Ashle

p voice hit the r

rthur growled, stepping

folder on the table, Sharon's raised hand, and my

ce in an instant. She quickly lowered her h

ng to a soothing pitch. "It's nothing but a tragic domestic issu

ked out, my voice r

ing between me and Arthur. He adjusted his suit jacket,

ast night. The press got ahold of the pictures. We're

ssman, a man who built an empire, but he was the only perso

re?" Arthur asked,

epsister Falon orchestrated the whole thing so they could be together!

Arthur, don't listen to this nons

able, reaching for the thick manila folder Sharon had used to threaten my mother's leg

her fake elegance vanishing. She lunged

Get back here!"

from behind, yanking me ba

c shove to secure the folder, and my own traumati

wisted. I

h!

trol. I didn't even have

ac

of the marble fireplace. A blinding flas

d floor, the taste of co

d, sounding like it was coming

clutching the folder to her chest. Then, the agonizin

Beep

the first thing I saw was a har

ped around my head, and an IV needle taped to the back of my h

empty. There were no flowers. No get-well cards. No family

hite wall, the bitter

e? This marriage was never about l

y cheek. I had no money, no phone, and no allies. I was