Ashle

sterile white room for t

the edges of my reality blur, but it never n

o wallet. N

he heavy bandage on my head worked

borrow a phone to call for help, they just muttere

nn family carefully scrubbed my blood from their

tic accident. They were just waiting for my head to heal

was pale, my body frail and bruised, but beneath the frag

o be, but the husband I had now was a monste

he fourth day, the he

walked in. Two broad-shouldered assistants flanked him li

shallow, hollow bow. "I am Walte

rned my aching head on the t

but steady. "And I was wondering when Jeffers

for a fraction of a second. "I'm

down without asking. One of his assist

why I am here," Pr

the eye. "The one that takes every asset in my name and steals m

l-informed. Then you understand this is no

hick stack of papers onto my lap. T

t," I said, ignori

olded his hands nea

in the city has published those high-definition hotel photos. The world thinks you are a dirty,

tal reality of my situatio

er's memory," he whispered, his voice dark and veno

right before she pushed me, but hearing it from a

mother?" I pushed myself up, my head swimming dizzily

ate Jefferson is t

an do." Price reached into his folio again

the bed next to th

igation into the late Mrs. Ashley. Birth records. Secret photographs. Testim

ght fists in the white hospital s

ant Montgomery heiress you be

heavy criminal record. She worked in his clubs. She entertain

ore from my throat in

into marrying her. She wa

voice cracking. I glared at him,

let you and the Manns erase what my mother was. She was a good woman! And

look of utter disgust. He stood

pay your massive medical bills. Or stop the paparazzi from

e bed, his face i

k. If you do, we will bury this file forever. If you r

face will be on every newsstand with t

ike a physical blow.

rd the door. "I will return tomorrow at th

h his hand on

ain medication and discharge you tomorrow afternoon. You have no car, n

d shut, leaving me co

s file resting on my lap. The yellowed photograph of a woman w

e. They wanted me to crawl i

were meant to be my death sentence, a dan

had made a terrible mis