Chapter 4

I stood on the rain-soaked sidewalk outside Seattle Tech, security's firm grip still a phantom pressure on my arms. The holiday party continued behind the glass doors, its warm glow a cruel contrast to the December chill seeping through my thin dress. People inside were already huddled in small groups, no doubt dissecting what had just happened—what Madison had orchestrated and what Ryan had believed without question.

My phone buzzed with a text from Ryan: "Don't come home tonight. We'll talk through lawyers from now on."

Rain mingled with the tears I refused to acknowledge as I ducked under the…