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Jaxon's POV "Professor Thorne," William Sterling said icily. "I'd be careful about involving yourself in this situation. Given your own history of inappropriate conduct with Ms. Cross, your defense of her looks rather suspicious."Ronan's jaw clenched, but he didn't back down. "I'm defending the truth. Something your family seems allergic to.""How dare you.." Catherine started."Everyone stop," Dean Matthews said, holding up his hands. "This situation needs to be handled properly. Victoria, go to the hospital and get treated. Maya, Jaxon, you're not banned from campus, but I strongly suggest you both retain legal counsel. This incident will be investigated thoroughly.""With Sterling family lawyers already spinning the narrative?" Isabella asked. "How fair do you think that investigation will be?""The university will conduct an impartial investigation," Matthews said, but his tone suggested even he didn't believe it.As the paramedics loaded Victoria onto a stretcher, she looked at
Jaxon's POV But Maya was ready this time. She sidestepped, and Victoria's momentum carried her forward into the railing. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Victoria hit the railing hard, the old metal groaning under the impact. She grabbed for the top rail to steady herself, but her hand slipped.For one heart-stopping moment, Victoria teetered on the edge, her body half over the railing. I lunged forward, grabbing the back of her dress and pulling her back onto the terrace. We both went down hard, Victoria landing on top of me before rolling off to the side."Oh my God," Maya breathed.Victoria lay on the stone terrace, clutching her wrist and crying. "It hurts! You broke my wrist!""I saved you from falling off the balcony," I said, getting to my feet. My heart was pounding. "You were going over.""You pushed me!" Victoria sobbed. "You and Maya pushed me into the railing! Everyone saw it!""That's not what happened," Maya said, her voice shaking. "You attacked me. Jaxon wa
Jaxon's POVI should have known Victoria wouldn't just leave quietly. After her breakdown on stage, security had escorted her to the lobby while Dean Matthews called her parents. I'd stayed close to Maya, watching her laugh and dance with Quinn like the weight of the world had finally lifted from her shoulders.She looked so happy. So free. I should have been watching Victoria instead."I need some air," Maya said after about an hour of dancing. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was smiling, actually smiling. "It's so hot in here.""I'll come with you," I offered immediately."Jaxon, I'm fine," she laughed. "Victoria's gone. The drama's over. I can walk to the balcony by myself.""Humor me," I said, not wanting to alarm her but unable to shake the uneasy feeling in my gut. Maya rolled her eyes but didn't argue. We made our way through the crowd toward the French doors that led to the outdoor terrace. The cool night air was a relief after the stuffy ballroom."This is nice," Maya said, l
Maya's POV I stepped closer to her. "All it will do is prove that you're exactly as cruel as everyone now knows you are. So go ahead, Victoria. Press send. Show everyone your true nature."Victoria's hand trembled over her phone. The entire room held its breath."You're bluffing," she said. "You don't want those videos out.""Of course I don't," I admitted. "But I'd rather face the consequences of my worst moments being public than give you the satisfaction of controlling me with fear."For a long moment, Victoria just stared at her phone. Then, slowly, her hand lowered."I can't," she whispered. "I can't do it.""Why not?" I asked gently."Because..." Victoria's voice cracked. "Because then I really would be the monster."Tears started streaming down her face, real ones this time, not the practiced performance tears she'd used before."I hate you," she said, but it sounded more like a confession than an accusation. "I hate that you're strong enough to call my bluff. I hate that every
Maya's POV "You're right about some things," I said, taking the microphone she loosened her grip on. "I did get involved with my stepbrother. That was wrong, and I've never claimed otherwise. I did develop feelings for my professor. That was inappropriate, and we both know it."I looked out at the crowd. "But here's what Victoria isn't telling you. She didn't 'investigate' me out of concern. She targeted me because I was dating her ex-boyfriend, and she couldn't stand that he'd moved on. Everything that happened after, the harassment campaign, the payments to students, the manipulation, that was revenge, pure and simple.""That's not true!" Victoria grabbed for the microphone, but I held it away."Isabella Rodriguez documented everything," I continued. "Bank records. Email chains. Witness testimony. Not lies, Victoria. Evidence. The kind that holds up in court, which is why your family's lawyers are scrambling.""You destroyed my family!" Victoria's composure was cracking, her voice b
Maya's POVI almost didn't go to the end-of-year formal. After everything that had happened, Victoria's staged assault attempt, the media frenzy, the constant scrutiny, the last thing I wanted was to put myself in another public situation where things could go wrong. But Quinn had insisted. "You can't let her take this from you too," she'd said while helping me zip up my dress. "You deserve to celebrate surviving this year. You deserve one normal college experience."So here I was, standing in the grand ballroom of the university's event center, wearing a simple navy blue dress that Quinn had lent me. The room was decorated with thousands of fairy lights, creating a canopy of stars overhead. A DJ played in the corner while students danced, laughed, and pretended, for one night, that drama and scandals didn't exist.Jaxon appeared at my side, looking uncomfortable in his suit. "You okay?" he asked."Surprisingly, yes," I admitted. "It feels good to just... be normal for once.""You look







