Page 57 of Every Chance After

My shoulders slump. It’s a point I cannot argue. Even so, Ashe gets to go on with his perfect life while Cora writes the narrative for mine. This is what loving her son cost me?

“I’m being generous here.” She pushes the envelope and the business card to the very edge of the table.

Many things happen at once: my hackles rising, my hands fisting under my thighs, her belittlement stinging, and the full reality of my situation setting in. My anger kickstarts my brain into a tornado frenzy, whipped up by her condescension and kept quiet only by my keen survivalist instincts.

I have been reduced to whatever’s in that envelope.

Amid the intense stare-down between us, I tally upThe Things Marnie Lost in the Accident.

A car.

A wedding.

A uterus.

Ashe.

My career at Sunny’s.

My work family.

My almost-family.

My love and respect for the Sullivans.

But I haven’t lostme.

If anything, my identity solidifies through this series of unfair events. In my anger, a brilliant vision of the future forms. Me, taking my non-degreed self somewhere else, becoming a tremendous success, and making them regret this day. Somehow.

It’s a pipe dream, a fantasy. But it’s what I need to believe in now.

I decidethisis my defining moment. Not the accident. Not becoming barren. Not losing Ashe. Not getting fired. Butthis.This beautiful clarity and confidence she’s inspired. Me taking back control of my life rather than being someone else’s puppet or plaything orbreeder.

They won’t see me break. Idon’tbreak. I bend. I have built my life from nothing. I’ll rebuild it even stronger. They have not seen the last of me.

A survivalist never refuses a check. But I won’t give her the satisfaction of seeing me open it. No matter how much it is, it’s not enough.

Taking the check means agreeing to keep my silence—I know that, too.

“I have one condition,” I say. “Promise me, no lawsuits against Grady.”

She guffaws. “Why not? Do you realize how much he’s cost us? What he’s costyou? He’s ruined your life.”

“No, he saved me from aweakhusband and afakefamily that couldneverlove me the way I deserve—unconditionally,” I bite back. “Iowehim. Promise me no lawsuits against Grady Tripp, or I’ll take this severance to the nearest lawyer as a retainer and file one against you, your family, and Sunny’s for wrongful termination and discrimination.”

Her eyes narrow, and her lips press together, sizing me up as if wondering if I could pull off such an enterprise. I almost hope she challenges me so I can prove it to her.

Her hands rise submissively. “Fine. From that perspective, I suppose he saved Ashe, too—half his assets. You two never would’ve lasted.”

“It’s time for you to leave.” I hobble to the door and hold it open for her. Smiling, always smiling. Steaming on the inside, though. I slam and lock the door behind her.

Deep breaths calm me as I mourn my decade-long career coming to such an unexpected end. I have lived and breathed Sunny’s for so long that I never would’ve imagined this outcome, that it could all be destroyed to rubble overmypersonal trauma.Mybody and what it can and can’t do. My love and worth shattered over this. An accident. An absence. A future never guaranteed anyway.

But here I am. Once again. Family gone. Abandoned.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

Grady

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