we're

t my ear, my knuckles white. Outside the window of the small motel room

t, the voice that had charmed me for a lifetime. "Sarah, stop this. I k

voice steady. "I'm not at the apartment. I

a familiar edge of irritation creeping in. "Don'

th, the air tasting like freed

ap bedspread and stared at my reflection in the dark window. The face looking back was pale, thin, with dar

t my first time li

ily, was dead. He died in a tragic car accident just two days before. The grief

etter in his hand. "Sarah," he' d said, his voice gentle bu

draining away. My brother was gone, and my dream was gone

took the prototype of the cutting-edge tech my genius brother had invented, the project that was suppo

this is a lot," he' d said, his eyes full of what I mistook for

he strength to form, he proposed. And I, broken and alone

performance. Every time I tried to get back on my feet, to restart my tech career, to find a piece of myself ag

pregnant

austed, overworked, and hollowed out by a stress that had no name. A ghost myself, I watched

ge and children you wanted. It's a fair trade. Repayment

week later, he married Emily White. Emily, who had blossomed into a successful tech entrepreneur. Emily, who had used my

action. My life, my dreams, my brother's legacy, all traded

ill clinging to my soul. I'd learned my lesson. Mark Johnson, I didn't want him. Not h

I would s

. Mark's name flashed on the screen. I ignored it. It buzzed again, and again. Finally

re in there! Open t

e of a man who wasn't getting his way. I stood frozen for a second, my heart

hed it

the deadbolt. I opened the door just enough for the chain to catch. Mar

he demanded, trying to push the

said, my voice c

We're engaged. We've been together since we were kids. You d

laughed back at him. "M

t was the look he used when he was about to manipulate me. "I know, my love. And I am so sorry. That's why you need

n now, his first thought was for Emily White. In my

ut Emily," I said

through more than any of us. She needs our support. She needs that invention of Davi

my brother' s work. The same lie that buil

artled even me. "It's not what David wanted. He wanted

ut our plans, about the company we would build togethe

ked by my defiance. "You're not t

life," I retorted. "And speaking of things I should

panic in his eyes

ing. I didn't, but he didn't know that. "The one where you admitted you told me I didn't ge

mething incriminating if he thought I was too hysterical to notice. Hi

t's ridiculous

ng attention? Now get away from my door, or I'll call the police and play them a very in

replaced by a cold assessment. He was seeing me not as his grieving, pliable

ight. "Have it your way. But this is

he door until he was out of sight. My legs felt weak, and I leaned back again

it was a start. I had draw

through my contacts, past Mark's name, until I found the one I was looking for.

s everything alright? I heard about your

ke me cry. "Professor Lee," I said, my voi

without hesitation. "You

ing around the cheap motel room. "

. This time, I would b