Chapter 13: Public enemy

The morning light spilled through the curtains like it was trying too hard to be cheerful. I got up early and went to the store. I spent the first hour going through invoices and making notes about restocking. My thoughts, however, kept wandering to Sean.

I sighed and pushed those thoughts away.

Just as I began rearranging the new display shelf, my phone buzzed on the counter. It was Amanda.

“Hey,” I answered with a small smile, “What’s up?”

Her tone wasn’t casual. It was rushed, shaky. “Rose, please tell me you’re not online right now.”

My heart dipped. “What do you mean?”

“Just... please,” she said again, her voice trembling. “Turn on Channel 6 or check your social feed. The hashtag #Nancy'sTruth is everywhere. You need to see it before it gets worse.”

The room suddenly felt too quiet. I walked slowly to the little TV we kept behind the counter for news. My hands trembled as I turned it on.

And there she was.

Nancy.

Beautiful. Composed. Dressed in a beige blazer and a silk blouse, sitting in front of a wall of microphones at a press conference. Her eyes shimmered with tears that I wasn’t sure were real.

“I’ve been quiet long enough,” she said to the reporters, voice trembling just the right amount. “But I can’t keep pretending everything is fine. The woman living in the Miller estate, Rose, she’s not who everyone thinks she is.”My stomach clenched.“She’s my ex’s sister-in-law,” Nancy continued, pressing a hand dramatically to her chest. “And she seduced both the Miller brothers, Sean and Connor. She used their kindness, their family name, their home, to manipulate them. I was Sean’s partner, but she tore us apart. She tore everyone apart.”Reporters began shouting questions. Cameras flashed. I could barely breathe.

“Is it true she’s living in the same house as Sean Miller?” someone yelled.

“Yes,” Nancy said, nodding with tragic sincerity. “And I can’t stay silent while this woman plays the victim. She destroyed my relationship and now she’s pretending to be innocent. But she’s not. She’s dangerous, manipulative, and she knows exactly what she’s doing.”

The room on screen exploded into noise.

I couldn’t move. My throat burned. My ears were ringing. I whispered to myself, No, no, no… this can’t be happening.

Amanda’s voice came through the phone again. “Rose? Are you there? Please tell me you’re not watching this alone.”

But I couldn’t even speak.

Then, as if things couldn’t get worse, Jenny (Connor’s girlfriend) stepped up beside Nancy. She looked smug, arms crossed, chin tilted high.

“She pretends to be so fragile,” Jenny said, “but she’s a snake. She’s obsessed with attention. I’ve seen the way she looks at Connor, my boyfriend. She acts innocent, but she’s always scheming.”

The reporters gasped, some whispering as if they’d just witnessed a scandalous twist.

And then, out of all people, Anna appeared beside them. Her hair was perfectly styled, her fake sympathy dripping from every word.

“I tried to warn everyone,” Anna said, holding her chest dramatically. “She’s always been like this — always using people, always pretending to be the victim. It’s sad, really, but she needs help. Maybe now people will see the truth.”

My heart shattered right there.

Nancy leaned forward and finished with a soft, trembling voice, “I only hope she gets the help she needs… before she destroys someone else’s life.”

The room filled with the sound of camera shutters. The screen froze on Nancy’s face, perfect, composed, and cruel.

And then the hashtag appeared: #CancelRoseMiller.

I backed away from the TV, my legs shaking. “Oh my God,” I whispered. “What… what did they just do?”

One of my staff members, Lena, ran to me. “Mrs. Miller, don’t look at the comments, please... ”

But it was too late. My phone was lighting up nonstop, with notifications, mentions, texts, missed calls. My hands trembled as I opened one.

Hundreds of messages.

“Homewrecker.”

“Fake wife.”

“Disgusting.”

“Go to hell.”

My vision blurred. My chest tightened like someone was squeezing it from the inside. I tried to breathe, but air wouldn’t come.

Lena’s voice sounded distant. “Someone get water! She’s not breathing right!”

I dropped the phone. My knees gave out, and the room tilted violently. I remember hearing someone shouting my name and then nothing.

When I opened my eyes again, everything was white. The smell of antiseptic filled my nose. A steady beeping echoed somewhere near my ear.

I blinked. My throat was dry. My chest hurt.

I was in the hospital.Amanda was sitting beside me, her eyes red and swollen. Charlie was on the other side, quietly rubbing her shoulder.

“Oh, thank God,” Amanda whispered, standing up quickly. “Rose, you scared us to death.”

I swallowed hard, my voice barely audible. “What… happened?”

Charlie spoke softly. “You passed out, sweetheart. Panic attack. You weren’t breathing right. Your staff called an ambulance.”

Amanda’s voice trembled as she held my hand. “You’re safe now, okay? Just breathe.”

My eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” I whispered. “I didn’t...”

“I know,” she said quickly. “We know. It’s just lies, Rose. All of it. People believe what they want to believe, but truth always finds a way.”

I looked away, tears falling silently. “They made me look like a monster…”

“You’re not a monster,” Charlie said firmly. “and you’re not alone.”

The door opened softly.

Sean stepped inside.

His face was pale, eyes bloodshot. He looked like he hadn’t slept. When his gaze found mine, his expression broke, guilt, pain, love, all tangled together.

He walked slowly to the bed, and knelt beside me.

“Rose…” His voice cracked. “I’m so sorry.”

I didn’t answer. I just looked at the ceiling, trying not to cry again. My chest was still tight, my hands cold.

He gently reached for my hand. His touch was warm, steady, the only thing keeping me from slipping away completely.

“I should have protected you,” he whispered. “I should have seen what she was planning. I let you get hurt.”

I shook my head weakly. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Sean. I just… I didn’t expect this.”

Sean’s grip tightened, his thumb brushing my skin. “I’ll fix this, Rose. I promise. I don’t care what it takes, I’ll clear your name.” I stared at the ceiling again, tears sliding down the sides of my face.

Amanda whispered, “She needs rest.”

Sean nodded slowly, but he didn’t let go of my hand. He just sat there, silent, watching me like he was afraid I’d disappear if he blinked.

The machines beeped softly between us.

For the first time since I’d met him, Sean Miller looked completely broken.