Chapter 8 Craig sat through the night, consumed by regret. He posted a confession on the Kennedy Group's website, admitting he'd forced me to post those vile statements, brought women home to torment me, and abused my trust. The internet exploded. Trolls who'd attacked me flooded my inbox with apologies. Kennedy Group's stock crashed, but Craig didn't care. He posted daily apology videos, hoping to find me and beg for my forgiveness. Across the ocean, I was thriving, my art earning acclaim, those three years a fading scar. My inbox suddenly overflowed with messages. They irritated me. That past wasn't my choice, and I didn't need apologies. I wanted it erased. And I didn't want to see Craig again. We should forget about each other. But his obsessive online apologies mirrored his old stubbornness. Some, moved by his remorse, revealed my location. After a class, I stepped out of the studio and froze. Craig stood there, looking much thinner and gaunt. His eyes that had once been full of pride and confidence were now filled with irredeemable shame and regret. We locked eyes, seeing all the painful years in each other. "Michele," he croaked, stepping closer to me. As he drew near, the memories of all the humiliations flooded my mind like a nightmare. I stepped back, trembling, suddenly feeling disgusted by his once-handsome face. The fear that had been deeply rooted in me for so long had become an instinct I couldn't shake. "Stay away!" I screamed, hoping to drown my terror. I ran, desperate to escape his voice and his presence. I didn't want any form of connection with him. Craig didn't chase after me, his eyes brimming with pain. He tried contacting me through calls, texts, and messages, but each triggered panic. With Jedediah's help, I reported him, securing a restraining order. The local court forbade him from getting close to me. Kennedy Group's crisis forced him back. 1/2