Chapter 39

Sarah's POV

The vase shattered against the wall with a satisfying crash, fragments scattering across the floor. That sanctimonious bastard. My hands trembled as I grabbed the crystal paperweight next, feeling its weight in my palm before sending it flying. The destruction did nothing to ease my fury,my nails digging into my palms as rage coursed through me.

"Mommy?" Max's uncertain voice cutthrough my rage. I spun around to find him hovering in the doorway, eyes wide as he took in the destruction.

I forced my features into a reassuring smile. "Everything's fine,sweetheart.Mommy just had a little accident. Why don't you go play in your room while I clean this up?"

Once Max's footsteps had faded down the hall, I collapsed onto the sofa.pulling out my phone with shaking fingers. Caroline answered on the second ring.

"I just sent you the first set of illustrations," I said without preamble, my voice tight with barely controlled fury. "What do you think?"

"The quality is excellent," Caroline replied, professional interest evident in her tone. "Though we'll need a faster update schedule if we want this to gain traction quickly." "Oh, don't worry about that." I pulled up the next panel on my tablet,where I'd sketched a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Annie,abandoning her crying child to climb into a car with a wealthy-looking man. "I have plenty of material to work with. By the time I'm done,everyone will see Annie Baker for exactly what she is - a gold-digging

homewrecker who abandoned her own child to climb the social ladder."

"And Howard?" Caroline's tone held a note of caution.

My laugh held no humor. "Oh, I have special plans for Mr. Thompson.Everyone's going to learn how the mighty CEO of Howard Technologies uses his position to seduce vulnerable employees. After all, what kind of man lets his ward's therapist move into his house?"

"Sarah..." Caroline hesitated. "Are you sure about this? Howard's reach in Upper East Side circles is significant. After this morning..."

"After this morning, what choice do I have?" I snapped, the memory of those sidelong glances and whispered conversations at school still burning.

"You should have seen how they all treated me at pickup. Howard actually told everyone about what happened with Philip and Brian-how I supposedly plotted to replace Annie from the start." My fingers clenched around the phone. "He made it sound so calculated, so cold. Asif everything I did for Brian, all the love I showed him, was just part of some scheme."

"Sarah..." Caroline's tone was careful. "You did encourage Brian to reject Annie, and you did pursue Philip quite... deliberately."

"You don't understand," I cut her off, my voice passionate. "I was Philip's first love-his true love." I gripped the phone tighter. "I'm the one who truly understands Philip, who knows what he needs. Brian deserves to grow up in a home with his father's real soulmate. Everything that happened was meant to be - I was just helping fate along." The half-truths came easily after so much practice. But now Howard had twisted everything, making me sound like some kind of calculating predator. "The way those women pulled their children away when I walked past..." My fingers clenched around the phone. "Now none of the mothers will let their children have playdates with Max. Even the ones who used to praise my parenting skills suddenly have 'other commitments'when I call."

"The timing is unfortunate," Caroline agreed diplomatically.

"Don't even get me started on that." I pulled up another sketch, this one showing a businessman who resembled Howard in a compromising position with his secretary. "If Howard Thompson thinks he can just destroy my reputation and get away with it, he's about to learn exactly how wrong he is."

"The illustrations are compelling," Caroline admitted. "But we'll need to be careful about the release strategy. Maybe start with something less...explosive?"

I considered this as I added shading to the panel where Not-Annie was literally stepping over her crying child to reach for a dliamond necklace."Fine. We'll begin with subtle character establishment. But I want readers invested before we really twist the knife."

"And what about Philip?" Caroline's question made me pause. "Won't this risk exposing your...arrangement?"

My hand stilled over the tablet. She had a point-Philip's reaction was the one variable I couldn't entirely predict. Which meant I needed to see him.Now. Philip looked up froma stack of documents as I entered his office, his expression shifting from annoyance to resignation as he recognized me. "Sarah." He set down his pen with deliberate care. "This isn't a good time."

"It never is." I sank into one of his visitor chairs, letting my shoulders slump slightly. Years of experience had taught me exactly how to play this - not too desperate, but just vulnerable enough to appeal to his protective instincts. "But I didn't know where else to go."

Philip's jaw tightened, but he gestured for his assistant to close the door."What's wrong?"

"Everything." I let my voice crack slightly. "Howard Thompson has been spreading rumors about me at Lucy's school. Horrible things. Now none of the other mothers will let their children near Max. Do you know what that s doing to him? To be suddenly isolated, treated like he's toxic?"

"What kind of rumors?" Philip's tone sharpened with interest.

I dabbed carefully at my eyes, smudging my makeup just enough to look authentic. "He revealed everything about how I came into Philip's life-making it sound like I deliberately used Brian's vulnerability, like I calculatedly positioned myself in your life. You know how cruel the Upper East Side circle can be - they're treating me like I'm some kind of manipulator."

"And aren't you?" Philip's question was mild, but his eyes were sharp.I straightened,letting real hurt flash across my face. "How can you say that? After everything we've been through?" My voice dropped to a whisper."I know I made mistakes, but I never meant to hurt anyone." It was the closest to honesty I'd come with him in months. "This is pure character assassination, and you know why Howard's doing it."

"Because of Annie!" I couldn't quite keep the bitterness from my voice.′′H3s trying to clear the field for her, make sure there's no competition for his affections. And he's using my son as collateral damage!"

Philip's expression grew more reserved. "Sarah..."

"Don't you dare defend him," I cut in. "You of all people should understand what's at stake. If Howard Thompson thinks he can just destroy people's reputations without consequences-"

"Sarah, listen to me." Philip's voice took on that maddeningly reasonable tone I hated. "Howard Technologies is a critical business partner. We have several important collaborations in progress."

I felt my carefully constructed expression falter for just a moment. "So you're saying business matters more than what he's doing to your son?"

"What I'm saying," Philip leaned back, studying me with an oddly detached look that made my skin prickle, "is that this is a personal matter between you and Howard. I can't risk our professional relationships over private grievances."

"Private grievances?" I let my voice crack slightly. "He's systematically destroying my reputation!"

"Perhaps," Philip's tone grew cooler, "you should consider why he felt the need to do so."Something in his voice made me pause. This wasn't the usual Philip who would rush to smooth things over, to keep everyone happy. This was...different. More distant. Like he was finally seeing through some of my carefully constructed facade. I swallowed hard, recalculating. "I understand," I said softly,letting my shoulders slump in defeat. "You're right, of course. The business relationship needs to come first. I'll... handle this myself."

Philip nodded once, already turning back to his laptop. But I caught the slight tension in his jaw, the way his fingers hesitated over the keys. He might be choosing business over me now, but I could work with that.After all, I'd built my entire life on making people see what they wanted to see.

"Thank you for listening, at least," I added quietly as I stood to leave.painting on a brave smile. Let him think I was gracefully accepting defeat.It would only make my next move more effective.