The Billionaire Heiress's Radical Comeback

Donald

rately projected, tore it in half. The ripping sound was sharp, definitive. I watched his face co

arled, his voice a low hiss. "You'

lied, my voice steady

me. As he reached the threshold, Derek turned one last time, his eyes burning into mine. "Don't think you'll get

or slammed shut, leaving an

. I had been so trusting, so naive. I had believed in his love, in our shared future, foolishly thinking that my happiness was intertwined with his. I

ard resolve. He wanted to play dirty? Fine.

driver my home address. My marital home address. The place I had fil

nactive. I buzzed the intercom. No answer. My heart sank, a familiar chill creeping

e pale blue one Derek had bought me for our first anniversary. Her hair was disheveled, a smug, triumphant smile plastered on her

just waltz back in here. This is my home now. Derek said you're officially persona non grata. And besides," she gestured around the immaculat

audacity. The sheer

Krystal," I said, my

again? Derek won't be as understanding this time. He's very prot

I lunged forward, pushing past her, ignoring her

n't mine.

oom from my grandmother, was gone. My favorite cashmere throw, the one I always snuggled under on cold evenings, was replaced by a garish faux

nd me. "Oh, those? Derek had them thrown out. Said they were clutt

nherited from her mother. It was precious, filled with sentimental pieces, not valuable but irreplaceabl

rabbed the box and hurled it to the ground. It shattered into a hundred pieces, scatterin

like you, Aspen. Always breaking things." Then, with a deliberate stomp, she crushed a tiny

t was my mother. It was my father. It was every memory, every

at her, desperate to save th

n the shattered box, on Krystal, who had collapsed onto the floor in another dramatic heap,

shoved me roughly aside, his strong arm pushing me against the wall. "Krysta

smirk flashing across her face as she caught my gaze over Derek'

my husband, at the venomous woman he cradled in his arms. The last fragments of my heart cru

of glass, the scattered photographs, the crushed porcelain bird. Each piece felt like a stab to my

his voice echoing in the hollow

end. This was the beginning. He had destroyed my past, but he wouldn't control my future. As I walked out of that ho

, cold. "I need everything you can find on Derek Webb an