embered from my firs

e, his face twisted with a hatred so pure it was almost beautifu

ve him the

ing the framed photograph on the mantelpiece. It was a picture of Ashley Greene, the woman he chose over me

g that echoed in my ears before th

I wo

n a plush armchair, the heavy satin of a wedding dress clinging to my

and steady. I Flexed my fingers. No pain.

e, Sarah Miller, on my wedding day. Twenty-six years old, a brilliant software e

like a building collapsing. The torment, the humiliation, the re

egan to erase me. He' d lock me in our home for days, telling the world I was unstable. He systematically dismantled my family' s business, driving my parents

it when I refused to make the intern

pulled me from the horr

ady? The car is wa

ned was a snake. She had been feeding Ashley information for months

miled at her, full of bri

face remained

ute, Emily," I said, m

? You sound..

ied, cutting the c

ing expanse of lights. Down below, across the street, was the entrance to the

en I s

ey G

iberate choice. She looked up at the penthouse, a triumphant smirk on her face, before slipping through the private

en planted here, but I had ignored it. I had trusted Mark. I had gone to

into the building, and I felt nothi

zed. It was

s getting worried.

an staring back was no longer a naive bride. Her eyes held the chi

nstairs. I didn't rush to confront them. Why s

moment. Let them b

Mark's love. I lost everything. This time, I didn't want the co

ted r

ter his business collapsed. I remembered my mother' s tears. I remembered the chilling emptiness of the house I grew up

would pay for

y back. I scrolled through my contacts until

id

n. Not yet. It was too soon. First, I

it, and stepped out. But I didn't turn towards th

the emergency exit. And I walked

-