Chapter one.
The last couple of weeks had really taken it out of Lauren Jones, she had been removed from her parents completely and forever, she wasn't allowed to have any kind of contact with them, not that she wanted to but she did want to understand, she needed to understand so she could move on.
She had been in and out of the police station for three weeks now, answering their questions, giving her statement and trying her best to understand exactly what had been going on.
A crime had been committed and Lauren was suffering from it. She had been removed from her baby twin sisters' grace and daisy, she wasn't allowed near her parents, she wasn't even allowed in her home town.
She was currently sat in the car of a family friend; Max and Tanya Branning. They were friends of her parents.
The scene of what happened three weeks ago scared and repulsed her to death. She doesn't even know why it happened, all she knows is it just did happen, there's no denying it didn't; its plastered all over the news and in three more months Lauren will know what the sentence will be for the crime committed.
She was sat in the car, staring aimlessly out of the window, there wasn't one thing throughout the whole journey that gave her face a change of expression.
Life was absolutely disastrous at the moment, it had never really been on top but now it was at an all time low.
She wasn't even allowed to keep her surname, she had to change it to Branning, which was the surname of Max and Tanya.
They had taken her in as one of their own. Lauren had known them since she was born, they'd been friends with her parents for a long time, but as it usually goes, you can never know everything about a person, especially not if they put a façade up.
Max and Tanya also had children of their own, there was abi, who was sixteen. She was a bit shy but generally, she was a nice enough person.
Also they had Oscar, who was six years old and clueless to everything that was happening.
Max and Tanya lived in the same town as Lauren and her family but they were known as friends of the jones family, they were also known of taking Lauren in too, and that didn't go down well with everyone else.
So, they had to move, some place little and small where they wouldn't have much chance of being noticed, taking Lauren with them too.
Lauren wasn't safe back home, after everyone knew what had happened, they were out to get the Jones family.
She had even been attacked in the broad daylight, on the streets. She'd only gone to the shop and some woman had attacked her.
She also got called names as she walked through the streets but nothing as worse as getting shoved about and punched.
That was enough in max's eyes and he decided to take Lauren in and move away with her, their town was no longer safe for her.
Lauren and max had always got on well together. Max was Laurens father's boss.
He really wasn't that interested in being friends with Paul, who was Laurens dad but he felt something strange about him.
Then his wife Tanya, she had been friends with Mary at school, Mary is Lauren's mum.
Max had only agreed to be friends with Mary and Paul because he and Tanya had been asked to be godparents to Lauren, Grace and Daisy, and he felt that he needed to keep an eye on these kids.
Over the years, Max had become quite fond of Lauren. She was very interested in art, which is what Max specialised in.
Max owned a marketing company which was based on design for other companies.
They designed business leaflets, websites, company names etc., anything like that, and of course, max had always taken Lauren to work with him ever since she was a toddler.
Mary and Paul didn't mind him doing that, in fact they were quite pleased because truth be told, they didn't really care for their children.
Lauren grew up to love art, obviously inspired by her uncle maxy, as she used to call him when she was little.
He tried his best to give Lauren normal and stable life while she was just with him in the day times, but some days that was easier said than done.
Lauren would be really happy when Max dropped her off at home after work, but then in the morning, she could be over tired, in a bad mood, aching or in pain and generally just snappy with anyone who dared cross her, Max knew there was something going on in that house, but finding out what was a whole new thing.
Tanya however thought nothing strange of it, that was until the truth was revealed about what just had been happening in that house, it was safe to say everyone was shocked and mortified when they found out.
"We're here babe" max said, turning around to face Lauren and bringing her out of deep thought.
She nodded at him once and unlocked her seatbelt. "Just go straight into the house and unpack, there's a few rules before you leave the house" Max told her.
Lauren sighed, max had always been so kind and understanding with her, she didn't see why that was changing now.
Lauren did as she was told and went up to her new bedroom before beginning to unpack.
"Settling in okay sweetheart?" Tanya asked. Lauren shrugged her shoulders, before looking at the floor as max and abi joined them.
"Right, rule one. Your names Lauren Branning and you're the eldest of our children okay?" he asked.
Lauren nodded her head at him again. "Right we've moved from the country side for a change of scene okay guys?" he asked, receiving a nod again.
Max sighed to himself, he really did hate this. "I know you think I'm being harsh babe, but this is all for your safety, I promise" max told her, earning a weak smile this time.