Chapter 1  Her husband’s stepsister locked her child in the car for an hour during scorching weather and forbade police from breaking the windows to rescue him.  Ashley Campbell rushed…

  7 Chapter 7  The court descended into chaos. (1  My mother’s body went rigid for a split second before she hugged her back.  Zahra fought and screamed, but they…

    6 Chapter 6  My father stood up, pointing at Zahra with a pained expression. “We treated you like our  own daughter, and you did this to Layla behind…

  5 Chapter 5  The fatal crash happened on Thanksgiving weekend. (1  At first, my mother would still try to reason with me. “Be a good girl, Layla. We’re helping …

4 Chapter 4  4 Chapter 4  Getting back to the United States was a harrowing ordeal. Soon after, the harassing  phone calls started. It was Omar. He had found my…

Chapter 3  “Not bad, not bad,” he said with a grin, showing off his tobacco-stained teeth. “Layla’s all grown up. She looks strong. She’ll definitely give me a son.”  The…

Chapter 25  Two years later, at the employee recognition ceremony, a small celebratory dinner was held in an unused section of the  factory to honor Evelyn.  The moment people heard…

Chapter 24  Leonard stood pinned against the rough brick wall, swallowed by the crowd.  The screaming, the curses-sharp as needles dipped in poison-lashed across his face, his chest, his soul. …

Chapter 23  Leonard had been held in the factory’s security office for three full days.  By the time he was released, the late afternoon sun was glaring overhead. He squinted…

  Chapter 22  “You think you can just walk away from me?” Leonard completely lost control, veins bulging across his forearm. “Evelyn, you’re coming home with me! Whatever it is-we’ll…