t the only answer was the cold, rhyth

here? Where exactly is here?" she whispered to the empty

had only been months since she held he

shb

rk curls down to the black knee-length dress she'd found on a clearance rack. It had a modest white collar and sleeves, looking more like a un

ob as an accountant at a PR firm, thanks to Kelly's family connections. It wasn't the million-dollar job offer Kelly wa

smoothing her purple graduation gown, slipping her feet into her s

shouted back from the bathroom.

t architectects, a girl born into silk who drove a red Rolls Royce, yet s

el

min

take a few pictures before we go in." They snapped

swered with a grin, expectin

e you guys in

le

om

ar the house." Her mother, Irene, sound

on't understand. What's

's gone. He left me all alone w

yla's hand, clattering onto the pavement as her

Pr

jerked Layla back to the col

er:

Hospital.

family from her father's gambling debts, debts that had stripped her mother's secret savings and left them drowning, she hadn't actually read the documents word-for-word. Sh

train and hurried toward the kitchen, follo

oice hissed from behind the door.

ne up," another whispered. "H

work this instant!"

eel and appliances she only saw in movies and in Kelly's house. Three women

d, bowing her head quick

, her voice small. "

the room. The staff exchanged a look that mad

f her identity. "Being a 'Mrs.' to that man is,. Layla i

replied, though her t

direction of my room and do y

ready moved your bags to yo

e redhead had disappeared. Instead, Linda led her past the stairs, down

e and white, like a high-end gallery. A massive bed sat

tor," Linda said, pointing to a landline on the nightsta

, Linda. T

d skin. She stepped out of it and headed for the bathroom. She stripped and stepped into the shower, letting the sca

her eyes landed on her burgundy travel bag. She r

r her as she flipped open the cover. The bold, black

E & SETTLEMENT AGREE