Chapter 9 When it became clear I wouldn't back down , panic finally broke through their entitled facades . They turned on Ashley like wolves . " This is all your fault ! You spread lies without even checking the facts ! " " You're the real homewrecker ! Now we're all going down because of you ! " " Had the nerve to parade around as Mrs. Walker . Pathetic ! " " We're in this mess because we tried sucking up to you ! You should pay every cent ! " " Don't even think about asking us to help with that $ 940 million . That's your problem ! " Ashley finally snapped , her designer mask cracking completely . " You hypocritical vultures ! " " Don't act innocent . You were all desperate to please someone with power . You pushed me to make a scene ! " " When you thought I was Mrs. Walker , you were practically kissing my feet . Now look at you - running like rats from a sinking ship ! " " You were born to be bootlickers . And you're going down with me ! " The argument might have turned violent if the officers hadn't intervened . When things calmed down , the excuses started flowing . Everyone claimed innocence . It was always someone else who broke things , someone else who threw punches . Then the officers played the school's security footage . Crystal clear video of their mob mentality in action . That shut them up fast . The consequences came down hard and precise . Each person would pay according to their participation . Some called their husbands in tears , scrambling to liquidate assets and empty retirement accounts to stay out of jail . They left broken but free . Others found their marriages couldn't survive the scandal . Their husbands sent divorce papers instead of help . Those who couldn't pay faced arrest . Ashley bore the heaviest burden . She'd caused the most damage , encouraged the most violence . Chapter 9 Her share of the debt was crushing . In desperation , she turned to fack . " Please , Jack ! Help me , for Tyler's sake ! I could never pay this off in ten lifetimes ! " " What happens to our son if I go to prison ? " Tears streaked her expensive makeup as she begged . Jack hesitated , then tried appealing to me . " Iloney , maybe we could be lenient ? For old times ' sake ? " I met his eyes with glacial contempt . " Seriously ? You think you have any right to ask me for mercy ? " " The thought of our years together makes me sick now . Every moment was a lie . " " The divorce papers are ready . We're done . " I turned to the officer . " Add charges for Ashley encouraging her son to torture my daughter . Don't forget the wire incident . " " Yes , ma'am . " I walked out without another glance . The aftermath was swift . Ashley and the others who couldn't pay went to prison . The teacher was fired and faced criminal charges . Oak Lane Academy was shut down pending a complete overhaul . Jack , true to the prenup , walked away with nothing . A month into her sentence , Ashley got into a fatal confrontation with the same parents who'd once worshipped her . They found her in the prison bathroom . The official cause was drowning . Those parents got life sentences . Emma and I adjusted to our new life as a family of two . Different , but peaceful . Then came that day in Central Park . I spotted Jack first - unshaven , wearing filthy designer remnants , lurking behind a tree . His eyes blazed with madness when he saw us . " You bitch ! Found you at last ! " He charged , switchblade glinting . I pulled Emma behind me . " Jack . What do you think you're doing ? " " What am I doing ? " He laughed manically . " You destroyed me ! From CEO to dumpster diving ! My son died on the streets while I watched , helpless ! " " I only married you for money - so what ? Every man would do the same ! Why shouldn't I find real love once I had it - Ornnane " -Come Now ! 10.6 % Chapter 9 all ? " " What right did you have to take everything from me ? " I shook my head sadly . " Jack, stop this . You're still young . Put the knife down and rebuild your life . " " Rebuild ? REBUILD ? " He lunged , blade raised . " I'll rebuild after you're dead ! Your money will be mine again ! " " DIE ! " The knife never reached us . My security detail , hidden but always watching , took him down hard . I'd known from the moment I discovered his true nature that he'd try something like this . Men like Jack don't accept defeat gracefully . That's why I'd arranged 24/7 protection for Emma and me . Today proved its worth . " Take him to the police . Attempted murder charges . " Back home , I stood before Mom's photo , heart heavy . " Oh Mom , why did you let Dad's betrayal destroy you ? " " I know it hurts . But there are always people who need you to stay strong . " I watched Emma doing her homework on the couch , so resilient despite everything . We don't need men to complete us . We can build our own happiness , forge our own path . [ The End ]