<b>Chapter </b>92


    “Yeah, so the goal is to never let them catch a break.”


    Chelsea took a sip of water. “First, we force the Newtons to make a public statement. Then, we leak that they’ve actually been divorced for ages.”


    Patricia was adamant: everyone needed to know she’d cut ties with the Newtons long ago. Just the thought of being called Mrs. Newton for even one more day made her skin crawl.


    Rubyy in her hospital bed, phone in hand, scrolling through thetest headlines. As she read, it was like her legs didn’t hurt and her heart wasn’t aching–at least for a little while.


    “Honestly, if she really is dead, good riddance,” Tina said from the chair next to her, peeling an apple.


    Ruby nced at her, then back at her phone. “You mean Patricia? The fire department hasn’t said anything yet. She might still be alive.”


    “With a fire that big–if the Newtons really started it–do you think they’d leave any loose ends?”


    Everyone knew the answer: no way.


    /* <![CDATA[ */


    fpm_start( "true" );


    /* ]]> */


    The Martins had been making life miserable for the Newtonstely. If someone didn’t disappear soon, the Newtons were done for.


    Tina didn’t reply, but she was hoping Patricia was gone for good.


    “I heard the Parsons hired the best criminal defensewyer around. The Newtons are going to be tied up in court for ages. Seriously, don’t get involved right now.” <fn1b91> Original content can be found at F?nd-Novel</fn1b91>


    Ruby set her phone aside and took the apple Tina handed her. “Yeah, yeah, I get it.”


    “Not like I could get involved even if I wanted to, looking like this.”


    It was true–people with issues always wanted to drag everyone else down with them. Patricia was a cripple. She’d hurt Joseph, hurt Ruby–everyone ended up broken.


    If Patricia died before Ruby got her revenge, maybe that was just karma.


    Tina hung around a little.longer, then left for the office to meet Emerson.


    Not long after Tina left, Wendy showed up. She was carrying a fruit basket crammed with all of Ruby’s favorites.


    “I got here earlier, but the nurse said your mom was inside. I didn’t dare go in,” Wendy said as she set down the basket.


    Ruby shot her a look. “Since when are you scared of my mom?”


    Wendy gave a helpless shrug. “I’m a total wimp! I took you out to watch the sunrise and you ended up falling off a mountain. When the rescue team couldn’t find you, I was already thinking about where they’d bury me if your mom decided to kill me.”


    “It wasn’t your fault. My mom wouldn’t kill you over it.”


    <b>11:18 </b>


    Wendy thought, you never really know with your mom.


    Tina wasn’t exactly easy to get along with. If the Jensons didn’t have business going with the Martins, and if her family wasn’t making money from it, Wendy wouldn’t be working so hard to stay on Ruby’s good side. Plus, Tina’s attitude was enough to make anyone ufortable.


    Wendy stayed and chatted until lunchtime, then got ready to head out.


    A delivery guy showed up with an envelope, saying it was for Ruby.


    Wendy handed it over, and Ruby tossed it onto her nightstand. “Who sends you documents while you’re in the hospital?”


    “You’ve only been here two days. How do people even know your room?”


    “It’s from my dad’spany,” Ruby lied smoothly.


    Wendy clearly didn’t buy it, but she didn’t push. She made up an excuse and left.


    As soon as the door closed, Ruby picked up the envelope. She tore it open and slid the papers out. The first thing she saw was a clear photo.


    In it, a man wearing a baseball cap and a face mask had a hand mped over her mouth and nose, dragging her toward the edge of a cliff…