ked into h

away at the end of the hall. It looked more lik

ew cheap dresses hung on t

canvas duffel bag from under the bed. It c

t was a picture of her and Gus, standing in front of his rusted tr

erred a lump sum to the Pennsylvania medical facility. She prepaid G

money vanished from

off her chest. They couldn't touch Gu

ag shut and slung i

k at the room. She fe

ked dow

oyer. They stood in a semi-circle, arms crossed, w

duffel bag. "What is t

last twenty-four hours out there. You have no money, no connect

e pay your college tuition. Th

of the foyer. She dropped he

the large space. "I am notifying you that as of this exact sec

ulled out a thick stack of legal documents,

d them. Sign them, and we file them quietly. Refuse, and I fil

e first page. His arrogant smirk vanished, replaced by genuine

. "You're insane! You are

d directly at Bristol, who wa

pping with ice. "The Lyons marriage contract is offici

drained from her face. She loo

t leaving this hous

r, stepped forward, reachin

d her head. She loc

die's voice was soft, yet it pierced Martha's ears like an ice pick. "Take your hand off me," she whispered. Her eyes held absolutely zero emotion, a hollow

r presence paralyzed

. He grabbed Cynthia's

ll hit rock bottom. When she runs out of cash, she'll come crawlin

eement. They were entirely convinced s

ag. She walked to the

g laughter behind her.

p smile touc

tepped out into the blinding mo