erupted around Chloe. A young songwriter accused her of stealing a melody for one

th anger. He threw a stack of newspapers on

oice low and menacing. "You must have l

got out of prison," I said calmly, m

You will issue a public statement. You will say that you gave Chloe the song as a gif

protected me from bullies on the playgr

e asked, disbelief wa

will not lie f

his hand raised, and for a second, I thought he was goi

led with tears. She held a small, sharp letter opener in her hand, the tip pointed tow

ah, who had appeared behi

r hand. Noah guided her to a chair, stroking her back soothi

e sobbed. "I just wante

k what you've done. You've pushed her to t

between Ethan and Noah on the sofa, looking

ah," Noah said, his tone pleading.

eyes. "I know you're angry, Sarah," she said, her voice trem

r arms outstretched as if for a hug. "

d, hidden from the others, flew to her own cheek, and she slapped her

ing her face, a red mark already blo

bbed my arms, his grip like iron. "Y

de, locking the door from the outside. "You're not leaving this roo

had leaked a "source close to the family" story. It painted me as a violent, jealous, and mentally unstable ex-convict, hell-bent on destro

of the room started to close in. The familiar, suffocating panic began to rise, the memories of prison, of bein

oked down at my shaking form on the floor, hi

th. "He wants to take you to a charity gala tomorrow night. To show everyone that we're

a monster." I told him about the video Chloe had sent me, the

it. "I don't know what you're talking about. Chloe would never do

a fundraiser for victims of violent crime. The irony was suffocating. I was

her "charitable work," a woman burst through t

audience. "That's the woman who was driving the car that hit my husband! She crippled him! And this on

Cameras flashed

nct, their only instinct, was to protect Chloe. They rushed to the stage, fl

e middle of the crowd. Utterly, c