Chapter Eight

Meanwhile, Emily lived her life blissfully unaware of the tempest developing behind her. She concentrated on teaching pupils, her new romantic connection with Will, and her developing friendship with Laura. However, subtle, insidious alterations started to seep into her everyday routine.

At school, she observed small changes in how the parents and her fellow teachers behaved with her. When she entered the room, conversations came to an abrupt stop, and murmurs followed her along the halls. The principal, who had previously been warm and sympathetic, now seemed aloof and critical, examining her work more thoroughly than ever.

One day, Emily got an email from her bank. Her mortgage rate had suddenly risen, stressing her already tight budget. She spent hours on the phone attempting to fix the situation, only to be faced with bureaucrati