first against the hard plastic seat. She didn't feel the im

of rain began to slam against the glass. The rapid,

was a trigger. Her mind violently pulled

The Long Islan

aircase. The heavy wooden handle of her suitcase dug int

stine white dress. A sweet, innocent smile was pla

d, her voice a venomous hiss. "You're just a stray dog

her throat. She didn't want to

sa on the narrow landing. As she moved, her elbow lightly

let out a blood

k, and intentionally threw herself backward. Alyssa tumbled down the long, stee

, the massive oak fr

ooked up just in time to see Alyssa's body hit the bottom of the s

" Colvin

foyer. He slid to his knees, gathering Alyssa's

op of the stairs. The look in his eyes wasn't

"Colvin, I didn't-" she st

ing on the marble. She reached out to t

ay with brutal force. The smack echoed in the lar

, her tears mixing with the blood. "Don't be mad at her, Colvin," A

ley. "You vicious, jealous bitch," he s

man she grew up with. The man she was supposed to marry in two

the floor. He snapped it open, pulled out a thick stack of

stinging her skin, before scatt

n the top page read: Prenuptial Asset Forfei

flat. "I love Alyssa. The engagement was just to keep

She looked at Colvin holding Alyssa. The truth hit her so hard her knees buckled

rushed into the foyer. They saw Alyssa bleeding and immediately dropped to the

. Vance hissed. "G

had raised her. There was no

a pen from the floor. She knelt over the scattered papers and signed her name on e

e, and walked out the front door

mbed into the driver's seat. Her clothes were soaked, sticking to her free

speeding down the winding mounta

es, blurring her vision. She wiped her fac

heavy rain. Harley moved her foot

Nothing. Someone had tampered with them. Alyssa. Colvin. It did

pumped the brakes frantically

d to the right. The tires lost traction on the wet asphalt. Th

tless

her head smashing violently against the steering wheel.

ar crashed into the trees below the cliff. The windshield s

her eyes. The world went dark. The last thing she

op, 14th

f the subway intercom ripp

her neck. She looked down at her hands. Her fingernails were dug so deepl

sleeve. Her breathing was fast and shallow.

on lights of Manhattan. The vulnerability in her eyes vanished, replaced by a co