Ashlyn sat at her vanity, methodically removing the thick layers of makeup with a cotton pad. Her hands trembled slightly as she wiped away the last traces of foundation. "Miss Knight?" A nurse knocked at the door. "Your step mother would like to know when you will be discharged.""Tell her I'm indisposed." Her voice came out stronger than she expected.As the nurse’s footsteps faded, Ashlyn stared at her reflection. The face looking back at her was identical to Commander Hannah's – every curve, every angle, even the small scar near her left eyebrow."I promise you, Ashlyn," she whispered to the mirror. "I'll make them pay for what they did to you."Her phone buzzed. A message from the family lawyer: "Miss Knight, regarding your mother's shares..."Before she could finish reading, voices drifted up from the garden below her hospital window. She recognized Mrs. White's distinctive tone."Christopher, darling, think about it logically." Mrs. White's voice carried clearly through the ev
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