A Dream Interrupted, A Life Reclaimed

mergency room flickered above me. I blinked, m

e said to someone standing

face a mask of concern. "Ava

grabbing my hand. Hi

my public shaming, now playing

hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with what was supposed to

with fake emotion. "I heard there was a scene

ger and betrayal. He knew exactly what had

to tell me my ambition was my most attractive quality. He would stay up late with

anding before me was a stranger,

his. "Don't touch me," I sa

rough before he quickly masked it again. "Ava, honey, I know yo

ith sarcasm. "You mean the news report that painted m

d. "I was trying to protect you. Things were

ken sound. "You destroyed my reputation to protec

ll all blow over. Right now, you need to rest." He tried to sound reasonable, but

I am so, so sorry you're going through this," she said, her voice trembling with manuf

was the innocent victim, caught in t

erfect match. Two manipulative, soulless people w

id, my voice lo

"Ava, don't be like this

sition despite the dizziness. "I saw my offer letter. They stomp

missively. "We can move past this. I still lo

guilt, but trying to frame it as a minor inc

at you, I see the man who spit on my mother's grave.

Fine," he hissed. "You want to be alone? You want to throw away everything for your pathetic

heel and storme

riumphant, cold smile. She looked at me, lying broken and humiliated in th

ispered, her voice a venomous

ed Daniel, leaving me alon