Chapter 2 · My Husband Made Three Million People Hate Me

Chapter 2

I dropped Lily off at Mrs. Gable’s house next door. Then, I locked myself in my old home office.

I booted up my laptop and logged into the Walker Media founder dashboard.

I built this company. I only stepped away to care for my dying mother and raise our daughter.

I let Ethan take over as CEO because I trusted my husband. I never checked the raw media files.

Until today.

I opened a hidden, unreleased folder. Dozens of video files stared back at me.

Wife Overreacts to Missed School Event.

Wife Ruins Anniversary.

Wife Upsets Daughter.

My blood ran cold.

I checked the metadata. The creation dates on these file names were impossible.

He had typed out these titles before the arguments ever happened.

He didn't just record my breakdowns. He manufactured them.

I found a document labeled Production Notes.

Trigger: Mention her mother.

Expected response: Crying or anger.

Camera: Kitchen, close angle.

My stomach dropped.

I clicked on a raw video file of Lily.

I realized I needed to see the original footage to prove this was a setup.

My heart hammered against my ribs as I clicked the file directory. But the moment I tried to open the folder, the screen turned a harsh, clinical gray. A massive padlock icon appeared.

Access Denied.

My stomach dropped. I tried to override the restriction, but it was useless. Ethan had spent months systematically partitioning the servers to firewall me out of the raw media archives.

But he’d forgotten one thing: he didn't build the studio’s root architecture. I did.

I quickly plugged in my emergency override drive to bypass the software lock.

Access Granted.

I started the download.

My phone buzzed on the desk. A text from Ethan.

Now that you’ve found the account, the final episode can begin.

My phone rang immediately. It was Maya, my lawyer and oldest friend.

"Emma, listen to me," Maya said, her voice tight. "Ethan just filed for emergency temporary custody."

I stopped breathing.

"He submitted dozens of edited videos claiming you're an unfit mother," Maya rushed on. "Whatever he does on this livestream, do not react."

"If you raise your voice, if you argue, if you lose your temper... it all becomes his new evidence."

I hung up the phone. My hands were shaking, but my mind was crystal clear.

I glanced back at my frozen computer monitor. I noticed a tab I had left open.

It was the $20 million acquisition agreement from Northstar Media.

At the very bottom of the contract, a banner flashed in red:

Final Founder Approval Required: Emma Walker.

I didn't click reject. Not yet. I just took a screenshot.

My phone buzzed again. Another text from my husband.

The livestream has been moved to tonight.

Wear the blue dress.

The audience already recognizes it.

Chapter 2

I dropped Lily off at Mrs. Gable’s house next door. Then, I locked myself in my old home office.

I booted up my laptop and logged into the Walker Media founder dashboard.

I built this company. I only stepped away to care for my dying mother and raise our daughter.

I let Ethan take over as CEO because I trusted my husband. I never checked the raw media files.

Until today.

I opened a hidden, unreleased folder. Dozens of video files stared back at me.

Wife Overreacts to Missed School Event.

Wife Ruins Anniversary.

Wife Upsets Daughter.

My blood ran cold.

I checked the metadata. The creation dates on these file names were impossible.

He had typed out these titles before the arguments ever happened.

He didn't just record my breakdowns. He manufactured them.

I found a document labeled Production Notes.

Trigger: Mention her mother.

Expected response: Crying or anger.

Camera: Kitchen, close angle.

My stomach dropped.

I clicked on a raw video file of Lily.

I realized I needed to see the original footage to prove this was a setup.

My heart hammered against my ribs as I clicked the file directory. But the moment I tried to open the folder, the screen turned a harsh, clinical gray. A massive padlock icon appeared.

Access Denied.

My stomach dropped. I tried to override the restriction, but it was useless. Ethan had spent months systematically partitioning the servers to firewall me out of the raw media archives.

But he’d forgotten one thing: he didn't build the studio’s root architecture. I did.

I quickly plugged in my emergency override drive to bypass the software lock.

Access Granted.

I started the download.

My phone buzzed on the desk. A text from Ethan.

Now that you’ve found the account, the final episode can begin.

My phone rang immediately. It was Maya, my lawyer and oldest friend.

"Emma, listen to me," Maya said, her voice tight. "Ethan just filed for emergency temporary custody."

I stopped breathing.

"He submitted dozens of edited videos claiming you're an unfit mother," Maya rushed on. "Whatever he does on this livestream, do not react."

"If you raise your voice, if you argue, if you lose your temper... it all becomes his new evidence."

I hung up the phone. My hands were shaking, but my mind was crystal clear.

I glanced back at my frozen computer monitor. I noticed a tab I had left open.

It was the $20 million acquisition agreement from Northstar Media.

At the very bottom of the contract, a banner flashed in red:

Final Founder Approval Required: Emma Walker.

I didn't click reject. Not yet. I just took a screenshot.

My phone buzzed again. Another text from my husband.

The livestream has been moved to tonight.

Wear the blue dress.

The audience already recognizes it.