t Leo's slap still stung on Ivory's cheek,

night, and the house was too qu

the thoughts of facing him with her bruises and having to l

hat her dad must have left for Sydney since

her phone rang and made her jump. Her heart pounded as sh

s Ivory?" The voice on the o

is?" Her tone quivered as the

'm afraid I have some bad news. The house your father was st

grip on the phone tightening. "No way! This can't be!

e fire. We need you to prepare the necessary documents so we can s

ering on the floor. "No! No!" she screamed

icture frames and throwing them across the room,

dead stop at the sight of her. He swept his gaze over the shar

Leo's voice was sharp, a mixt

d this! You killed him because of the shares! You killed my

nfusion. "What are you talkin

fire, while they said it was an attack!" Ivory's thr

one of outrage. "How the hell could I

rior exploded to the surface, intensified by days of fear a

let her know about her husband so that she can come home quickly. We have to ma

Dad was really gone. Who is she going to turn to now? What i

ing in her chair. Laura entered then, looking small in her sorrow, eyes r

was like a nightmare when Leo called me yesterday. I couldn't belie

tched them intently. "What do we do now?

"As for burial, he deserves that to be done right.

om Sydney, and its very presence was like a cold remi

se friends and business associates gathered in the garden in a small, solemn group to pay the

ut a hum to her. Beside her, Leo stood in grim silence; low on

g the urn. He walked toward the huge spot that had been prepared

odbye, Father," her voice starting to crack. Suddenly, she

nd her shoulders. "We'll get through this,

with accusation. "You don't care! This was about

th restraint, then he looke

nse of dread settled over her, as if a battle was about t

with their faces masks over s

's voice. "We finally won the bet

ment. "Yes, we did!

senseless." L

razy in a while, and I really want to get off hard.

e careful." La

she's got no one now,"

ntions cloaked in shadows. Each calculated step draws them closer to a future