LOGINThat’s when the door opened and I came in. The air was heavy, thick with the intoxicating memories of a day I could never scrub from my mind, the day I stood in the center of this living room while he was throwing a tantrum, his ego bruised and his temper flaring. Caleb appeared from nowhere, as if he had been haunting his own hallways. "What did you say?" he asked and I didn’t answer immediately. I sized him up with my eyes, noting the way his designer shirt was wrinkled and the sweat beads forming at his hairline.My eyes traveled the entire room, cataloging the expensive art and the cold, modern furniture that felt more like a showroom than a home but looked so identical to Jaxson's, guess it's because of their similarities and their love for baseball. "How did you know?" he asked again, his tone rising. I ignored him, moving with a calculated, leisurely grace toward the couch. I took my place, crossing my legs and leaning back as if I were the one hosting the meeting."You have
It’s almost like a chant that rang everywhere, a rhythmic, digital heartbeat that pulse through my phone and lit up the dark corners of my room. Seeing the glow of the fans lighting up my feed was like watching a sunrise after a year of nuclear winter. They were commenting rapidly, the tide finally, violently turning in my favor.I scrolled through the sea of notifications, 1. **@truthqueen87::** "I am literally crying reading these testimonies. How did we let Sarah convince us that Valerie was the villain? We were all complicit in her trauma. Val, I am so incredibly sorry for every mean thing I ever posted. #JusticeForValerie" 2. **@viraltea:** "The fact that Sarah paid someone to bully her... that’s not a mistake, that’s a personality disorder. If she did that then, she definitely killed Jaxson. We need the real truth now. No more cover-ups!" 3. **@mediajunkie:** "This is the scariest example of a smear campaign I’ve ever seen. We literally watched a victim get torn apart by her
"And why shouldn't we be doing this?" I asked, my voice flat, devoid of the warmth she was desperately trying to conjure."Because we know each other, we love each other! Val, this is just rage. You're pouring it in the wrong place. The only person you need to get back at is Cillian. I'm your friend, your sister...""Sarah, what are you doing?" I interrupted, a chill running down my spine at her audacity."Val, let's stop all of this. Let's remember how we both started. We were six, Val. We loved each other. We promised to always be there for each other...""And I want you to stop there immediately," I snapped, my knuckles whitening as I gripped the phone. "I really wish you would, because if this is you trying to work your way out of the grave you dug, please think again. Get your lawyers ready. I'm not going to stop until you're in jail."The facade shattered instantly. The "sisterly" warmth evaporated, replaced by a hissed, venomous snarl."You will regret this, Val! I won't let yo
"I'm not even done yet and you're already weeping, Sarah? What happened to the ' best friend who means well? Don't you have a defense video to film? I was waiting for the waterworks. You think I started all this without being prepared for your pathetic denials?""You're a dead woman, Val," she hissed, the mask completely gone now."Even if you begged, Sarah, I wouldn't stop until I see you in a jumpsuit that matches your soul. Keep it coming. I am a lifetime ready for you." I clicked 'end call' before she could get another word in.The adrenaline was a rush, a physical heat that pushed me out of bed. I walked straight to the back of the closet, pulling the suitcase from beneath the layers of coats. My hands were steady as I flipped the latches. I knew there was something else in here...something that would make the morning headlines look like a teaser trailer.Just as my fingers brushed the edge of another SD card, the burner phone in my pocket vibrated. It was Jeff."Tell me you have
**[SLIDE 1: SCREENSHOT]****Jaxson:** Stop being in my DM. I don't want Valerie to think I'm having an affair with you.**Sarah:** What's so wrong about having an affair with me? I'm hotter than her. Why does everyone think she's better than me? Even in my own house, I'm treated like a second fiddle while she's treated like a princess!!**[SLIDE 2: SCREENSHOT]****Jaxson:** She's the love of my life, don't you dare try to hurt her.**Sarah:** Jaxson, seriously, I saw you first and you know it. Why do you keep acting like you really love Valerie?**Jaxson:** I really love Valerie, don't try to twist it.**[SLIDE 3: SCREENSHOT]****Sarah:** Then why did you sleep with me! If you love Valerie, why did you come crying into my room about how she barely gives you attention? She’s too busy being an actress to be the love of your life, Jaxson. She doesn't see you. I do.**Jaxson:** You knew I was drunk! You made a move on me, Sarah. It was a mistake. I regret it every second I look at her.**
"Whatever you're doing, just stop," Montgomery said the moment we reached the lounge. He didn't wait for me to get comfortable, he remained standing for a heartbeat before sinking into his wingback chair, looking every bit the weary patriarch. "I want you to stop, Valerie. Now.""I'm not going to stop," I replied, my voice steady despite the adrenaline still humming in my ears. I leaned back, clutching my bag, "Not when I'm this close to doing what I should've done a year ago.""It's no longer needed," he snapped, his eyes flashing with a cold, desperate light."It is needed because so many lives are at stake here! For once in your life, Montgomery, defend your dead son over your goddamn reputation!""I don't want the cause of Jaxson's death to come to light to the world," he hissed, leaning forward until we were inches apart. "Don't push it.""Well, guess who's pushing it with the last of her blood? Don't try and stop me because I will make sure I do everything I can until his name i
My heart was beating as much as my hands were shaking.The screen flickered to a shot of Caleb sitting in a studio, "I’ve known Valerie a long time, I mean who didn't?" he began, "Her relationship with Jaxson has been something I fancied but then...
"That's the only way you can take off much load on your chest," he said, pulling closer until the scent of his cologne wrapped around me. "No much thinking..." His eyes warmed into mine."No much wishing things were different. I don't want to be greedy, but I want to help you
"I'm okay," I pitched in immediately, my voice cutting through the heavy silence that usually followed the Thorne name. "Thank you for the other day."Sterling Thorne shrugged, "It’s no big deal. I noticed you were in so much trouble. If someone didn&rsquo
The accusation hit me like a physical blow. I looked around, desperate for Sarah, but I was lost in a sea of judgment. The flashes were a strobe light of hell, blinding me, turning the funeral hall into a fractured nightmare. They were circling me now, their voices rising into a deafening chant of







