I had simply stopped holding him up, turned the lights on, and let everyone see the shape of what he had actually built.

The empire, it turned out, had always been mine.

I was only taking it back.

Chapter 15 — Ashworth Capital

Eight months went by in a blur of quiet mornings and long working days.

I was at the desk in my new office at Ashworth Capital, reviewing quarterly projections, when the legal notification appeared on my screen.

The court had entered a final divorce decree by default, on account of the defendant’s incarceration.

Full physical and legal custody of my daughter, Blythe Ashworth, was granted to me alone.