From Drowning to Darling: A Second Chance

is voice filled with a panic I

of frantic worry. "I' m taking

e door, then paus

rdered, not even looking at me. "I' ll co

eaving me alone in

inst my face. I stared at their smiling photos,

ally escaping and tracing a path down

mand. They were more than colleagues; they were bro

or the Gregory fami

eral Gregory had arranged

him for years. I agreed

childhood sweetheart, but she'd left him years ago for a wealthier ma

mes. He pulled strings, used his influence, and brought

had become a

k with emotion. I pulled the acceptance letter

up for t

tured. So I studied in secret, for years, poring over books late into the night after he

ught was to turn it down. To stay,

a lifeline. There was no r

ry until the sun went

the apartment, it

wasn' t even hurt anymo

of the closet was a locked box where I kept our savings and impor

A thick stack of hundred-dollar bills

heart starting to pound. I

or opened again. Aubrey

a brand-new designer dress. A fine, expen

tly where my

"What are you doing? Stop messing with that

cross my face. "I thi

Don' t be ridiculous

too

t obvious thing in the world. "She needed a new dr

hisper. "Do you remembe

patched. "You said we would use that money to get me