Chapter Five
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Only a month later, Sarah’s dad, John Jenkins, got busted for tax evasion, using cheap materials to build homes, and bribing officials.
I was shocked.
Sarah, the queen bee, was now just a mess on TV.
Her assets were frozen, and she couldn’t even go home.
Her dad was going to prison for a very long time.
And all those people who bought houses with
their life savings? They got ripped off.
“That’s awful,” I said. “No conscience.”
Tony, who was sitting next to me, pouted. “Hey,
I have a conscience!”
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I laughed.
Tony believed in making the best products.
His company did great because he gave the
customer what they wanted.
“I had a phone call” I said.
I picked up, and it was Tom.
“You see the news? Ashley, I was the one who
reported him.”
I frowned. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Just wanted you to know.”
He sounded weak. “Ashley, can I see you?”
I said, “I thought you knew I wanted to have
nothing to do with you…”
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<
བT“དU
ང་་ VVILI
924
He coughed. “I went to the doctor the other day. Stage four lung cancer. Can you see me?”
My head swam.
I was silent for a long time, then whispered,
“Bring your medical records to my hospital. I’ll meet you there.”
That afternoon, Tom walked into my office.
He’d lost a lot of weight.
He put his records on my desk.
I looked them over, my brow furrowed. “You
need to get admitted right away. Do what the doctors tell you.”
I helped him fill out the forms.
Once he was settled, Tom, tears in his eyes,
said, “Ashley, I knew you’d help me. You still
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care, don’t you?”
924
“I know I was wrong before. I made a mistake. I
wasn’t good enough for you. Now I know I don’t regret us being together in a past life.”
“Ashley, I messed up. Can you forgive me? Can we get back together?
“We can have kids. You always wanted kids.”
I frowned.
“Tom, you need to understand: we broke up
when we got our second chance.”
“I have a new family now. You can’t say things
like that.”
Tom shook his head.
“You still love me. I know it. Why else would you
help me? You’re just mad. Can’t you get over
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it? I said I was sorry!”
I laughed, a cold, empty sound.
924
“Because we were together for a long time.
That’s why I’m helping you. If you’re getting the
wrong idea, I’m sorry. You can call your parents.
“And I want you to know: being with you was
the biggest mistake of my life. I’m glad that we
did not have any children. You don’t need to be
a part of my life!”
Tom froze, his face twisted in pain.
I just turned and left.
Tom shouted after me, “All men are the same!
You think Tony Stark really loves you? What
does a billionaire see in you, a nobody?”
“Wake up! You’ll never be happy with him! I’m
the one for you!”
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I walked faster.
He was still the same.
Always hating on those doing better.
Always wanting to drag people down with him.
He was never satisfied.
