Chapter 5

Once the reporters saw me, they turned to shove their microphones in my face instead.

“Miss Snyder, is Ms. Walsh telling the truth? Did you really mock her?”

“Of course not—”

“She did.” A text-to-speech generated voice rang out. It was Sadie.

She looked at me, then began to type on her phone. The automated voice continued, “I didn’t want to tell the whole world at first, but the harassment was becoming too much. I had to get the truth out there.”

Terence stepped forward in agreement. “Sadie is right. I may be Melinda’s husband, but I don't agree with what she did that day.”

He grabbed my wrist and shoved me forward. “Melinda, you should take this chance to apologize to Sadie in front of everyone today.”

“Apologize?” I looked at Sadie and asked coldly, “Do you think you deserve my apology?”

Sadie looked uneasy and began to type, “I don’t know why you mocked me and lied on the internet, Mel, but I want to believe that you didn’t do it to hurt me.

“If you don’t want to apologize, I won’t force you.”

Everyone was in awe over how ‘kind’ Sadie was.

“Ms. Sadie, you’re too kind.”

“Yeah! How can you still forgive her after what she’s done to you?”

“I can’t believe Melinda still won’t apologize! How disgusting. I can’t believe an emergency operator could be so heartless.”

Sadie’s eyes twinkled with mirth.

“Sure, I’ll apologize,” I suddenly said before slapping Sadie twice.

“How do you like my apology?” The anticipation in her eyes turned to shock.

“Are you crazy, Melinda?!” Terence pushed me away and cradled Sadie in his arms.

I ignored him and stared at Sadie instead. “I haven’t collected all my evidence yet, but why don’t we do something fun? Let’s make a bet.”

Once I was sure everyone’s attention was on me, I stared deep into Sadie’s eyes and continued.

“You dialed 911 eight times. Every single time, I answered patiently and asked you what was wrong. I told you to knock on your surroundings if you couldn’t speak so I would know to send an ambulance to you.

“I told you to stay on the line while our command center traced your call.

“But every single time, you ended the call after I spoke. Every. Single. Time.

“I didn’t make that post either. I still don’t know how you got a hold of my phone.”

Then, I turned to look at Terence. "But your dear lover over here tied me up and locked me in a basement flooded with seawater for three whole days.

“My wounds were severely infected, and the doctors had to cut my kidney out to save my life.

“I was unconscious when the post was made. So, tell me, how the could I have posted it?”

The crowd was silent as if everyone was holding their breath. The only sound was the shutters and flashes of the cameras surrounding us.

Sadie typed frantically, “That’s not true! That’s not what happened!”

“No?” I leaned into her personal bubble and smirked. “I swear on every word I said just now.

“If any of it was a lie, then may God doom my career, my love life, and my remaining health so I will never know a day of peace again.”

Staring deep into Sadie’s terrified gaze, I grabbed her hair and tugged. “What about you, Sadie? Do you swear on your words?”