At my mother’s funeral, my husband’s mistress slapped me and announced she was carrying his child. He stood beside her and ordered me to leave. Then the funeral director handed me a sealed letter my mother had written about that woman.

Ryan froze, his hands still suspended in the air inches away from my neck.

Ashley realized their entire scheme had collapsed, and panic finally overtook her calculated demeanor.

She grabbed a heavy glass vase from the table and smashed it aggressively against the wall.

Using the jagged edge of the broken glass, she grabbed Ryan from behind and held the weapon to his throat.

"Back off, or I will kill him right here!" Ashley shrieked at the federal agents.

The FBI agents lowered their weapons slightly, unsure of how to handle the sudden hostage situation.

Ryan whimpered in terror as a thin line of blood appeared on his neck.

"Ashley, what are you doing?" Ryan cried out. "We are family!"

Ashley laughed maniacally, her grip tightening around her own brother's neck.

"There is no family when millions of dollars are on the line, you pathetic fool," she spat.

She dragged Ryan toward the open balcony doors, clearly planning to use the emergency fire escape.

"Let him go, Ashley, there are agents surrounding the entire building," Elias warned her calmly.

I stood perfectly still, watching the two monsters who had ruined my life turn on each other like wild animals.

As they reached the edge of the balcony, a strong gust of wind swept across the penthouse.

Ryan took advantage of the distraction and violently drove his elbow into Ashley's ribs.

Ashley gasped in pain and dropped the broken glass, stumbling backward against the balcony railing.

Ryan did not try to run back into the room to surrender to the authorities.

Instead, he grabbed Ashley by the shoulders and tried to shove her over the edge to save himself.

The agents rushed forward and tackled Ryan to the ground before he could commit another murder.

They slammed him onto the marble floor and locked heavy steel handcuffs tightly around his wrists.

Ashley was pulled away from the railing, screaming obscenities as the agents secured her arms behind her back.

When my newborn 'passed away,' my mother-in-law leaned in and said

My Husband Left Me Alone in My Car While I Was in Labor

“You’re Dead When We Get Home,” He Snapped

I looked down at my husband as he was dragged away in complete disgrace.

"You can keep the mistress, Ryan," I said quietly. "I am keeping my mother's money."

Chapter 8 - The Desperate Hostage