Page 78 of Malicious Wedding

Ash, my angel, I know you’re hurting, but this ring is still yours. Just like I am still yours. Carson.

“What’s all that?”

I yelp, jumping. Bern’s standing in the hallway, looking tired. “Shit. You scared me.”

“Oh sorry, I guess you forgot you’re inmyhouse. What’s with the bag? Are those bagels?”

“Carson brought them.”

She pauses mid-step. “You talked to him?”

“No, he just dropped that off at the door. You should throw it all away.”

“I mean, he went to all that trouble.” She plucks out an everything bagel. “Oh, and there’s cream cheese.”

“He also returned my engagement ring.” I hold it up in one hand.

She stares as she cuts her bagel. “That thing is worth, like, millions, right?”

“Probably. I don’t actually know.” But it feels heavy in my palm. Like no matter what it costs, it’s way too heavy for me to keep carrying.

“Get it appraised then sell it.” She shrugs, tossing her bagel into the toaster. “Or wear it. That shit blings.”

“No,” I say quietly before walking to her front window. I unlatch it, yank it up, and slide up the screen.

“What are you doing?” she calls out.

I stare down at the street. I don’t see Carson or his car, but I know he must be nearby. “I don’t want this,” I yell outside. “Keep your bribe!”

I throw the ring as hard as I can into the street.

For a moment, I bask in the silence, until I hear the ping of metal on concrete as the priceless ring bounces away.

I’m done with Carson. I don’t care what he says or what he does—when the Polish threat is neutralized, I’m going to divorce him.

I don’t want his money. I don’t need anything from him.

Only my freedom.

“I’ll take the bribe, bitch!” someone shouts from nearby.

I grimace and slam the window shut.

Bernie stands behind me, shaking her head. “You should’ve sold it. Imagine what we could’ve done to Smoke with that cash.”

“That felt better though.” I brush my hands together. “Now, what’s for breakfast?”

Chapter34

Ash

Carson’s guys still show up at Smoke. They don’t come inside, opting to keep a respectful distance instead, but their presence is obvious. I’d be annoyed, but we still need them, even though I wish I could cut all signs of Carson out of my life.

“Bernie told me,” Keely says, wrapping her arms around me. “My god. It’s always the hot ones, isn’t it? Like, they’re so good looking, they need to do increasingly fucked-up shit to feel anything, right?”

“I’m not sure that’s the case here,” I say but Keely’s shaking her head.

“No, Ash, you need to be strong. Listen, why don’t you give me his number. Maybe I can—”

---