The employees Mia had shorted on pay and run into the ground with overtime were all in tears, clapping as hard as their hands would go. The applause rolled toward the bench like a breaking wave and wouldn't die down. The judge cracked his gavel again and again to pull the room back to order.
Mia collapsed completely into her chair.
All the fight had drained out of her. She didn't struggle or scream anymore. She simply stared blankly at the ceiling, her lips moving soundlessly.
"It's over. It's all over."
Her voice was so faint, it barely sounded human, like a whisper rising from somewhere deep underground.
Ryan sneered beside her, twisting the knife one last time.
"Serves you right, you damn jinx. You've ruined everything for me."
It was as if Mia hadn't heard him at all. She didn't
