pital, she took care of every discharge form h

room as she entered. By the window, Austin

gh he were comforting the person on the other end. When his head

lt. For a few seconds, she could only

t like too much effort, let alone lowering herself to ask why he'd

the point

d leave. Before she could get far, Austin called after her,

oftened his words. Al

acks, though she made

ing off her way. "Is this about me not answ

sage she'd sent. Ignorin

er palms, but not a trace of emotion

lent treatment, he forced himself to explain. "Look, I've had a lot going on lately

s? Who else could

ome prepared with t

g almost imperceptibly. "I get it. This fri

slipped past him and start

Why do you keep throwing these little digs at me? I already t

atti

idiculous that Emma nea

close to losing her life

nerve to act as though

she knew so well. Strangely, everything she'd

hen, in a low but unmistakably steady voi

gaze hardened as he studied her expression. "Quit this nonse

another argument. "This isn't

hed past him and ma

ould look like without me, Emma? You've sp

me to a halt

eaction. "Forget it. We'll act like this conve

d the brief flash of

What I do with my life from here on out has nothing to do with you. I'll get t

ead. He was about to respond w

e tension vanished from his face.

d him. "Austin, my stomach is killing me...

atures. "Don't move around,

a rush. "Something's come up. I have to go. We

the front door

hered to look her w

a car engine. Moments later, even t

r railing, her fingers

t even tried to talk her out of it. Instead, he had rush

d without Austin

ave. With the divorce papers left behind, she

jaw and kept going, forcing herself forward one pai

ached the street tha

est friend, Melanie Foster, g

ack? It's about time! That bastard Austin

s. The moment word reached her about everything Emma had been t

handed over the rights to your one-of-a-kind patent just to bail him out! Without you, Edwards Group wouldn't even be around today! And that wasn't the only time! Whenever he ran into something he could

d boil. Finally, she snapped, "Emmy, you n

now. I'm taking back everything that belongs to me, too. After everything I've worked for, there's no way I'm letting those

er been all sh

ing, exploring artificial intell

key members of the Apex Alliance, a prestigious internati

her extraordinary talents without a second thought,

ng. "Oh, Melly, remember that big investor you told me about? Th

but I though

eady t

realization hit, and excitement spilled into her voice.

s face as she glanced back at the ho

o me, I'm getting it back. Piece by piece. And I won't