Chapter 3

The memories kept flooding back, each one a nail in the coffin of my former life. The worst of them, the one that truly set my downfall in motion, was the live stream for a luxury handbag brand, Valmont.

We were both invited to co-host the event, a huge opportunity. Valmont was known for its classic, elegant style. I had spent weeks preparing, memorizing product details, and planning the talking points.

The live stream started. We were on camera, in front of hundreds of thousands of viewers. Everything was going smoothly until Brittany decided to "share a personal favorite."

She reached into her own bag and pulled out a flashy, logo-covered purse from a rival brand-a brand known for being trendy and a direct competitor to Valmont' s timeless appeal.

She held it up to the camera, grinning. "I just have to show you guys this! It' s from Aura. Isn't it amazing?"

I froze. My mind went blank with shock. This was a Valmont-sponsored stream. Showing a competitor's product wasn't just rude; it was a catastrophic breach of contract.

I tried to subtly tug her arm. "Brittany," I whispered, my voice tight with panic, "put that away. We're live."

She brushed me off and spoke directly into the camera, her voice loud and cheerful.

"Sarah was just telling me how much she loves Aura! She says they're so much more stylish and modern than some of the older brands."

The live chat, which had been a steady stream of praise for Valmont, exploded. The viewer count spiked as people flooded in to see the drama.

"Did she just say that?"

"OMG, the shade!"

"Valmont is going to sue them!"

I stared at her, my eyes wide with disbelief. She wasn't just stupid; she was malicious. She had deliberately sabotaged the entire event and framed me for it.

The brand representative, who was watching from the side, looked like he was about to have a heart attack. He was on his phone, his face pale. Within minutes, the stream was cut.

The fallout was immediate and brutal. Valmont terminated its partnership with our company on the spot. They blacklisted not just Brittany, but me as well, for "colluding in a deliberate act of brand defamation."

I was furious. I stormed into Mr. Henderson's office, my hands shaking. "This is all Brittany's fault!"

But when I confronted Brittany, she just burst into tears.

"Why are you trying to ruin me?" she wailed, her voice thick with fake despair. "I was just being honest! Is it a crime to like another brand? You're just jealous of my success!"

Mr. Henderson, our CEO, took her side. He saw her as the rising star, the cash cow. I was just the reliable, boring workhorse, easily sacrificed.

After that, I tried to stay away from her. I avoided her in the office, declined to work on projects with her, and ignored her calls. But she wasn't done with me. She was a shark that had tasted blood.

The final, fatal blow came a few months later. A legendary director, David Chen, announced he was casting for his new film, a project I had dreamed of being a part of. I poured my heart into the audition and, against all odds, I got the role. It was the biggest opportunity of my career.

The day after the official announcement, Brittany posted a long, tearful essay on social media.

She accused me of stealing the role from her. She claimed the part was originally hers and that I had used "underhanded tactics" and my "connections" with the company to snatch it away. It was all lies, but her fans didn't care. They were a loyal, vicious army.

The internet erupted. I was branded a thief, a backstabber, a monster. The hashtag #CancelSarahMiller trended for days. The online mob was relentless. They found my address, my family's contact information. I received thousands of death threats.

The production company, spooked by the negative press, dropped me from the film. My own company, the one I helped build, terminated my contract, citing the scandal. I was facing millions in breach of contract lawsuits.

The weight of it all was too much. The constant hate, the loss of my dream, the crushing debt... it broke me.

In my past life, I stood on the edge of my apartment balcony, the city lights a blur through my tears, and I let go.

But now, I was back. And as the memory of my own death faded, it was replaced by a cold, hard resolve.

Brittany Hayes had taken everything from me. This time, I would make her pay. She would experience every bit of the pain and humiliation she had put me through. I wouldn't just reclaim my life. I would tear hers down to the ground.