the last five years. I, Ava Smith, was finally free. The air, thick with the scen

al. It was the county clerk' s office. I ne

d my name into her computer. She frowned

ng at me. "There's no record of a marri

d five years ago. I have the certificate." I fumbled in my wo

it back across the counter. "This is a fake, honey

A fake. Our entire

. Liam Johnson, the handsome, grieving businessman. His first love, a woman named Sarah, had

called me Sarah. He pulled me close, and in h

d saved his life once, pulling him from that same boat wreck that kil

s back to me. "I will never love you, Ava," he'd

he perfect, devoted wife. I ran his home, cared for

flowers, withered and dead from poison. I was framed. Liam didn't hesitate.

me to

s reaching for me as the police dragged me away. For five years, th

of his sprawling mansio

as arranging flowers in a vase. My best fr

inside.

same, not a day older than when she supposedly died in a car crash to escape an arra

king into place with sickening c

en, she did something I never expec

he sound of small feet came ru

immaculate suit, appeared. E

to Scarlett, burying his face in her

attered what was

"You're an evil woman! Get out of my house! Scarlett

ene, his handsome face hardening. "Ava. You ju

n't care. He knelt, checking on Sca

y voice breaking. "Ethan is

. "Scarlett is the one who raised him while you were g

e harder than a

han's. "Come on, we're going to

rfect, happy family. Leaving m

m, Scarlett, and Ethan laughing on a beach. Liam and Scarlett

aken a single

Everything wa

mber I hadn't used in years. My old n

Do you still have those community health wo

he other end. "Ava? Ar

mansion one last time. "I'm not interest

like acid i

I said, my voice gaining strength