My Body, Your Empire

proxy caregiver, a polite but distant woman fro

f my discharge, a whirlwind of f

eals closing. But I have a surprise for

penthouse. Instead, the car hea

to question, t

h estate, music drifti

gnized – Ethan's business associates, s

e!" they

ling me to the ce

ducing a velvet box. "These past few weeks have sho

tentatiously large, glittered co

ce dreamed of, a moment now

ugh the mansion as the fire alarm blared to life. The sprinklers

shot to his feet, his eyes scanning

, pushing through

She was being "rescued." In the frantic shuffle, a waiter stumbled, knocking a heavy serving table directly into my side. A sharp, searing pain explo

hot me a look of pure, unadulterated triumph before

't even

nthouse, the silence

de throbbing with a fresh, fier

ly, I bega

, the expensive clothes

was secured. He was holding me, whispering something in my ear. I remembered his words, a solemn promise under

ents, showing how I'd drained my life savings, my inheritance, to fund his initial

eed Innovate was emai

f Strategy Officer. The archit

o

r. He handed me a thick envelope. It was a lawsuit from Reed Innovate, alleging breach of contract and inte

rang. It

Chloe's had a relapse. Some clotting disorder from the stress of it a

No," I said, my voic

ave my lawyers drop this ridiculous lawsuit. Refuse, and I will spend the next ten years burying you

lying in a hospital bed looking tragically pale. He didn't even

Chloe met my gaze from across the room. When Ethan's back was turned,

she mouthe

completely oblivious to the violation taking place just a few feet away. My blood, my very life force, was

on bag was even empty, leaving me diz

flicker of my heart for him was exting