When the massive chandelier fell, my husband ignored our daughter’s screams to protect his ex’s child. I shielded her with my own back. After the dust cleared, my daughter wiped my tears and whispered, “Mommy, let’s leave daddy behind.” When my husband finally turned to look at us…

soul. It was an haute couture gown from my Phoenix collection—a breathtaking mosaic of thousands of tiny, jagged rubies, meticulously pieced together to form a flame totem. It burned vividly from the hemline up to my chest, giving the illusion of a mythical bird rising from the ashes. My right arm, once violently broken, bore a faint, jagged scar. continue reading …