Warne

desolation. Was it Kenneth, somehow knowing I

door, a sudden surge of adr

inst the frame. Ashley Riddle. Her face was pale, almost trans

Her voice was a soft, trembling whisper, like a

on from my divorce declaration, instantly softened. His eyes, mome

"Ashley, my love! What are you doing out of bed? Yo

that twisted a knife in my gut. He cradled her cheek, his thumb gent

ing. The same passionate intensity he once reserved for me. It was transferab

lat, devoid of emotion. "Both

es narrowing. "Ayla, wh

doorway, almost colliding with Ashley. It was my lawyer, Mr.

fast as I could!" he puff

ntrusion, stumbled back. Ashley whimpered,

of blood welled on my skin, but I ignored it. I swung my legs off the bed, planting

y voice clearer now, stron

d the divorce petition and something else-a docu

al venture capital you invested in my lab. You promised me an additional ten milli

"Ten million? For her lab? Craig, you can't!" He

does she? Or is it just the zeroes that excite you, Ashley?" My gaze flicked to Craig. "Don't tell me you haven't explained to h

y. Her eyes, usually so calculating, were now wide with a

advantage of you! She's greedy! She's always been jealous of me!" Tears we

reathe! Oh, Craig, I think I'm going to collapse!" She swayed precariously, her eyes rolling

vanished, replaced by furious concern. He steadied Ashley, murmuri

g to her?" he snarled. "Are you t

gize? To this conniving snake? For the first time, I

der into Craig' s hands. "Sign this. Now. And then get out of my life."

his jaw tight. "You think

hley's plagiarism. And the cyberbullying campaign that led to my sister's suicide. I'm sure the media would love to hear

natched the papers back, his gaze darting between the divorce petition

t hammering. This was

It's really bad this time! Craig, I think I'm dying!" She began t

n, his eyes still fixed on her. He scribbled his signature across both documents with a shaky hand, bar

ice a low, furious growl. "Don't you

the room, leaving behind the scent of hi

Mr. Henderson. "Thank you," I sai

ion grave. "Are you sure about this? About th

knew about the baby.

ho would be raised by a man who protects a murderer, a child whose father would allow his mistress to destroy its mother's life work."

. The first place I went was my lab. My data. My re

feated, stood among the empty servers and shattered equipmen

ed. "It's all gone. They wiped everything. We tried

k. Years. Go

kipped in, a bright, triumphant smile on her fa

et. "Craig said I should bring some treats for everyone wor