er's number with

steady despite the storm inside me. "Give them to Leo only after I leave. And mak

my own death warrant. I glan

ed this before

o collect benefits from someone who's no longer his wife

hroat. Lydia sauntered in, her lips curved into that familiar cruel smile. She was

nstinct screamed at me to run,

legs with the confidence of

e you?" I asked directly.

he laughed. Not a polite chuckle. A full, c

e wiped tears from her eyes.

room

ha

in the trash behind the hospital. Left

rd stuck i

scar below my ribs. The empty space where my

." The words came ou

ing insurance policy." Her eyes gleamed with malic

rld t

rs ago. You were nothing but a meal ticket. A mass

y voice sounded pathet

he kidney was just a bonus. But that insurance policy? Two

hite lilies in her hand. My death

ady feeling my throat begin to ti

them toward my face. "Leo said to get rid of you. So

ut. My throat sealed comp

My vision went black around the edges as I crawled desperat

the nightstand, Lydia's h

ac

rolled away as glass from a nearby bottle shattered, shard

" she screamed, grinding her hee

he glass carved deeper into my flesh w

ootsteps thundere

e

lish hope. He would see Lydia for w

t, but my voice was barel

erself dramatically among the scattered flow

through the doorway. "Elena was throwing

body like I was garbage on the floor. He didn't even glance at

kill me," I wheezed, gasping for

mask finally sl

is voice made m

flowers, and you repay her by throwi

t deeper tha

en we were dating. When we got married. Every spring when they bloom. Yet

sure you never see another sunrise." He scooped Lydia up,

ears burned my cheeks as he stepped over my br

side me shat

ocket and used it with trembling, bloodied hands. The medicatio

t felt like hours before I could

++

bed and bandaged my hands. She didn't ask questi

ind working through the fog of pain and medic

invited to attend the Cel

ation that had been forwarded to my personal ema

my hands shaking a

ncouraging. "You built half of that company. The CEO of Cele

The words died

id gently. "You helped make some of the most sophisticated piece

dden in the closet. I had been planning t

l attend tonigh

erly waiting for your arrival in Litsville tomorrow

still loved me, still wanted me, gave me strength. The i

iece jewelry that graced royalty and red carp

reveal my face to the wor

sight. Or so

ever dreamed of. Charm

rying to network her way into meeting Roberta Alfre

the influence of my fortune. So I'd introduce my

fool I'

ayed me like a violin. All because they desperately wanted to climb into t

e way she'd dreamed. I would make them pay for

what better place to start than at the gala wh