Chapter 1

Denver's POV

The second those words landed, I shoved the desk in front of Audrey Taylor over.

"Do you even hear how ridiculous you sound, Audrey?"

My whole body trembled as I stared at the woman in front of me, as if I were seeing her clearly for the first time.

"You're actually blaming the victim for what happened. Are you really willing to throw away your professional ethics just to protect that student of yours?"

Audrey froze for two seconds, startled by my outburst. When she recovered, the last of her patience was gone.

"And what gives you the right to stand there and lecture me, Denver Walsh?" Her brows drew together, her gaze ice-cold. "You're acting like an animal that's completely lost control, you know that?

"Being hurt doesn't give you the right to accuse someone without evidence. If you're so determined to insist Talon was behind this, then prove it."

I stared at her in silence. Suddenly, I felt nothing at all.

What a joke.

That night had become a nightmare that tortured me over and over every time I closed my eyes. I'd replayed every detail so many times that no one knew better than I did exactly what role Talon had played.

If he hadn't called me sobbing and threatened to kill himself to prove his innocence, I never would've panicked and rushed to the rooftop without even changing out of my pajamas.

If he hadn't stammered that he'd already climbed over the railing, I wouldn't have run so hard I barely dared to breathe, terrified that being even a moment too late would cost him his life.

Then the gleaming blade plunged into my body. I collapsed in a pool of blood, battered and helpless, screaming Talon's name until my voice went hoarse.

He never answered.

From the beginning, the thug had clearly intended to destroy me completely.

I couldn't understand why Talon hated me so much that he wanted me to suffer a fate worse than death.

But now, seeing Audrey willing to turn against me just to defend him, whatever hope I'd had left died.

"All right, Counselor. If evidence is all that matters to you," I said with a bitter smile, "then prove me wrong. Show me yours. If it hadn't been for him that night..."

Audrey cut me off before I could finish. "I'm his evidence."

I froze. My mind went blank. "What do you mean?"

She met my disbelieving stare calmly, speaking with deliberate ease, "The night you were attacked, Talon was with me the entire time. Is that enough evidence for you?"

It took me a moment to process what she'd said.

Then, all at once, I lost the strength to argue. I looked at Audrey's open, unconcerned expression, and every tangled, raging emotion inside me seemed to vanish in an instant.

Suddenly, none of this felt worth it anymore.

"Fine. I understand."

I quietly left the study and closed the door behind me.

Then I took out my phone. Calmly, I contacted my attorney, Melanie Cross.