From Ruin: The Photographer's Comeback

' d be up before dawn, braving the local bakery line for my favorite almond croissants. He' d meticulously

irst edition of my favorite novel. A vintage camera I' d admired. A delicate silver bracelet with a tiny architectural charm, knowing my pass

tly which snack I craved during late-night study sessions. My father, who saw everyth

hed my father. He wanted to join the company. My father hesitated. I

illed with raw emotion. "Elise, I want to be worthy of you. I want to build a lif

's business, the intricate web of deceit he

closed doors. I never knew what was said. But the next mo

oice unusually soft, "promise m

at me, his eyes solemn, resolut

ugh the ranks of my father's company. He was brilliant, charismatic, and ruthl

ange. He grew quieter, more distant. Sometimes, his eyes would h

rained, "there are things... things you d

ake his head, pull me close, and distract m

of our family estate. A pearl white diamond ring, a symbol of foreve

filled the air. I walked down the aisle, my heart overflowing. Conrad stood a

A warm, l

ronounce us husband and wife, a cold, m

To my father, who stood

a badge. A sil

Just cold, hard steel. "You're under arrest for multiple counts of fra

ould see was Conrad. His eyes, those same piercing blu

. My best friend. Bonny Gomez. She smiled at him, a triump

me standing at the altar, my white dress s