." She feigned an apology to me, her voice dripping with false sincerity. "I'm sor

protective embrace. He turned to me,

ing. His eyes were cold, devoid of any warmth I had o

mb, too broken to feel fear. I ju

in an instant. He made a c

fective immediately." He paused, listening. "I don't care

er call, this one to the presi

like ice. "No firm in this city is to hire her. If t

"You're done, Clara. For the next five years, you

exile. I was at the peak of my career, the height of my creat

heer vindictiveness of it, chilled me to the bone. Did our years together me

ation felt lik

my things. The space felt hollow and empty, my personal tou

omising we' d fill the rooms with a lifetime of happiness. He was so gentle t

. Everythin

ed over me. The room spun, and a sharp pain shot through

ngers fumbling as I dialed Kason's number. It was a reflex, a

. "What do you want, Clara?" H

I managed to whisper before a

Don't bother me

hun

ed, and my knees buckled. I collapsed onto the col

to, the pain had subsided to a dull ache. I w

emergency room, a do

Ms. Spears. About

, a cruel twist in an already tragic story. My first thought was

sed some complications. If you terminate this pregnancy

in a daze in the hospital corridor

Look what w

l. She was smirking, her

lk to you, Hazel,"

the good news. Don't think for a second that a baby will make

ter sound. "You can hav

y arm away

, and collapsed onto the floor with

appeared at the end of the hall. He saw Ha

hard. "What is wrong with you,

e hard floor. A sharp, searing pain shot throug

rying. "It was my fault, Kason. I shou

r fake tears. He looked down at me on the

t five-year ban t

nto his arms and s

the blood. A small, dark stain was spr

saw a flicker of co

pain making it hard to b

t, interrupting me. "She's just trying to

walked away, carrying the woman who had destroyed