ide poisoned me. Th
r abuse. My sister umped
rished with th
eld my daughter and st
d talked wit
dministered by Phili
e slipped me the toxin. My bod
ister Nydia's death, for keeping her from P
ley stabbed Tina at
ented Ensley. In the end, Ensley s
daughter died for me. My sist
ive? Why sh
erate to return to the
s voice whispered, "Do
let me go back. I'll ki
ed. Darkness
dining table, holding Ensley.
th and said sweetly, "Momm
dripping onto hers. She sto
ving rice stuck to my sk
other chance. Ther
d up the spoon. "Mommy's n
stairs to play dress-up. As we re
king on the phone.
back. After Ensley stabbed Tina,
which emboldened Tin
the urge to kill
returned. Ensley shook my hand playfu
fted her, and
did, Nydia and Ensley would suf
p in my arms. I laid her gently
a bowl of medicine.
ok it. After she left, I poured it i
ould I protect Ensley. Nydia wouldn't
to Philip's study. I took
the door.
to discuss
t the door and said, "I'll leave with nothin
rning to my room. I lay
slept in a separate room. B
foolish actions, I w
Mommy will protect you. I'll give you a
rs. My boldness yesterday rattled him. He
"Where's the di
game? You wanted to marry, so I did. Now you want out, a
t swallowed my family's company.
to Nydia. But she hated men gen
low poison. My health deteri
om distant to rushing home from work,
I felt touched, believing he
without
ntil Tina revealed the
he sea. Philip used my life to force h
cine Philip gave me wasn't a cure, just
ina killed m
ng Philip. This divorc
y expression. "
hadn't been blind, you wouldn't even
Ensley woke and r
weetie, want to visi
y. "Yes! I want to p
. He was on the phone but hung up when he sa
perhaps sensing something, stayed q
t ached. After our fight, I never retur
te. Nydia stood on the second
he company to save you. What's the point
nd, and stopped before me. Ensley squir
. She ran and clu
dia handed me a teacup. "D
ugged her. "Nydia, I'm sorry. I was
. I sobbed, telling her ever
She held me. "It sounds crazy, but if yo
her che
ster who believed in
Nydia's until evening
d, asked when we'd v
and said, "Soon, sweetie. The thre
Philip sat close, wh
ina even raised an eyebrow. I sent E
abbing my hand.
r face, tears welling up. "Carly, I was just talking
ears
blocked me. I grabbed his collar. "If you want
g at me. Tina rushed to him, t
of control. Philip just talked to me, and you
grabbed a nearby chair an
Tina tortured E
smashed objects a
d trickling from her forehead. She clung to Philip
gazing into the dist
apping her with all my s
my past life's hatred, each
nd fought. Then she passe
red. "Philip, isn't Tina your precious love? Gue
k a step toward me. "Carly, w
thing's wrong. My hand just itched. If s
clutched a children's b
checked my phone. Nydia sent a
t for a long time before typing b
showed up, blocking the livin
ing. "Is this how the Ashtons raise their kids, be
w do you know I hit a p
I grabbed a vase and smashed it on
"Leave in three seconds,
ill an Ashton? Everyone knows you cut ties with
e Nydia buy your company. It's