From Ashes: A Second Chance

children. Our marriage was supposed to be the perf

my burning art studio with my step

king me, my skin searing from the

cture of false terror. "It's too dang

eyes filled with a pity that cut deeper than any f

ways protect me had just watched me burn to death. My uncondi

I was due at the family board meeting. This time, I walked straigh

pte

droom swung open with a force that made the

ale, devoid of makeup, and her eyes, usually warm

of the table, where her father s

break the e

t through the quiet hum of conversation about the upc

Hazel, what are you talking about? Don' t be

r gaze sweeping over the assembled family

voice rising. "This is about a merger that has been in the

epsister about their affair. The confrontation had turned ug

nt void. Until she'd woken up with a gasp in her own bed this morning, the sun shining, the birds si

he searing heat on her skin. She remembered screaming for Dom

r of her art studio, his face illuminated by th

lp me!" she had scre

ture of false terror. "Dominic, it' s too

me, his eyes filled with a pity that cut deeper than an

urn. That was the price of her gentle nature.

d, her voice still unnervingly c

from acros

nt eyes filling with tears. "Hazel, how can you say such

ister," Hazel snapped, her voice fi

" Richard Ortega slamme

family. "Dominic has been so worried about you since your accident. He' s been calling every hour.

The pigment. Yes, he

und a rare dia

he?" Hazel' s eyes locked onto Jul

ed. "I... I don' t

led out a small, velvet box. She tossed it onto the table. It s

lace, a delicate silver chain w

t month for our anniversary,

rew it on the table next to the box.

e sun setting behind them. Dominic' s arms were around Julia, a

ver chain with a tear

cal to the on

, designed just for me," Hazel said, her

department store. I checked. The one Julia is wearing in that pic

m her fingers, clattering onto the

ry day, thinking it was a symbol of his unique love for her. The

the door op

ghtly messy, his tie loosened. He loo

hen he saw the atmosphere in the room. He saw the photos on t

ooks like," he said, his voic

sked. "Explain which ne

ut a soft cry. She swayed on her fe

dizzy," she

Hazel to Julia. The panic on his face was r

, catching her as she sagged.

zel in years. He didn' t even glance back at his fiancée, the

s heart turned to cold, hard ash. This was it. Th

ust right; it was nece

e ringing with finality. "You

whose face was a mixture o

s family needs an Ortega bride to seal the merger, let the

s resolute face to the spectacle of Dom

y," he stammered. "Everyone

er, suggested smoothly. "A cooling-off period. Ha

forget being burned alive. A week to ac

ould be more t