Chapter 7
Claire filed for divorce within a week.
Mark begged.
Of course.
He said he had been manipulated.
Claire told him, “You were married.”
That was all.
She sent me a message two days after filing.
I know I am not your friend. I know I hurt you. But if you need a statement from me for your job or police, I will give it.
I stared at the message.
Then replied.
Thank you. I need the truth.
She wrote back.
You’ll have it.
And she gave it.
A full statement.
How she found the messages.
How Lauren’s account used my photos.
How she believed I was involved.
How the cash transfer tied to Lauren.
How she realized the number was not mine.
How Lauren went silent when I called.
It helped.
But at work, whispers still grew.
My face had been printed on screenshots.
People remembered images more than explanations.
One coworker unfollowed me.
Another sent a supportive message, then asked if I had “any idea Lauren was unstable.”
I deleted it.
Maya from finance called.
“I know paid leave feels like exile.”
“It does.”
“People are talking. But more people are angry for you than you think.”
“Good.”
“And Daniel shut down gossip in the all-hands.”
“What did he say?”
“That sharing screenshots tied to a victim of identity fraud would be treated as harassment.”
I sat down.
“He said that?”
“Yes.”
May you like
For the first time since the meeting, my shoulders lowered.
A little.
