Chapter 19 Sarah stood outside the gates of Allison's estate , ramrod straight despite the bundle of thorned branches digging into her back . Sharp ends had torn through her skin , soaking her white dress with streaks of blood . Her face was a mess - one eye swollen shut , cheeks puffy and raw . Both hands trembled as she raised them over her head , desperate to be seen Then , she dropped to the ground - forehead hitting the pavement hard - as she shouted through cracked lips , over and over , " Allison Winters , please forgive me . I was wrong . I'm garbage . I should've never come between a husband and wife ! " A crowd had already formed . Phones were up . People whispered , filmed , livestreamed . Some laughed . Others just stared . No one stepped in . No one helped . Alexander stepped out of his car and walked over . He looked at her with pure disgust , then kicked her sharply in the side . " That's it ? That's all the sincerity you've got ? " Sarah flinched and shrank back , then started slamming her head against the pavement faster . Her voice cracked as she shouted , " Allison , please , forgive him ! It wasn't his fault - it was me . I'm the one who seduced him . I ruined your marriage . I insulted you . I deserve to die ! " Her voice gave out , throat raw and bloody- Inside the house , Allison didn't even glance at the scene . She simply ordered security to remove them . When that didn't work , she called the police . Before the cops arrived , Alexander dragged Sarah into the car himself . He was seething . Clearly , her little performance hadn't been pathetic enough . " If she didn't forgive me , " he muttered , " you didn't suffer enough . Sarah's voice trembled . I did everything you asked . Can't you just let me go now ? I swear , I know I was wrong . " " I told you , " he said flatly , " you don't stop until Allison forgives me . And clearly , you didn't try hard enough . " His eyes gleamed with something off - twisted .. Sarah went pale . " You're insane , " she whispered . " You're a fucking lunatic . Let me go . Let me go ! " " Shut up . " He slapped her so hard her head snapped sideways , blood triclding from the corner of her mouth . " You'll rot in hell for this ! " she screamed , losing control . " Allison hates you . She'll never forgive you . " " You don't deserve love ! She was right to leave you for someone else ! " " Shut your mouth ! " Alexander roared . He lunged again , grabbing her throat . You don't get to talk about her . She's mine . She'll always be mine . She won't marry anyone else ! " Sarah clawed at his arms as he squeezed . Her lungs burned . Her nails lett bloody trails down his skin . But she couldn't break free . Her strength faded her arms dropped limp . He kept squeezing " Shut up , " he kept muttering , tighter and tighter . " You ruined everything . You ruined us . " Eventually , his grip loosened . Her body slumped to the floor , crumpling like a broken doll . Alexander stared for a long moment Then , without a hint of panic , he checked for a pulse . Nothing . Dead . Still unfazed , he dragged her to the trunk of his car and drove her body back to the Rockwood estate straight into the basement . For the next few days , he acted like nothing happened . He continued sending Allison lavish gifts , as if she hadn't made it clear she never wanted to see him again . He handled company business as if he weren't unraveling , More and more partners pulled out . Clients threatened lawsuits . He had to renegotiate contracts , slashing profits just to stay afloat . But Alexander clung to the fantasy . Once this storm passed , he told himself , things will go back to normal Allison had no intention of letting that happen . She'd had enough . She released a full exposé Everything . She leaked proof of Rockwood Holdings ' financial fraud , evidence that both Cornelius and his wife had longtime extramarital affairs they funneled company money into . She dropped records of Alexander's faked death , his time living it up overseas with Sarah , and his illegal return to the States . The internet exploded . Scandal after scandal tanked Rockwood's stock , sending it into a free fall . By the time the markets closed , Allison had already scooped up enough shares to overtake Alexander's position as majority stakeholder . And when she marched into Rockwood headquarters the next day - surrounded by lawyers , reporters , and her executive team- Alexander was in his office , losing his mind . Cluster 19