That day<b>, </b>the whole Ashford family got hit by a fucking earthquake.
Sophia <b>got </b>kicked out on the spot.
She was bawling her eyes out on the way out, but nobody gave a damn.
Grandfather stripped Jake of everything right there–inheritance rights,pany position, the works and shipped off to some shitty
branch office in ska.
The Pine Ridge fuckup almost cost twenty lives.
Plus being a shit father and cheating on his wife–Jake was done for.
With Ryan running things now, Jake would never crawl back from this.
Before he left, he gave me this long, dead look.
All the anger was gone. Just defeat.
Maybe he finally figured out it wasn’t just my “betrayal” that destroyed him–it was that cold–ass family system and his own
arrogance.
After the drama died down, Grandfather called me into his study.
He looked at me with thisplicated expression.
“You’re way smarter than I thought,” he said quietly.
“Our family fucked you over, I’ll admit that. What do you want? Money? Status? Name it, the Ashfords will make it happen.”
I looked at this powerful old man and shook my head.
“I don’t want anything from you guys.”
I took my son’s hand–he was looking down, wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“I just want the right to see Carson whenever I want. And Carson cane see me whenever he wants.”
“You can’t stop me from seeing my son. That’s all.”
I didn’t ask for custody.
Grandfather would never give it to me anyway.
Ryan couldn’t have kids of his own, so Carson would be raised as the only heir.
He’d have a better future with the Ashfords.
Grandfather thought about it for a long time, his expression getting more and more conflicted.
“You’re a good woman<b>, </b>ra<b>. </b>Carson’s lucky to have a mom like you.”
<b>13:19 </b>
<b>Hell </b>Yeah<b>, </b>Forget the Other Woman, <b>My </b>Smart <b>House </b>Was Cheating On <b>Me</b><b>! </b>
<b>13.4</b><b>% </b>
Chapter <b>10 </b>
“I agree. You can see Carson anytime.”
Outside the study, Ryan was waiting.
He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, smirking at me.
“So that’s it? You’re just walking away?”
I looked at him sideways.
“Hell no. Just ‘cause I don’t want the old man’s money doesn’t mean <b>I </b>don’t want yours.”
“You helped me take down Jake, plus all that other stuff… now you got the inheritance and everything. Asking for a million bucks isn’t
too much, right?”
“And you’re gonna invest in my hometown too. We need better roads!”
Ryan’s face fell.
“You never said anything about investing! That wasn’t part of the deal!”
“Well, if I told you our area’s got way better resources than Pine Ridge…”
“What?! Are you serious? Okay, fine! Let’s talk business first<b>…</b>”
Before I left that day, Carson came to say goodbye.
But he hid behind a big tree, just peeking his little head out.
Still looking at me with suspicion and fear.
But also… maybe a little curiosity?
I turned toward where my son was hiding and opened my arms.
“Carson, can I get a hug before I go?”
For the longest time, nothing. Just this scared little kid peeking out from behind a tree.
Then, real slow, he took a step toward me. Then another,
When he finally ran into my arms, I held him like I’d never let go.
When I finally walked out those heavy front doors, the sun hit me just right.
Felt warm and good, like it was washing away all the bullshit.
Few yearster, my son was drinking soup I’d been cooking for four hours, talking nonstop about the girl next door.
I couldn’t stop grinning, kept piling more food on his te.
“Mom<b>, </b><b>call </b>Grandpa and tell him I’m not going back today,”
Carson ran to the bedroom<b>, </b>tried to hide under the nkets.
“Nope.” My voice was firm. “You’ve been here all summer. School starts tomorrow–you gotta go back.”
<b>13:19 </b>
<b>Hell </b>Yeah, Forget the Other Woman. My Smart House Was <b>Cheating </b><b>On </b>Me!
13.69<b>% </b>
Carson pouted, giving me those puppy dog eyes just like when he was little.
“But Mom, the roads are all fixed now! <b>It’s </b>super easy to get around. You could drive me to school.”
I pulled out his packed suitcase.
“Next week I’lle stay at the main house with you for a few days, okay? I got too much work here in town.”
“What do you want me to cook for you? I’ll make it and bring it over.”
Walking Carson to the edge of town, all the locals waved and said hi.
“Hey ra, Carson’s heading back? Look at him, not crying this time–he’s growing up!”
“ra, the irrigation project on the east side is done. Check it out when you get a chance…”
“ra, we might have budget for upgrading the power lines. I texted you the details…”
“Damn, Carson gets more handsome every time I see him. Kid’s gonna be tall!”
All this friendly chatter while Carson got in the car.
He handed me a little ss jar with a firefly in it, looking all sad.
“Mom, I caught this one special for you. Took me forever.”
“And I want you toe see me soon! I want pancakes<b>, </b>curry shrimp, beef skewers<b>…</b><b>” </b>
Iughed and promised, then snuck in a kiss on his cheek.
Gotta get my kisses in now.
Once this kid hits his teens, he won’t <b>let </b>me touch him!