Reclaiming Her Empire

orne, one of Austin' s best divorce attorneys

s voice neutral, "you wis

o the outside world, an Austin power cou

ffair, Mr. Thorne. A long-

factually. The years,

d given me, now immensely

plan for the d

t he lands in New York. At the airpo

row but made notes. "

hile I was on the phone with Maya,

y to Sanderson. My par

e you talking to? S

ome old things to Mom and Dad. Decluttering

to his home office. His mind was on

d and boastful, clearly audible from th

mazing views. And I' m closing on a brownstone for us in the W

the brownstone,

ding a new life with her, using

ught. My small percentage of stock o

he kitchen, stil

was on the other end. Then, seeing me, he added, "Ava, you should see

ing it to me,

reality was

Chloe arrived at our fro

, expensive one, the kind you

a picture of tri

just stayed here until we all leave

too, organic, a brand Ethan f

transfers. Thousands of dollar

rd work. She' s got student loa

ly emergency, I was

s a justification for h

designer sunglasses. There was no friendl

her claim, right

who was helping her

she doing here

trying to hold onto the last shr

e, fussing with t

s lease is up, and it makes no sense for her to get a s

on't make a scene. Chloe f

bly distressed, her lower lip trembling

The plan was in motion

flat. "She can take the

th annoyance. The master s

ing her the less desirable room,

humming as she "helped" our hou

vegetables with exaggerated

' t know how Ava manages. Ethan is so l

who had wandered in,

. "You' re a natural, Chlo

ls, the household, his social calendar, the early investor

my efforts. "Ava likes t

ree carrots was an ac

of it all was a

g room, where I was packing

doorframe, a smug lit

ything. He says you used to be so a

py sweet, but her

of you, back then. Bef

a small, framed photo of Ethan

ivate investment accounts. For 'emergen

tly, a delibera

sscodes with me. His wife. T

t just the emotional betrayal,

as more trusted, more integral to his

now, in my own marr

er voice dripping

n' t been happy with you for a very long time.

make me react, to give her mo

oil on the kitchen counter, next to the salad she was "p

, life-threatening. Dr. Chen had

make a note of it when Mar

ident. This was de

"forgot" about my

t scream. I didn'

lmly into t

p the bowl

and all, directly at he

toes, and oily dressing s

high-pitched,

lattered t

in, his fac

rs welling in her eyes. He saw me

what happened

hloe, dabbing at her

s wrong with you? Apo

when a drunk investor at a par

cross the room,

by the collar, and quietly, letha

nded me fie

defend

dangerously low, "when Chloe is out of thi

arm. "You see? She' s threateni

back to me, h

ou don' t start accepting Chloe, then m

of man you really are. Innovatech' s stock might take a hit when they find out their golden boy CEO h

. The company. His imag

then sighed, a

y, why don' t you go upstairs

ds the stairs, murmu

' t loo

iumphant smirk playing on her lips desp

essary, Ava? Theatri

oil, Ethan. Ask her why

probably just grabbed the wrong o

had an exc

Chloe, who was now dramatically re

kitchen. The peanut

iPad from the counter

arched for "Chloe Da

he luxury downtown condo. Paid for by I

y private account, and deleted the e

would appr

ed into another expensive outfit,

s arm, playing the v

shaken. Can you make me som

leading her to the

ou need to learn some com

arm around her, her

picture of

to my des

off ano

ore t