexico State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

201 Coal Avenue SW

Albuquerque, NM 87102

TOLL-FREE: 800-773-3645 (in New Mexico Only)

Legal Helpline: 800-209-DVLH

Phone: 505-246-9240

FAX: 505-246-9434

E-mail:

New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

350 New Scotland Avenue

Albany New York 12208

Phone: 518-482-5465

English: 1-800-942-6906

English TTY: 1-800-818-0656

Spanish: 1-800-942-6908

Spanish TTY: 1-800-780-7660

Fax: 518-482-3807

Email us at

North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence

123 W. Main Street, Suite 700

Durham , NC 27701

Phone: 919-956-9124

HOTLINE: 1-888-232-9124

FAX: 919-682-1449

Western Office:

PO Box 17398

Asheville, NC 28816

Phone: 828-505-3708

North Dakota Council on Abused Women's Services

State Networking Office

418 East Rosser Avenue, Suite 320

Bismarck, ND 58501

TOLL-FREE: 888-255-6240 (In ND Only)

Phone: 701-255-6240

FAX: 701-255-1904

Ohio Domestic Violence Network

4807 Evanswood Drive

Suite 201

Columbus , Ohio 43229

Phone: 614-781-9651

TTY: 614 781-9654

HOTLINE: 800-934-9840

Fax: 614 781-9652

E-mail:

Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

3815 N. Santa Fe Avenue, Suite 124

Oklahoma City , OK 73118

Telephone: 405-524-0700

Fax: 405-524-0711

E-mail:

Education Office:

PO Box 135

Poteau, OK 74953

Telephone: 918-647-5814

Fax: 918-649-3772

Oregon Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

State Office:

380 Spokane St .

Suite 100

Portland , OR 97202

Telephone: 503-230-1951

TTY: 1-800-553-2508

Fax: 503-230-1973

Statewide Crisis Number : 1-888-235-5333

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence/National Resource Center on Domestic Violence

6440 Flank Drive, Suite 1300

Harrisburg, PA 17112-2778

Phone: 717-545-6400

Toll Free: 800-932-4632

TTY: 800-553-2508

FAX: 717-671-8149

Women's Center of Montgomery County

Main Administrative Office:

101 Washington Lane, Ste. WC-1

Jenkintown PA 19046

Toll-free hotline: 1-800-773-2424

Norristown Office:

Women's Advocacy Project

400 Courthouse Plaza, 18 W. Airy St.

Norristown PA 19404

610-279-1548

Pottstown Office:

Women's Advocacy Project

555 High Street, 2nd Floor

Pottstown PA 19464

610-970-7363

Bryn Mawr Office:

610-525-1427

Lansdale Office:

215-853-8060

Laurel House

P.O. Box 764

Norristown, PA 19404

Phone: 610-277-1860

HOTLINE: 1-800-642-3150

Fax: 610-277-64025

E-Mail:

Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence

422 Post Road, Suite 202

Warwick, RI 02888

HOTLINE: 800-494-8100

Phone: 401-467-9940

FAX: 401-467-9943

South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault

(Link only works in Microsoft Internet Explorer)

P.O. Box 7776

Columbia, SC 29202-7776

TOLL-FREE: 800-260-9293

Phone: 803-256-2900

FAX: 803-256-1030

South Dakota Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

P.O. Box 141

Pierre, SD 57501

HOTLINE: 800-430-7233

Phone: 605-945-0869

FAX: 605-945-0870