From Ashes, A Queen Rises

losion. The doctor said I was lucky-the shrapnel had missed my major

to the doctor. He said his mistress, Kenzie, had leukemia and need

s pregnant and critically injured. That procedur

is a given," he said. "Kenzie is the priority. Fl

to be removed. He would kill our baby and risk my

rt of me that had loved him, the part

c flowed into my veins, I felt a strange sense

up, my bab

I picked up the phone and dialed a

spered. "I'm

identity as a Horton heiress, all f

on heiress was just waking up, and she wa

pte

ood on the stage, the heavy gold medal in my hand feeling like a stone. Be

o-founders of Carroll & Whitehead. He was the charismatic face, I was t

the cracks in

She was the daughter of his late mentor, a fragile-looking girl with shado

thouse overlooking Central

Julius said, loosening his tie. His voic

ward on the mantelpiece next to our other trophi

gh his phone, a small, secret smile on hi

of five million dollars from our joint business account to a

flat, unapologetic. "Her father left

ng capital for the next quarter. That

selfish, Florence. The gi

hun

d just purchased a series of pretentious, overpriced

said, pointing to Kenzie's new acquisition

e. Then, I picked up a sledgehammer from the toolbox. One by one, I smashed them to pieces, the sound of shattering m

't come hom

own, with a minor credit to me for "assistance." He announced that Kenzie Drake, despite having no archit

ected my work above all else. I attached my original, time-stamped design files and a brief, professional note explaining that

cy meeting. The contract was p

my office. "Wh

my work," I

d me! You emba

e in our firm, a

lared, his jaw tight with a rage tha

uld be the worst

s. The house was quiet. Too quiet. I walked toward our

Kenzie was straddled on top of him. On my side

lius just stared at me, his expression not of guilt, bu

. I walked to the bedside table, picked up the heavy cryst

Kenzie screamed, a real scream this time, and scra

ory was that he'd slipped and fallen.

fix it. This was my life, the life I had built, hiding who I tr

a one-way, first-class ticket to anywhere in the

. "You can't buy him, Florenc

ce. Julius was quiet, recovering. He didn't thank

rtment was empty. Julius was gone. And Ava's room was cleared out. Her f

alled his phone, again

. "You sent Kenzie away. You hurt her. Now you'

us, she's our daugh

a sick sort of logic. "You drove me to this. Ke

ave the bank statements, Julius. I have the photos

. "You have nothing. You don't unde

ghter?" I screame

e docks. The one we were supposed to redeve

fire there when I was a child. He

or. You have ten minutes to get here and agree to my terms. If you're

ne wen

the wheel. The warehouse loomed ahead, a skel

y space. Ava was tied to a chair behind him, crying

my voice cracking. "Please

to apologize to Kenzie. And I want you to sign o

ous. But Ava was looking at

hispered. "

, ugly twisting of his

e, burying her face in my legs. I held her so tigh

t out,"

Ava. We were almost at the

ore

rned

he said. "For ma

sed the

placed near the entrance. But it was enough. The force threw me forward, away

s. Shrapnel tore through my coa

to her, ignoring the fire in my own b

was safe. Untouched. I h

old my weight. I could feel warm blood soaking through my clothes.

e last thing I heard was Ava's s

ghts of a hospital room burned my

oll? Can y

y body felt like

teries. But your leg is badly broken. It will require several surgeries.

gna

ible flicker of light in the suffocating

us walked in. He didn't look a

asked, his voice

doctor said. "And she's pregnant. Given the trauma

ing. Kenzie-Miss Drake-has leukemia. She needs a bone marrow t

explosion. She's pregnant. Putting her through a bone marrow harvesting p

ting him off. "She can't carry a baby in th

child. Our baby. Like it

firm, resolute. "She is dying. We have to save her. Florence

mmense. Forcing an abortion and then undergoing the marrow procedure... it cou

oice leaving no room for ar

s love. This was his compassion. He would kill our unborn child and r

he part of me that had loved Julius Carroll, the part that had forgiven him, the part t

he long, white corridor. Julius walked beside me for a mom

the best, Florence. Yo

red at the ceiling tiles, countin

liquid spread through my veins, I felt a strange s

conscio

f pain. A deep, hollow ache in my abdomen. A sharp, dr

by wa

at the blank wall. I slowly lifted a hand and

s way down my temple and

bedside table. I scrolled through my contacts, past all the names from t

and familiar, answer

ore

e was a dry

sweetheart.

come home,"

r way. The j

ould see Julius's face. I could see Kenzie's smile. "There ar

ce, my power, my true identity, all because I was a fool who believed lo

my terrified daughter. I thought of the man I had loved, the m

hing. But most of all, I

as dead. She died on

just waking up. And she was going