“When we first met Liliana at the ranch, she was warm and welcoming. She made us feel like family, like we belonged,” said the woman.
“We fell in love with the people, the ideals, the way of life,” said the man. “It wasn’t until Liliana told us she was leaving, and why, that we started the long journey of extracting ourselves out of a situation where mind control was the only thing that mattered.”
“We could go on and on about Liliana,” said the woman, “but we want you to hear about her experience—which echoes so many other cult survivors—from her. It’s with great pleasure that we introduce cult survivor, bestselling author, and keynote speaker, Liliana Krause.”
With a warm smile and a confident step, Liliana took center stage. She hugged them both before pausing to regard the audience.
“Liliana Krause, cult survivor.” She stared out at the audience for several more seconds. “Every day that I’m not a prisoner at that ranch, I feel like my soul can soar. Life is good, but it wasn’t always this way. There were days when I was so broken, my mind so warped, that I couldn’t even get out of bed. Let me take you back to the beginning and introduce you to the man who lured me away with his evil charms.”
She talked about being married with two young daughters, about dedicating her life to her family, but feeling like something was missing.
“She could have gotten a job or volunteered,” Brit muttered.
Liliana picked up a book from the podium and cradled it like a baby. “When I met Craig, I thought he was that missing piece.”
She pontificated about how he painted a picture of nirvana at a ranch that would bear his name.
“At the height of his power, there were over five hundred innocent souls living and working there,” she continued. “For those who worked outside the ranch, their paycheck was turned over to Craig. He controlled everything. What we ate, what we believed, even what we said and thought.”
Brit glanced over at Rebel. He’d left his hair down and she wanted to run her fingers through the soft strands. Their eyes locked. The instant chemistry made her heart blossom. Undeniable love passed between them, and they shared a smile.
She shouldn’t feel this happy. She should be a wreck over what they’d done. She should be looking over her shoulder, fearful that the cops would cart her away to prison.
But she wasn’t. She didn’t think what they’d done was right, but if someone had killed her dad, she would go to the ends of the earth to hunt him down too.
Then, she, too, would show no mercy.
“Life at Sanders Ranch wasnota good environment for my youngest daughter,” Liliana continued.
Brit turned back to a mother she no longer knew.
“In order to protect her, I sent her to an amazing boarding school. There, she was safe from the mind-numbing brainwashing that I’d become so accustomed to. My job as a mother was to protect my children?—”
“What a load of crap,” Addison murmured.
Hawk clasped her hand. “She’s trying to sell books, babe, so she’s gonna say whatever.”
“Acorn Boarding School was a second home where my baby could get some relief from Craig’s constant lie that the world was ending, and that we had to prepare.”
“She sent Honor to Acorn,” Brit whispered to Rebel.
“How old is she?” he murmured.
“I don’t know,” Brit replied, before asking Addison.
“She never told us her age,” Addison whispered.
“We’ve got to talk to her,” Brit said to Rebel.
“Tread lightly,” he murmured.
“But the real harm was to my three beautiful daughters,” Liliana continued. “They are the pride and joy of my life. Everything I do, I do with them in mind. Would you like to meet them?”
The audience started applauding.
“No way,” Brit mumbled. “She is not.”
“Wow, you were right about her,” Addison whispered.
