When Love Turns To Ashes

water in the face. A monotone voice on the other en

against my ribs. The hallway smelled of antiseptic and despai

Miller. We did ev

ingless sounds. Then they crashed down, shattering my world into

other driver, Olivia Hayes, was intoxicated.

fect, as always, in a tailored suit that probably cost more than

aid, his voice smooth and controll

. They offered a settlement. A number

awyer, my voice flat. "I want justice.

"Mr. Vance was hoping to resolve th

said, an

my apartment. He didn't

oice dangerously soft.

of my hou

emory." He stepped closer, his shadow swallowing

, tears finally breaking free.

ed, his jaw tight. "Olivia is d

pe it

e pulled out his phone and showed me a picture. It was my grandmother, Rose, sitting on

d be a shame if something happened. An old woman lik

o potent it made me sick. He w

monster,"

. "And right now, Olivia is mine. Sign the papers

coffee table, a pen resting on top. His face was a mask of cold indifference, as if he wer

, Ethan," I choked ou

tion. "A sad one, but a mistake nonetheless. Olivia is pregnant. My fut

man who had pursued me with a single-minded in

Vance, the heir to a fortune, the most popular man on campus. He'd sent a thousand roses to my dorm,

rning it around and saving my family from ruin. He paid for my

world, that he would crush me. He had knelt before them, on the worn floor of

e hated when I visited my grandmother, claiming she was a bad influence. My world shrank until it was only

istant. He stopped coming home most nights. Then, O

vorce. I pleaded.

le never reaching his eyes. "You'll always

nd dragged me back, his control tightening, his words becomi

got behind the wheel of her sport

Grandma Rose, I had to surrender. My hand shook as I picked up the pe

gned

papers. "I'll have my men release your grandmother. But Sarah, a word of advice

g the door softly behind him, le

my phone rang. It

randdaughter o

aid, my he

l down the stairs at her nursing h

nt wasn't a guarantee of safety.

Grandma Rose was barely conscious, her face pale and brui

illed with a fierce light. "Don't tru

to my palm. It was for a safe deposit box. Her la

the nurses, for anyone. But

s echoed in m

years ago when Grandma Rose had insisted, "just in case." There was also a bundle of cash a

, I was finally, legally, fre

dmother when Olivia Hayes walked in. She wore a pristine

oice dripping with false sympathy. "Such a shame.

through me. I lunged at h

reamed. "Yo

ong arm wrapped around my waist

He held me tight while Olivia stumbled back, a hand on her chest as if she