the loving, albeit terminally ill, wife was one I had

personal assets-stocks from my father, jewelry from m

' names, dedicated to providing legal aid for the wrongly accused a

ylaws, meeting with lawyers, interviewin

on, a dull, heavy pressure that sometimes sharpened into a blind

t of the concerned

'd say, trying to take the files from my hands.

hands away. "It's my parents' lega

oncern. "I know how much this means to you. After the tr

event, a gala I had planned to o

, blonde hair on the collar of his white shirt. Not my dark brown. I

painkillers, my smile painted on. The ballroom was filled

riek cut through

m, was Karma Smith. She was on the floor, clutchi

would be here. She couldn't even let me have this one last

reporters surged forward, their ca

'm so sorry! I had to leave all those years ago! They were threatenin

victim, forced into an impossible

shouted. "What is your rel

room. He reached down to help Karma, then seemed to thi

rcloud. "Eleanor, why is she on he

on Karma. "Why are you here?" My

just wanted to apologize. Please, Elea

h, Eleanor. She came here to apologize

I was a breath away from deat

re. I turned, holding my head high, and walked away

obs wracking my fragile frame. I saw his face, the way he looked

hook. Voicemails filled with cu

. "Jilted Wife Bullies Pregnant Mistress." "Archit

he saint. They dredged up the lies about my father, calling him a disgrace. M

n, but my words were deleted instant

a'am, there's a car behind us. Th

ffic, closing the distance with a terrifying speed

ne, my fingers shaki

stared at the trendin

" he ordered his as

le, I'm so scared. What if those things they're

of her crying on the floor. "Did you r

he cried, burying her face in his chest. "I know Eleanor h

ht of her "bravery" in high school, how she had supposedly stood up f

e picture of Karma's tear-streaked face. His thumb hovered ov

her lies, had just si