public stage yet, not when the internet could do his dirty work for him. Tech blogs and social media platforms lit up

their breakup," one post read. Another claimed, "Miller's family

are you seeing this? It's a coordinated smear campaign. The wor

een. My name was a trending topic, paired with w

n issue a statement, show them the proof

motional, to get into a public fight. It would just validate his

ey're destroying

said, the words tasting like ash. "Last tim

ed late nights in my lab, fueled by coffee and a desperate need to help him succeed. I'd handed him the key to his empire on a silver platter, a revoluti

redatory gleam. I had been too blind to see it then. I saw it now. He had never loved me. He had only loved what I could give him. The realization

hts. It wasn't the insistent chime from the day

the peephole. I

just a crack. "W

n we please talk? I'm so worried about you. And about

weater, looking every bit the gentle, conce

k about," I said, prepa

ut her eyes turned hard. "I think there is. David is very upset. You're

ng people to write lies about m

you're so clever, don't you? Hiding in here, pretending you're above

vers against the far wall. They weren't just machines; they were my family's legacy. My grandfather had built the first one by hand. They

"The famous Miller Firm archives. Your family's great contrib

hose," I warne

erver. "He's right. They're obsolete. Just like you. Yo

away quietly. You should have taken it. He wanted me to give you a message. He said if you don't

at a t

y. "He's a powerful man, Sarah. A

It was of me and Liam as kids, laughing, covered in

murmured, then her face twisted into a sneer. "A reminder

the frame against the wall. The glass

of everything David and Emily were trying to destroy: my past, my family, my l

t o

e fear on her face for the first time

ment door burst open again. David stood

me moving towards Emily, my face contorted with

pun me around and shoved me hard against the wall. My head connected with the d

" he roared, his face inches from mine. "

." I stammered, try

ing with righteous anger. "You went crazy! You

he clutched her arm as if I had struck her. "David

cture, the cowering woman he was protecting, and the "crazy" ex

ing me to the wall. "You were a genius, Sarah. You had a gift. B

"I gave you everything. I put you on t

dified in my chest. He was twisting everything, rewriting our entir

he wall, catching my breath. He went to Emily

ing with finality. "I tried to be civil. I trie

g. A moment later, a formal press release

al Action Against Stalker, Sarah Miller, C

tear down everything you've ever built, everything you've ever loved. I will era

s, a cruel smile playing on his

e ruins of my home, with the shattered glass on the floor and the public declaration of my destruction g