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I jolt upright in bed as my phone rings on the bedside table next to me. Connor grumbles in his sleep, trying to pull me back to him. I reach to the table to see Danielle is calling me and notice that it’s nearly two a.m.
“Danielle? Is everything okay?” My voice is groggy with sleep, my brain still trying to wake up.
“I’m afraid not. I have some news that couldn’t wait.” She sounds unsure as she speaks.
“It’s two in the morning. What is so important that it couldn’t possibly wait a few more hours?” I grumble.
“It’s Andy.” Danielle’s pause has my stomach in my throat. “He was attacked this afternoon, shortly after we left. I just got the call, Hadley. He didn’t make it.”
“What?!” I scream.
Connor flies upright, looking around and trying to figure out what I’m yelling for. I clutch his thigh as tears start to fall down my cheeks.
“What do you mean, he didn’t make it? He was killed? What the fuck happened?”
“They said he was starting shit all day and one of the inmates had enough of it.” She takes a breath, allowing me to take in the information she’s shared. “He was stabbed with a handmade shank.”
I’m trembling, trying to control my breathing so I don’t pass out or vomit.
“He was found in an empty corridor that had no surveillance cameras.” She sighs. “They didn’t find him until an hour after the final count. They said he bled out.”
I feel another scream working its way up my throat.
“The tough part of this is that you aren’t divorced. Since you still have the paperwork because you wanted to show Connor, it hasn’t been filed yet. Hadley, you’re now a widow, so we’re going to have to discuss what that means.”
The scream dissipates in the wave of pure shock. Yesterday was such an amazing day. Why does he get to ruin that? I think I mutter a thanks before disconnecting the call.
“Mo ghrá, whatever you need, say the word. I’m here.” Connor is there, his arms around me, holding me in comfort.
My heart is shattered, but not because of any love for Andy. That’s long gone, but the memories of who he was remain. Knowing the man he once was, and knowing he will never be that man ever again. I really had hoped he would find himself again while he was locked up. I shudder. His poor parents; they won’t survive this.
I bury my face in Connor’s chest, sobs wracking my body. He doesn’t say anything, just holds me. Eventually, we lie back down. He holds me tight, running his fingers through my hair, helping me relax until I end up asleep wrapped around him.
The past week has gone by incredibly fast. I’ve had to meet with so many lawyers, and I’ve been in constant communication with Andy’s parents. They informed me this morning that I needed to be at the reading of his will. Connor has been by my side every step of the way—my rock, never wavering in his endless support—and I’m so thankful for him.
I know it’s been hard for him after what Andy did to both of us. He doesn’t know the full extent of my injuries, but he knows what it caused me to do. I also know Kat and Ryan have been pestering him to keep an eye on me. They’re afraid I’m going to break. I’ve been reaching out to Amy to process my feelings, so I’m taking care of myself. I refuse to let Andy take anything else from me, not even in death.
We’re all sitting in a small conference room: Andy’s parents, the lawyers, Connor, myself, and the executor of his will, Naomi. I shouldn’t be shocked that she’s here. She’s had his child, after all. We are all sitting around a long table in Andy’s lawyer’s office. Naomi attempts to start speaking, but he abruptly interrupts her.
“Mr. and Mrs. James. Hadley,” Mr. Lewis says, looking between the three of us. “I know this is highly inappropriate; however, I can’t sit here and allow this to go on this way.” He pauses, glancing at me with sympathy in his eyes. “If it’s okay with you,Iwould like to be the one to read the will.”
Mr. James says a quiet “yes” while I nod in agreement. Mr. Lewis begins reading while Naomi sniffles from across the table.
I sit in a daze, leaning into Connor. This entire day has been a clusterfuck. Andy left me everything but the house, which he left to Naomi and their child. He left a letter that he had wantedNaomi, of all people, to read to me. Mr. Lewis squashes that so fast, my head nearly spins. The letter includes details of when their affair began and a weak apology to me, only to change his tune in the next words to inform me that I am the worst thing that ever happened to him. That I am and always will be nothing in comparison to Naomi. It continues with more hateful words that even have Naomi cringing in her seat.
As Connor and I stand to leave, Mr. Lewis intercepts us. “May I have a word, Hadley?”
“Sure, but Connor isn’t going anywhere.”
My response surprises him, and he raises a brow at me. “Are you sure you want him here forallof the details?”
“He knows what Andy did, and I’m not hiding anything from him,” I clarify.
Connor wraps an arm around my waist in solidarity, holding me tight against him.
“Okay. I just wanted to let you know, off the record…” He glances around to make sure no one is within earshot. “He did suffer. When I spoke to the warden, they said he didn’t stop breathing until five minutesafterthey found him. The number of wounds couldn’t be determined at first glance.”
A devilish smile crosses his face as he continues.
