From Ashes To Altar: Her Vengeance

ina

h a phantom pain. My heart was a hollow drum, echoing the emptiness within me. I was packing a small suitcase, ju

, his voice bouncing off the walls. He wasn't invit

void of emotion. I didn't even flinch.

ou've done? Filing that ridiculous police report? Tryi

teady, unwavering. "You know exactly what he did, Haywood. H

dramatic. A minor accident. And as for your claims of... assault, Anika assur

, each word a shard of ice. "Did you

s. Only a flicker. "Your mother? What are y

n. He hit her, then he backed up and ran her over again. Twice. He m

. "Absurd. Keith would neve

ur influence to bury. An accident that left my father in a hospital bed, needing surgery that you r

ath on me, Celina. You were always so tight-fisted. If you had just sold

life, for my family. "Tight-fisted? You froze all my accounts! You

possessions more than true affection. You're ju

ell to the broken locket on the dresser. My mother's and father's lives were gone. My love for him, a distant, painful memory. There was nothing left but a cold, burning desi

pen again, and Anika glided in, her eyes wide with feigned concern. "Oh, Hay

t with Keith. I'm so terribly sorry. Here, let me offer you something for your troubles." She pulled out a c

nt eyes. Haywood, his anger momentarily diverted by Anika

" Haywood said, his voice laced with disd

ks have been so hard on Keith. He's so sensitive. And with all the company's financial.

ke it, and disappear. Forget this absurd pursuit of justice. It's childish. It's foolish. It's beneath you." He named a figure that was

ilent, my ga

price." He clicked his tongue, annoyance etched on

check. Haywood's smug expression de

s paper fluttering to the floor. I looked at Haywood, then at Anika, my eyes colder than th

He pointed a finger at me, his voice trembling with rage. "I will ruin you, Celina! Your family's business?

voice chillingly calm. "You made sure of that. Bu

creen. "You want to play hardball, Celina? Fine. I'll make sure that police report disappears. And your lawyers? They'll find themselves disbarred for even contemplating your insanity." He h

as right. He had the power. He had the i

rns raised." My hands clenched, the tiny device feeling like a lead weight. Then another call. My former boss. "Celina, I'm sor

nt. "Celina, please, darling. Don't fight him. He's too po

the phone in my hand to Haywood's smug, victorious face. He saw my devastati

hed into anguished sobs. Tears streamed down my face, but they were not tears of weakness. They w

ok a hesitant step forward. "Celina, perhaps... perhaps we can discuss this rationally.

ld it out to him. It was a property deed, or so it appeared. My lawyer had drafted it perfectly. I had meticulously hidden the "DIVORCE AGREEMENT"

can have everything you want." I flipped to the page with the

ust sign it and be gone." He grabbed the pen, scrawled his signature without a second glance, then tossed it back at me. "There. No

ve me all the villas in the world, Haywood," I said, my voice barely a whisper, "but you can't giv