"Thank you."
He still doesn't look at me, taking my other hand and dropping the heavy diamond. "Here."
He stands, backing away again, but I lunge toward him, wrapping my arms around his waist. "I'm sorry, Miller. I didn't mean to hurt you. It was about protecting you."
His hand goes to my hair, and I almost cry in relief when his lips touch my head. "You haven't been paying attention, Ashlyn. It's my job to protect you. None of this would have happened if you'd have trusted me to care for you. Today, you chose his control over your past to make your decision. He took you back to that place. If I was truly on your mind, you'd have trusted me."
With that, he steps out of my grip and leaves me with an ache so painful I wonder if my heart has splintered apart.
"Do you hate me?" my voice cracks.
The answer is the soft close of the door.
The impact of what he said sinks inside, and I wail out, curling into myself.
•—•—•—•—•
I wake alone on the couch, completely spent and weak from crying. Miller still isn't home. There's no telling where he is, but my heartbroken mood sets back in.
I'm such an idiot. He's right, I should have called him and relied on our strength together to deal with Brock.
This is no time to feel sorry for myself. It's time to get this disaster under control and get my life back on track. Brock Donner controlled my life once; he's not getting a second chance. I stand, my stomach cramping with emptiness, but the thought of food makes me queasy.
Get it together, Ashlyn. You've been through worse than this. Even as I think it, I know it's a lie. Nothing could be worse than losing Miller and letting Brock get his way. Neither of those things can happen. I get some water and almost choke mid-sip when I spot my key fob on the counter. My eyes fly to the back, and my car is parked in front of the garage.
Is it possible Miller came home and I slept through it? I drop the glass and run to the bedroom with the tiniest hope he's sleeping. The hope dies when I see the bed is made the way I left it yesterday morning. Looking around, everything is exactly as we left it.
Someone came with him to drop it off. My guess is he called Pierce, which means he and Darby probably know about my betrayal. More pain slashes through me at the inevitable possibility of disappointing more people.
I go to the bathroom, stripping and getting into the shower. The cold spray of the water shocks me fully awake, and my brain kicks into gear. As the water heats, a plan formulates in my mind, coming together easily. Every time I try to use my left hand, the sting of my finger reminds me of the weak woman Brock thinks he can manipulate.
By the time I've dried off, the old Ashlyn is back in place, this time with a new purpose. I dress quickly, doing the best I can with my hair and makeup, and go to find my phone.
Miller's voicemail answers on the first ring. "I'm sorry, Miller. I am so sorry. You have every right to be angry at me. It's selfish to ask you to understand, but the thought of you, my family, your family suffering because of me was inconceivable. It's a lame excuse, and I know the stupidity in cutting you out. I love you. Please call me."
My chest aches at his blow-off, but I bury it for another time. The next call is going to slash just as deep.
"Took you fucking twelve hours to come to your senses and call me?" Stephanie spouts bitterly. "You are lucky Todd has learned the art of rationalizing, or I'd have driven my ass down there and bitch-slapped your other cheek."
"He called you?" My knees give out, and I curl into Miller's favorite chair. The familiar scent of him settles around me.
"Of course he called me. He saw you in trouble and had enough intelligence to reach out for help. Something you seem to be incapable of."
"Ouch."
"If you're looking for sympathy, hang up and call me later. Right now, I want to know how the fuck you let that jackass storm in and bully you once again?"
"He threatened my family. It wasn't a run-of-the-mill threat either. There was determination and purpose. He knew where to go after me."
"Ashlyn, this will hurt, but it's time for some tough love. Did you think you'd walk away from a firm like Redmond and a man like Brock with no blowback? You're smarter than that. Assholes like him thrive on power. Regardless of his position when you first started, he saw a chance to build you as his weapon. In his mind, he made you who you are, and there's no escaping him. He probably has a full file on your life for the last few months. Egomaniacs rarely let their guard down."
"I was irresponsible to think it was all behind me." All the strength from a few minutes ago drains.
"No, it was irresponsible to keep it all in a vault and not share so those of us who care about you could have been watching what was happening."
"Stephanie," my voice cracks, "I swear to you, if I come out of this standing, you can whip me all you like. But I'm hanging on by a thread. I was stupid."
There's a rustling on her end, and Todd's voice is muffled, sounding equally pissed as hers. "Maybe you were stupid, but I'd like to think of it as wishful."
"I have to go to Chicago. As much as I hate it, Brock has won."
"Hell yes, you are going to Chicago! But that ass will not win. When does he expect you?"
"He wanted me to return with him today."
"Pretentious bastard."
"I know and figured I'd go after Christmas."
"That's too long. Can
