The Jilted Heiress' Return To The High Life

The Betrayed Heiress' Return to Elegance 2

Chapter 2 Know Your Place

And Leave

"Yes" Bruce's affirmation struck with devastating finality.

The impact of that single word reverberated through Corrine's chest, each pulse bringing fresh waves of suffocating pain.

His muttered "sorry" trailed behind him as he rushed away, the word falling hollow in the charged air,

Corrine remained rooted in place, watching his retreating figure grow smaller. The pain in her chest intensified, as though someone were methodically carving out her heart with a dull blade.

A numbing chill crept upward from her feet, gradually claiming her entire body.

The memories surfaced unbidden. When Bruce had assumed control of the failing Ashton family business, they'd tectered on the precipice of bankruptcy.

He had confessed his inability to provide her a secure future then, but promised marriage once the company

recovered.

clung to that promise, leveraging her own position and connections to elevate him from obscurity to prominence in the business world, all in hopes of hastening their union and earning her family's

truth emerged with cruel clarity–their three years to had meant nothing more than a

arrangement to him.

of love, she alone had invested

crumbled to

fought to contain them, tears spilled down her cheeks

someone like you-a simple country girl without education or background-if you hadn't forced yourself into his life? Know

ice through Corrine's chest. "The Ashton family's current success exists because of

jabbed an accusatory finger toward her. "You think yourself so important?

the wound in Corrine's heart. This, then, was how the Ashtons viewed her contribution. Bruce's mother, Tracy Ashton, rose with practiced grace, approaching Corrine with poorly concealed revulsion. "Enough of this spectacle,"

the Ashton

to apologize and bid farewell to the departing

in place.

the crowd disperse, her dream