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
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