ON MY WEDDING NIGHT OUR CAR WAS H:IT BY A TRUCK. MY HUSBAND D:IED INSTANTLY. I SURVIVED… BARELY. A WEEK LATER, THE TRUCK DRIVER CAUGHT. BUT WHEN HE FINALLY SPOKE MY BLO:OD RAN COLD. HE WASN’T JUST A DRIVER…

My throat burned. “What?”

She leaned closer, her perfume making me sick. “Daniel should never have married you. A charity case with pretty eyes.”

Behind her stood Daniel’s older brother, Victor, hands in his pockets, expression flat. “Mother, don’t upset the widow. She might fall apart.”

Widow.

The word cut deeper than the broken ribs.

I tried to sit up, but pain tore through me. Evelyn smiled.

“You’ll sign the estate papers when you’re stronger,” she said. “Daniel’s trust, his shares, the house. We’ll take care of everything.”

“Daniel left everything to me,” I whispered.

Victor laughed. “You were married for six hours.”

“Long enough.”

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