Camilla pulled a thick stack of legal documents from her Birkin bag. She walked over to where Aubree leaned against the wall.
Camilla raised the papers and slapped them directly across Aubree's face.
The sharp edge of the thick paper sliced across Aubree's cheekbone. A thin line of blood welled up on her skin.
The papers scattered onto the floor. Aubree looked down. The top page read Non-Disclosure Agreement. The second page was a criminal confession of aggravated assault.
Dayna sniffled from the bed. "If you sign it, Aubree, I will tell the police not to press charges. I just want peace."
Eli stood with his arms crossed. "This is your only chance to avoid a prison cell."
Aubree stared at the dense paragraphs of legal text. A bitter smile touched her lips.
The clauses stated she would leave the marriage with zero assets, and she was permanently banned from speaking about the Wolfe family to the press.
She lifted her chin. Her voice was raspy but firm. "I will not sign a confession for something I didn't do."
Eleonora let out a dry laugh. She reached into her purse and pulled out a single sheet of paper.
"This is a draft of an academic fraud report," Eleonora said. "It details how your brother, Keagan Pratt, falsified data in his latest Ivy League research paper."
Aubree's pupils dilated. Her breath hitched. Keagan was her only family. His academic career was his entire life.
"If you don't sign," Eleonora threatened, "this goes to the university board tomorrow morning. His career will be over."
Aubree's head snapped toward Eli. "You are a part of this?" she whispered, her voice shaking with horror.
Eli looked away. He stared at the blank wall. "I will do whatever it takes to protect Dayna."
That sentence killed the last beating piece of Aubree's heart. The light completely vanished from her eyes.
She took a deep breath. Her shaking hand reached down and picked up the papers from the floor.
Camilla smirked and held out a heavy Montblanc pen.
Aubree grabbed the pen. Her fingers trembled so violently from the fever and rage that she could barely hold it.
She pressed the nib to the paper. She signed her name at the bottom of the confession and the NDA. She pressed so hard the pen tore through the paper.
Camilla wasn't done. She pulled a small, red ink pad from her pocket and flipped it open.
She grabbed Aubree's right hand. She forced Aubree's thumb down into the wet red ink.
Aubree tried to pull her arm back, but she had no strength left. Camilla's grip was like iron.
Camilla slammed Aubree's ink-stained thumb onto the signature line.
A bright red fingerprint stained the crisp white paper. It looked like blood. It was a brand of ultimate humiliation.
Camilla snatched the papers away and flicked the edge of the pages with her fingernail.
Aubree slid down the wall until she sat on the floor. She stared at the red ink on her thumb.
Suddenly, a low, quiet laugh escaped her throat.
The sound was hollow and terrifying. It echoed in the quiet hospital room. Eli's stomach tightened. A sudden spike of anxiety hit his chest.
Aubree grabbed the metal railing of the bed and pulled herself up. She didn't look at Eli. She didn't look at anyone.
She turned around and pushed the heavy door open. She walked out into the freezing hospital corridor alone.
