Dicker

on in my shoulders eased, but the image of Karly' s contorted face, Devin' s horrified stare, still burned bright

ked, her voice calm, a stark contr

lied, a hollow ache replacing t

, her gaze steady. "This

age from the anonymous number. "You left your lock

ing down my spine. Someone was watch

Before I could process the message, a sudden commoti

fully disheveled. Devin was kneeling beside her, his face a mixture of fear and concern. Surrounding them was

eyes blazing with accusatio

is was Karly's specialty. The v

stated, my voice calm, e

led, pointing a trembling finger at me. "She'

with a familiar distrust. "Haley, you

strating a scene, Devin. Just like

ening. Karly, however, was a master of deflection. She pushed he

out the sparkling diamond ring Devin had given her. She

began snapping photos. This was th

voice laced with theatrical tears. "It's a

then back to Karly. His expressi

my patience wearing thin. "Sh

my wrist. My bag slipped from my grasp, falling to the polished marble floor with a thud. Its contents scattered

blue fabric, now lying starkly on the cold floor. A

ghtly. A flicker of something – recognition? regret? – cros

She then looked at the ring still in her hand. With a quick, practiced movement, she snagged the Dickerson locket from where it had fallen ne

once a symbol of hope, was now crushed and dirty. M

from my throat, raw and angu

me, but to violently shove me. He pushed me hard. I stumbled backwards, my head h

fleeting moment of hesitation. Then, with a sneer directed at me, he deliberately ground the tiny bootie under his heel again, twisting it into the marble. He held up the loc

the sound of my last shred of hope dying. My family's l

words barely audible, my voice hoarse with un

th a self-righteous fury. "You can't accept that I've moved o

roken. "I loved you! I gave you eight years of my life! And you

ice dripping with fake sympathy. She leaned against

e. I looked at their faces, seeing only di

security footage! It'll show everything! It'll show she atta

ecurity cameras mounted in the lob

g her grip on Devin's arm. "She's just tryi

you're playing, but it ends now. You need to accept that we're over. Karly is my fiancée. And you need to move on

n motion, he yanked off the simple silver band he had given me years ago, the one I still wore out of habit. It was a perfect fit, a symb

ow bare, fel

on her finger, and kissed her hand. "This is my future," he announced to the gawking crowd, his v

d to capture the moment. Karly beamed, her eyes dar

void of any warmth, any pity. "Now,

hysical and emotional, was quickly hardening into an unyielding resolve. I looked at Devin

ached in, not for my ring, but for the Dickerson locket, shattered and twisted. I held it up, the broken pieces glin

oice cold and flat, devoid of

On the shattered remnants of my past. As I walked towards th

d the building. She led me towards another waiting black car, a different o

his face. Karly was smirking, basking in her victory. They had no idea. No idea what was com