the apartment building and threw herself into a cab, scre

. The sharp smell of bleach hit her nose.

cal wing, Brenda was slumped on a plastic cha

ing deep into Ayleen's arm. "Duard hit a li

om the shadows. He was a lawyer. He

e flat. "If the compensation isn't wired immediately, Mr. Avery will

ts danced in her vision. Her knees buckled, and her

sed you! We fed you! It's time you pay

taste grounded her. She pulled out her phone an

hey heard the Avery name was tied to a multi-mi

wn car arranged by Adrian. She twirled the rose nec

from Ayleen: Did you see my ne

els gave her a sick, twisted sense of satisfaction. She needed Ayleen to know that even if she was currently being given the cold shoulder, her situation was still i

on the Upper East Side. Haleigh stepped onto

ng room shut off. A doctor walked out. "He's stable.

detected the massive liability lawsuit tied to the Avery group and, acting on strict risk contr

er personal patents. She turned and

massive black Rolls-Royce glided to

Watts, the Doyle family butler, sta

rds materialized behind her. They grabbed her sho

eavy thud. Ayleen beat he

a tissue. "Madam Mati

state. Ayleen was marched into an antique study.

string of wooden prayer beads between her fingers. Her eyes dr

me?" Ayleen demanded

venomous sound. She tossed a th

a commanded. "And I will w

ed in horror. "No.

A security video played. It showed Duard Avery tryi

a lethal whisper, "this video goes to the po

ntil the skin broke. She stared at her pathetic father

into a suffoc

es. A single tear sl

pered. Her voice wa