for nothing," Scarlett continued, her lips twisting into a preda

d me to be scarred, he had designed it. He had taken my act of love a

er your little 'accident,' Robert plans to use the insurance money to fund a new wing for the children's hospital.

bness. A primal rage, hot and pure, surged through me. I shot up

th practiced ease, grabbing my wrist and twisting it

help me! She's

in, their faces masks of alarm. They saw Scarlett, seemingly

are you doing?" Robert

ckward, my head cracking against the edge of the kitchen counter. A sharp, searing

arms. "I just came to see how she was, and she just.

k at you," he spat, his voice laced with disgust. "You're pathetic. U

fold. He didn't move. He didn't say a word. He just watched

house," Rober

smile playing on her lips. "Our h

ocked on me. "Get out of our ho

nd hate, and cast me out. I was nothing to them. A tool

rt's hateful face, to Scarlett's triumphant one, to my so

I turned and wal

ns over, paying in cash to get the gash on my head stitche

e last thin

ty hard drive. Then I went back to the house. I knew they'd be out cel

I let myself in with the key

s, financial records, hidden folders. I found the audio files he'd recorded of his phone calls with Scarlett, the ones he kept as some

passport from its hiding place. I packed a single bag

g photo on our dresser. Me and Robert, smiling

smashed it against the tile floor. The glass shattered into a thousand tiny pieces, just like my life had. I took

the window, I could see the city lights twinkling in the distance. Somewhere out

hey thought I was broken and

r celebration. It

coming. And I