Dicker

at beside me, her hand resting gently on mine. I stared out the window, watching th

rkable strength," Arlena sa

augh escaping my lips. "It felt l

d the vestiges of a life that was never

ll throbbed from the fall, a dull ache throbbing in time with my shatt

ent," I said, the words heavy w

already there, packing your belongings. Only what yo

n promises, the false future. I closed my eyes, picturing the apartment, the life I had so carefu

him gone," I mumbled, my voice tight

d my hand. "Co

lavish suite, a world away from my old life. But the change of scenery couldn't erase the ache in my heart. T

nes and Influencer Karly McLaughlin Announce Engagement." A picture of them, smiling, Karly's hand displaying the rin

ly, a stark contrast to the explosion of anger building w

iar bed, trying to sleep, my new phone rang. It

ng, going crazy!" Devin's voice, thick with alcohol, slurre

pulsed with a cold disgust. "I'm no

s when you're upset." He tried to laugh, but it was a pathetic, broken soun

m in my voice. "Funny. Her social media

now? For the company. You wouldn't understand. Influencers, social media, it's

the pathetic attempt to paint it as a "publicity thing." And the repeti

t, "I'm not 'your Haley' anym

y without you." His voice dropped to a low, seductive murmur. "Come

y neck, made my skin crawl. "There are no

" His voice was laced with a self-pity that was al

her." I hung up the phone, the finality

out by now, oblivious to the destruction he had wrought, oblivious

rly's posts. Pictures of her at a lavish French restaurant, champagne flutes clin

Karly's slightly rounded belly. "Our little secret

s child, flaunting it on social media just weeks after I lost mine. T

d gently resting on her belly. "My future wife, my future family. So

as being squeezed in a vise. They were having a baby. His baby. While I

ng. It wasn't just my life, my love, my identity

No. I wouldn't let this break me. I wouldn't let their twiste

dow, staring out at the city, my fi

a cold fire. "They're having a baby. K

ed. "I see." Her voi

the words choked with emotion. "Every

e of vengeance. "Not for long. Now, let's prepare. There's an event this evening.

g bright in my mind. Tonight, I would not be the broken victim. Tonig