Rose chuckled, a cold, humorless sound. "Married? Please. Everyone knows this is just a business transaction. You're nothing more than a placeholder, darling. He doesn't even look at you the way he looks at me."
Leah took a step forward, her voice rising. "And yet here you are, clinging to someone who's already married. Pathetic, isn't it?"
The smirk slipped from Rose's face, replaced by a glare. "You don't know anything about us," she hissed. "You might wear the ring, but I own his heart. Always have, always will."
Leah's composure cracked. "If you're so confident in that, then why weren't you the one he married? Oh, right. Because you're just not good enough."
The air between them crackled with tension, the words cutting deep. Rose opened her mouth to respond, but Jimin finally stepped in, his voice a sharp command.
"Enough!"
Both women turned to him. He looked furious, his hands balled into fists at his sides.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered, glaring at Leah. "You're embarrassing yourself."
Leah's anger flared. "*I'm* embarrassing myself? Maybe if you'd actually act like a husband for once, this wouldn't be happening!"
Jimin's eyes narrowed. "Don't act like you're the victim here. You're nothing but a pawn in your parents' game. You're in this for the money, just like they were."
The accusation stung more than it should have. Leah's hands trembled as she pointed at Rose. "And what about her? Is she part of the deal too?"
Jimin stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. "Stay out of my business, Leah. You don't get to dictate who I see or what I do."
****************************************
A criminal mastermind makes a bold move against a wealthy client to put himself in a position to retire in comfort. He has no idea what he's up against when a young widow, desperate to make ends meet, sets her eyes on earning the bounty set on his head.
***
Newly widowed housewife Melody Scott needs to earn some major cash, fast. When her bright and busy children learn that a priceless ruby bracelet has been stolen and a six-figure reward is being offered, they convince her to try to do what the police, museum security, and the best private investigators have failed to do. Working against them is a notorious thief who has met people from around the world, but who has never once encountered a woman like Melody Scott. When the sweet innocence of the Scott family clashes against criminal forces more dangerous than they ever imagined, Melody is all too aware that a mom's got to do what a mom's got to do to protect her family.
The Widow, Melody Scott is a 2021 Watty Award Winner!
Content Warning: This story does contain depictions of stalking behavior.