My Mother's Ashes, My Fury Unleashed

Jaime, calling it my "education" on how to be a woman. Thi

th. Then, he let Jaime beat me so severely that I miscarried the baby I

my mother's urn in front of me and fed her

words were, "St

my estranged uncle, a p

he sent a jet to

carded, but as the new CEO of his collapsing

pte

ist

lin's voice, laced with disdain, cut through the thin h

utched the silk robe tighter around me, the fabric doing li

ender fingers, adorned with a ring I recognized as mine-a gift from Collin on our first anniver

ttering, met mine over Collin's bare shoulder. A wicked smile play

rn how to be a woman, how to please a man. Jaime, barely out of her teens, was supposedly my tutor. Every

ering towards me with fake concern. "Are y

ing, then a burning sensation. Her nails were long, freshly

crisp hundred-dollar bill. My hand trembled slightly,

rks me hard, you know." Her voice was a childish whine, but her eyes held a pred

imand. He was pulling on his expensive silk pa

ist with exaggerated theatricality. "Sh

t understand our special connection." He looked at me then, his gaze cold, devoid of any w

drawer, pressing them into Jaime's hand. "Go on, sw

triumphant glance my way before disappearing into the adjoining room. The door

ay," I said, my voice flat, devoid of em

rfectly coiffed hair. "Again? That woman is

throat tightening. "The doctors say it's her best

ough. Why waste good money?" He paused, then added with a smirk, "Besides, Jaime doesn't ask f

Cherishes his company. The wo

I said, my voice

ista. And maybe," he leaned in, his voice dropping to a mocking whisper, "I'll even give you a

im. The money he had given Jaime for her "time" burned a ho

ice echoed in my ears. The hospital room was sterile, white, smelling of antiseptic and de

he phone, tears streaming down my face

ggle, followed by Collin's low, possessive chuckle. He knew I wa

he desperation in my eyes, the way my shoulders slumpe

ispered, her voice raspy, barely au

later, she was gone. Her last words, etched into

ce of paper she had pressed into my hand just before she cl

uncle. My mot

the number. Three rings, then a gruf

ed, my voice thick with un

lista! My little hummingbird! Is that truly you? Oh, my dearest

ingle tear escaping.

, concern replacing the boisterous cheer. "Tell me everything. No, don't te

gan, but he

ys knew you were meant for more than that simpleton you married." His voice w

ed, the word a

everything out." His voice was a balm, a di

lief washing over me. The decision was

rd against a hard chest. Collin. His scent, a mix of expensive

smooth, deceptively gentle, but the gri

aint red mark, a hickey, blossomed just benea

ed, my voice flat. "Abou

h? I thought you gave that up for us." His hand moved, tracing the curve of my hip. "You know, you'v

pulling away subt

u, Calista, you've become so predictable. So utterly uninteresting in bed. Jaime, she has

ling well," I mumbled, trying to push

ugged. "Fine. Women and their moods." He turned, heading for the bathro

felt heavy, aching with a pain that had nothing to do with menstruation, and everything to do with the hollow space where my heart used to be. The nigh

lin's voice, laced with disdain, cut through the thin h

utched the silk robe tighter around me, the fabric doing li

ender fingers, adorned with a ring I recognized as mine-a gift from Collin on our first anniver

ttering, met mine over Collin's bare shoulder. A wicked smile play

rn how to be a woman, how to please a man. Jaime, barely out of her teens, was supposedly my tutor. Every

ering towards me with fake concern. "Are y

ing, then a burning sensation. Her nails were long, freshly

crisp hundred-dollar bill. My hand trembled slightly,

rks me hard, you know." Her voice was a childish whine, but her eyes held a pred

imand. He was pulling on his expensive silk pa

ist with exaggerated theatricality. "Sh

t understand our special connection." He looked at me then, his gaze cold, devoid of any w

drawer, pressing them into Jaime's hand. "Go on, sw

triumphant glance my way before disappearing into the adjoining room. The door

ay," I said, my voice flat, devoid of em

rfectly coiffed hair. "Again? That woman is

throat tightening. "The doctors say it's her best

ough. Why waste good money?" He paused, then added with a smirk, "Besides, Jaime doesn't ask f

Cherishes his company. The wo

I said, my voice

ista. And maybe," he leaned in, his voice dropping to a mocking whisper, "I'll even give you a

im. The money he had given Jaime for her "time" burned a ho

ice echoed in my ears. The hospital room was sterile, white, smelling of antiseptic and de

he phone, tears streaming down my face

ggle, followed by Collin's low, possessive chuckle. He knew I wa

he desperation in my eyes, the way my shoulders slumpe

ispered, her voice raspy, barely au

later, she was gone. Her last words, etched into

ce of paper she had pressed into my hand just before she cl

uncle. My mot

the number. Three rings, then a gruf

ed, my voice thick with un

lista! My little hummingbird! Is that truly you? Oh, my dearest

ingle tear escaping.

, concern replacing the boisterous cheer. "Tell me everything. No, don't te

gan, but he

ys knew you were meant for more than that simpleton you married." His voice w

ed, the word a

everything out." His voice was a balm, a di

lief washing over me. The decision was

rd against a hard chest. Collin. His scent, a mix of expensive

smooth, deceptively gentle, but the gri

aint red mark, a hickey, blossomed just benea

ed, my voice flat. "Abou

h? I thought you gave that up for us." His hand moved, tracing the curve of my hip. "You know, you'v

pulling away subt

u, Calista, you've become so predictable. So utterly uninteresting in bed. Jaime, she has

ling well," I mumbled, trying to push

ugged. "Fine. Women and their moods." He turned, heading for the bathro

felt heavy, aching with a pain that had nothing to do with menstruation, and everything to do with the hollow space where my heart used to be. The nigh