In the corner of the desktop, a subtle file icon caught my eye. When I opened it, a lock icon flashed, it was encrypted.

Luckily, my college years studying computer science weren’t for nothing. My fingers moved quickly, methodically, as I bypassed the layers of security.

Moments later, the file unlocked.

What appeared on the screen left me frozen, breathless. The shock hit me like a wave, and for a long time, I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

I opened the images, and one message leaped off the screen.

Jeremiah: [Look at her lying on the ground groaning and writhing, doesn’t she look just like a dead dog?! Hahaha…]

The next image followed.

Jeremiah: [Margaret, you promised me, if I manage to break her legs, you’ll wear a wedding dress and marry me.]

And below that, an endless stream of messages just like it.

Jeremiah had turned me into a bargaining chip for his twisted romance with Margaret.

He had crushed my sincerity underfoot, dragging my dignity through the mud.

Then, an audio file blinked into view.

My heart stuttered, I had a sinking feeling this was the final blow.

With trembling hands, I clicked play.