Chapter 46 ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Chapter 46 ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Alex
Alex’s hand tightened on the phone. “What about Elias?”
“I received a very concerning email this morning,” Professor Hartley said. “From someone claiming to be a former student. Alleging that Elias engaged in inappropriate relationships while he was still a TA.”
Alex’s blood went cold. “That’s not true.”
“I know it’s not. I know Elias wasn’t your TA. But the email included screenshots of texts, photos of you two together, dates from the spring semester when he was still employed by the department.”
“Who sent it?”
“The email was anonymous. But given the timing and content, I have my suspicions.”
“It was Carter. His ex. He’s been harassing us for days.”
“I thought as much. Which is why I’m calling you instead of going through official channels. But Alex, this is serious. Someone is trying to damage Elias’s reputation. If this gets to the dean, it could affect his job prospects. His references.”
Alex looked at Elias. His face had gone white.
“What do we do?” Alex asked.
“Document everything. Every text, every call, every message from this person. File a police report if you can. And Alex? Be prepared. This might get worse before it gets better.”
After she hung up, Alex told Elias everything.
“He’s trying to destroy me,” Elias said. His voice was hollow. Empty. “He’s actually trying to destroy my life.”
“We’re not going to let him.”
“How do we stop him? He’s anonymous. He can send whatever he wants from burner emails and fake numbers.”
“We go to the police. Now. Today.”
“And tell them what? That my ex is sending mean text?”
“That he’s harassing us. Stalking us. Trying to damage your career. That’s illegal.”
Elias ran his hands through his hair. “Okay. Okay. Let’s do it.”
They spent the next hour gathering evidence. Screenshots of every message. The call log shows Carter’s number and the unknown numbers. The email Professor Hartley had forwarded. Everything.
At the police station, they sat in hard plastic chairs for thirty minutes before a detective called them back.
“What can I help you with?” she asked.
Elias explained. The breakup. The initial texts. The escalation. The harassment of Alex and his family. The false allegations against his former employer.
The detective took notes. Looked at the evidence. Her expression never changed.
“This is definitely harassment,” she said finally. “But here’s the problem. Most of the messages are from unknown numbers. Unless we can prove they’re all from the same person, it’s hard to build a case.”
“We know it’s him,” Alex said.
“Knowing and proving are different things. Do you have any proof that Carter sent these specific messages?”
“He admitted it. On a call to me.”
“Did you record it?”
“No.”
“Then it’s your word against his.” The detective leaned back. “Look. I’ll file a report. Get this on record. But unless he threatens violence or shows up at your home or workplace, there’s not much we can do right now.”
“So he just gets to keep doing this?” Elias asked.
“I’m saying gather more evidence. If you can prove it’s all coming from him, you can file for a restraining order. But right now, you don’t have enough.”
They left the station feeling defeated. The sky was getting dark. They’d spent the whole day dealing with Carter’s mess.
“I’m so tired,” Elias said in the car.
“Me too.”
“I’m tired of him. I’m tired of fighting. I’m tired of everything.”
Alex reached over. Took his hand. “I know. But we’re going to get through this.”
“Are we? Because it feels like he’s winning.”
“He’s not winning. We’re still together. We’re still fighting. That means he’s losing.”
At home, they ordered pizza and tried to pretend things were normal. But the tension sat between them like a third person.
Alex’s phone buzzed. He almost ignored it. But something made him look.
Des.
Des: Turn on the news. Local channel.
Alex grabbed the remote. Found the local news station.
A reporter was talking about cyberbullying. Online harassment. And there, on the screen, was a photo.
Of Elias and Alex. Kissing. Outside the library.
“Sources say this relationship began while one party was still in a position of authority,” the reporter said. “Raising questions about appropriate conduct between staff and students.”
Elias stared at the screen. “Oh my god.”
“He sent it to the news,” Alex said. “He actually sent our photo to the news.”
The report continued. No names. But anyone who knew them would recognize the photo. The location. The timing.
Elias’s phone started ringing. Jordan from work.
“Don’t answer it,” Alex said.
“I have to.”
Elias answered. Listened. His face got paler with every word.
“I understand,” he said finally. “Yes. I’ll come in first thing tomorrow. Yes. Thank you.”
He hung up.
“They saw the news,” Elias said. “Jordan wants to meet. To discuss whether this creates a conflict with the magazine’s reputation.”
“Can they fire you over this?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. It depends on what the story becomes.”
Alex stood up. “That’s it. I’m done being passive. I’m done letting him do this to us.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to end this. Right now.”
Alex grabbed his phone. Unblocked Carter’s number. Called it.
Carter answered on the second ring. “Alex. I was wondering when you’d call.”
“This ends now.”
“Does it? Because from where I’m sitting, things are just getting started.”
“You sent our photo to the news. You filed false complaints. You’re trying to ruin Elias’s life.”
“I’m trying to save him from making a mistake. You’re not good enough for him. You’re just some kid who latched onto the first person who paid attention to you.”
“You’re wrong. I love him. And he loves me. And nothing you do is going to change that.”
“We’ll see. Give it time. He’ll realize I was right. He always does.”
“Listen to me very carefully,” Alex said. His voice was steady. Cold. “If you contact us again, if you send one more message, make one more call, spread one more lie, I’m going to make sure everyone knows exactly what you’re doing. I’m going to post every screenshot. Every message. Every piece of evidence we have. I’m going to show the world what a pathetic, obsessed stalker you are.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Try me. I spent months being invisible. Being scared. Being the person who just watches from a distance. But I’m done with that. I’m done letting you make me feel small. So here’s your choice. Walk away now. Or I destroy you the way you’re trying to destroy us.”
Silence on the other end.
“You have until tomorrow morning to delete that email to the news. To take back whatever you said. If you don’t, I’m going public with everything.”
“You’re bluffing.”
“Am I? You said I’m just some scared kid. But you’re wrong. I have been brave enough to fight for what I want. Can you say the same?”
More silence.
“Tick tock, Carter. Clock’s running.”
Alex hung up. His hands were shaking. His whole body was shaking.
Elias was staring at him.
“What?” Alex asked.
“That was incredible.”
“That was terrifying.”
“That was you standing up for us. For yourself. That was amazing.”
Alex collapsed on the couch. The adrenaline was wearing off. “What if he doesn’t back down?”
“Then we follow through. We post everything.”
“What if it makes things worse?”
“Then at least we fought back. At least we didn’t just let him win.”
They sat together in the dark apartment. Waiting. Wondering if Carter would call their bluff.
At midnight, Alex’s phone buzzed.
Unknown: You win. I’m done. But you’re making a mistake. He’ll hurt you eventually. They all do.
Then, five minutes later, another message.
Unknown: Email to news retracted. Complaint withdrawn. Leave me alone.
Alex showed Elias. “He’s backing down.”
“Do you believe him?”
“I don’t know. But we have it in writing now. If he contacts us again, we have proof he agreed to stop.”
Elias pulled him close. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“I can’t either. I feel like I’m going to throw up.”
“You were so brave.”
“I was so scared.”
“That’s what brave is.”
They went to bed exhausted. But for the first time in days, the weight on Alex’s chest felt lighter.
Carter was done. Or at least, he said he was.
And if he wasn’t, Alex would keep his promise.
He’d fight.
For Elias. For them. For the life they were building.
He wasn’t invisible anymore.
And he wasn’t running away.
Not ever again.