Finally, they know you have figured them out when they initiate the scorched earth smear campaign. This is the ultimate confirmation because they can no longer control you, so they must control how the world sees you. They know it’s only a matter of time before you speak, so they have to destroy your credibility before you open your mouth. They will start telling friends, family, and neighbors that you are unstable, that you are drinking, that you are abusive, or that you are having a mental breakdown. They plant the seeds of doubt in everyone’s mind. This is a preemptive strike. They are terrified of the public deceit. They know you have the evidence; they know you have the memories. So they construct a narrative where you are the villain so that when you finally do tell your story, people will say, “Oh, he told us she would say that.” It’s a calculated, cruel, and strategic move to isolate you. They are burning the bridges between you and your support system because they want to leave you on an island where no one can hear you scream.
That’s how malignant they are. When you see these signs—the dead eyes, the frantic spaghetti testing, the paranoia, the projection, and the ultimate smear campaign—do not doubt yourself. Do not think you’re imagining it. This is not a rough patch in a marriage, as you may want to think. This is the death of a false reality. The narcissist is showing you exactly who they are because they know you have finally seen the truth. The fact that they are reacting this way is your validation; it’s proof that your instincts were right all along. You have stripped the emperor of his clothes, and his rage is just the shame of a naked man who has nowhere left to hide. Do not look away. Stand your ground in the truth. Because that truth is the only thing that will set you free.
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