A Twisted Love: Betrayal's Bitter Taste

e Ols

ploded into a cacophony of shouts and camera flashes. Microphones jabbe

, what do

tracting yo

ences are you

cutting through the chaos like a laser. "My

The reporters, sensing a fres

ing your fathe

m, Ms.

have e

You want evidence? You want to know what H

ath stood rigid, his face pale, his eyes wide with shock. Ember, her face contorted i

a righteous anger. "They fabricated evidence. They manipulated the j

usations. Heath, finally breaking free from his stupor,

now what you're saying!" h

m had broken. The truth, long sup

ont, thrusting a microphone directly into my face. "Ms. Ol

accusing them of destroying my family, ruining my father

avy, a weapon in my hand. I looked around the room, at the faces f

g, "anyone who dares to accuse me of being unhinged, remember this: the trut

the podium, the plastic casing cracking with a sickening crunch.

again," I warned, my voice low and

y anger, raw and unfiltered, hung heavy in the air, a palpable threat. I was no longe

owards the exit, my head held high, leaving behind a room full of stunn

sperate and laced with urge

igging into my flesh. "What was

lips. "I'm exposing the truth, Heath. So

s eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and pan

my lips. "You already destroyed that, Heath. The m

m. "As for your career and Ember's life... that'

was no argument left to be made, no plea left to be hea

he called after me, his voice f

on was clear. The civil registrar's office. It was tim

mpathy and curiosity. I signed the divorce papers, my hand steady, my heart a hollow ache in my ch

, almost blinding. I was free. Free from his control. Free from h

e. Wasted. Years spent loving a man who had betrayed me in the cruelest way ima

. I was tired. So incredibly tired.

ndeed exploded. My accusations against Heath and Ember were everywhere. The comment

der, a look of faux vulnerability on her face. They were at a hospital, a press photographer clearly present. The

er? She was a master manipulator, a venomous snake in human skin. And He

ount. With a few swift taps, I posted the picture, adding a simple caption: "Some people just can

felt a surge of grim satisfaction. Let them squir

ouching my lips. This was my war.

eys felt heavy in my hand. The place was

ing room was dark, but a faint light spilled

Of course. They w

s chest. He was stroking her hair, his face etched with concern. They looked like the perfe

ning with a flicker of fear. She instinctively pressed clo

otion. Disappointment. A deep, weary disap

ged with a tired resignation. "What w

y voice steady, betraying none of the t

g. "You humiliated me, Blaire. You slander

orted, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. "The moment you chose your

d out from behind him. "She's losing it, Hea

blazing. "You have no idea wha

over me. He looked tired, his shoulders slumped. "Blaire

ng. "You started this fight, Heath. You declared war o

Blaire. For any of us." He gestured towards Ember, who was now openly crying, her face burie

nipulate me with her tears, Heath. I know h

nal help." He walked towards me, his eyes filled with a strange, clinical

anted to have me committed. To silence me. To discre

barely a whisper, yet laced with a dangerous edge. "Is that

on I needed. A chilling dread settled in my stomach.