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LESLIE'S POV

Was I dreaming?

Have I woken up in a parallel universe where I could have been so daring as to do something like this?

“This…this,” I said as I grabbed the newspaper. What could I possibly say? It's not true?

Liliana laughed loudly, attracting my attention. No wonder she had that look in her eyes earlier. When did she find out? Was it immediately I took that stupid move or did she discover through the blogs too?

“Mum and Dad, I was there yesterday when it happened. I tried to stop her but she stupidly clinged to him, claiming he was her boyfriend,” Liliana chuckles. “I had to let her be.”

I closed my eyes as mortification washed over me. And there I was thinking I had won, the whole time she was mocking me and watching me dig my own grave.

Why did I ever try to rebel? I should have known someone like me could only sit back and watch when I was being bullied and mistreated.

“Do you have any idea what you've done?” Mother screamed in my face. “If not for the Guilds’ close relationship with the Baxters, do you think such a powerful man would come to the Webster’s lowly celebration banquet? Yet, you went ahead to do this? Won't you be satisfied until you run this family to the ground?”

As always, I lowered my eyes to the ground and didn't dare look up when she was scolding me. This time, she was right.

How could I have been so stupid and careless?

“Honey, say something.” She turned to her husband. “I already told you to chase this fool out of this house and remove her name from the family register but you refused. Have you seen the consequences of your choice now? The Baxters will ruin whatever is left of us. All for this mistress’s daughter.”

“Can you keep quiet and let me think?” Father yelled. “Do you think I don't know how grave this situation is?” He turned to me. “Raise your head up, Leslie.” I did as he asked. “Why did you make this mistake?”

“Why are you still asking her? It's obviously because the blood of a mistress runs in her veins. It's because she's a whore like her mother. She is ready to cling to any wealthy man so she can pave the way for herself,” Mother sneered and literally spat on me.

I looked down to avoid the slimy liquid from getting in my eyes. I didn't dare wipe it off.

“Leslie, answer the question I asked you.”

“I didn't know. I'm sorry,” I said, my throat starting to get clogged.

“There she goes again with the crocodile tears,” Liliana rolled her eyes.

“See, Richard, we have to save ourselves before the Baxters come for us. We are innocent.” Mother returned to her seat. “Post a press release and let the world know our stance on this. We have no idea about what happened but we are willing to release the lady unto the Baxters to punish as they see fit.”

It was what I expected Mother to say but my heart still clenched at her words. The people who were supposed to be my family were throwing me out to the wolf.

“Who is there?” Mother called out. I heard footsteps behind me but I didn't look back. “Lock Leslie in her room. Don't give her food or water until I say otherwise.”

“Yes, Madam.”

I didn't bother crying and pleading when they picked me up and started to drag me up the stairs. I have learnt from experience that it was of no use.

I curled up into a ball when they pushed me inside and the click of the door sounded behind me. I turned to the door, noticing the amount of nail scratches on it from the number of times I have been locked up.

I leaned my head against it, my eyes tearing up. I was torn between sadness and fear. Sadness from the way I was being treated and fear from what Saint Baxter will do to me.

He should have pushed me. At least embarrassment would be a better fate than whatever punishment would be meted out to me.

I was stupid enough to give him all my money too. As if money was even the least of his worries.

“Mum,” I sobbed. “Where are you? You're alive, aren't you? Then why are you hiding from me?”

Mum would never have let me be treated like this. Mum would have fought for me.

~∆~

I blinked my eyes open as I heard the door clicking open. That was weird. Anytime Mother locked me, I was usually left for days, so long sometimes that I started to get worried that maybe they had forgotten me here. If my room didn't have enough ventilation from the small window, I would have died from suffocation.

How long has it been this time?

I moved back from the door just as a maid entered. “The whole family is waiting for you in the sitting room.”

My heart dropped to my stomach again. That couldn't be good.

“What time is it please?” I grabbed my aching head.

“It's almost dinnertime,” she replied. I slept throughout the day, it seemed.

I nodded and followed the maid down to the sitting room. Unlike the tense atmosphere during breakfast, everybody was relaxed as they lounged around on the sofa.

“It's good that you sent out that press release on time,” Mother was saying. “Else, we might have been implicated in this lawsuit too.”

What lawsuit?

“Oh, you are here?” Liliana grins, announcing my presence. “That, right there, is a present for you.” I looked at the coffee table she was pointing at. There was an envelope on it.

“Yes. Go ahead and take it.” Mother urged. Father, as usual, stayed silent and read the newspapers.

I walked slowly towards the table, my legs shaky. I grabbed the envelope and opened it. A stack of papers was in it. I pulled them out and read the front page.

‘IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF BELLEVIEW

STATE OF AURELIA

SAINT ALEXANDER BAXTER,

Plaintiff,

Vs.

LESLIE MARIE WEBSTER,

Defendant.

Case No.: 25-CV-9817

Assigned Judge: Hon. Rebecca M. Carlisle

CIVIL COMPLAINT FOR:

1. Public Harassment

2. Unlawful Physical Contact

3. Emotional Distress & Reputational Damage

4. Public Misconduct.

My eyes widened and I instantly turned the page as if to prove myself wrong but the words on the next page stared back at me, mocking me.

‘The plaintiff, a well-known public figure worldwide, claims that on the evening of September 14th, at a private Guild Group banquet, the defendant aggressively approached, made unwanted physical contact, and then caused public disturbance, resulting in serious damage to the plaintiff's reputation and financial loss. Plaintiff claims that because of the Defendant's deliberate, careless, and emotionally unstable actions, unapproved photos and media conjecture about Plaintiff's private life were circulated.’

I turned the page again and kept reading until I got to Plaintiff Demands.

1.$25,000,000 in compensatory damages for damages resulting from the incident to the plaintiff's psychological distress, business reputation, and emotional well-being.

2. Punitive Damages of $50,000,000 to "reflect the gravity of Defendant's actions against a high-profile figure" and "discourage future misconduct."

3. $5,000,000 for the cost of a security upgrade for increasing the size of his private security detail as a result of heightened public awareness.

4. The costs of emotional distress therapy, which include mind-body treatment sessions, therapeutic retreats, and private psychiatric consultations, total $7,250,000.

5. A Full-Page Public Apology Is Required.

6. A Legally Binding No-Contact Order for 5 Years Barring Defendant from approaching within 100 meters of Plaintiff or any Baxter property worldwide.

7. A civil penalty of $13,000,000 for reckless endangerment.

TOTAL MONETARY RELIEF REQUESTED:

$100,250,000 (One Hundred Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars)

+ Non-monetary penalties, public disclosures, and long-term restrictions.

My legs gave out from under me and I collapsed to the ground.