More Than Worthless

tartups began to display the Sterling name, their logos shining from new glass buildings, their successes suddenly tied to

d, Mark Sterling, was not with me. He was in his cousin' s penthou

said, the excuse so t

d waiting for him in the grand foyer of the mansion

A self-made woman like you, all ambition and no class. Don't taint my

urt show. I had built an empire from nothin

g through the library door he' d left ajar. He was laughing, a rich, careless sound.

because Mark chuckled again. "The company' s decent

per, and signed my name to the divorce filing I' d had my lawyer prepare just in case. I l

ny wasn' t just a goldmine. It was a tech empire, with roots stre

ears p

ed with the city' s elite, dripping with jewels and false smiles. I was there

o bid. But before a number could leave my lips, a

the openi

ely around his cousin, Sarah Sterling, a woman whose smile was as sharp as

ornness ignited inside me. I was

rice!" I called out, m

roat. His eyes widened in surprise, then n

that the woman Mark Sterling dumped? How dare she show her face in t

tween me and the car. Sarah tugged a

ar! If anyone else gets it, I'

, a soft laugh escaping his throat. It

ud enough for those around them t

umed a single woman, abandoned and stripped of her assets, couldn't possibly survive, let alone thrive. Mark wa

the origin

had made him even more arrogant, more certain of his own superiority. I had once believed he married me because he saw some

chain at my waist. I was silent for a long mome

ing my hesitation. "Ava, are you done with this charade? Is t

on your knees and beg Sarah for forgiveness. Maybe she' ll let you be her maid. But don' t expe

eyes said it all: You can' t have the man or the car

at you, so shabby. You probably don'

nd hadn't brought any cash. But my locket, the one I now h

is city, whispered, "Ms. Reed, you grew up in this city. Why don'

I ever done that req

ere was no hesitation le

times the or