I nced around. People parted for us like waves, but my eyes stopped at Jess. She stood with a cell phone clutched in her hand, her eyes red from crying, yet ring at me as if I were a

curse that wouldn’t die. Her bottom lip trembled.

I turned away.

Jimson’s face was nk, frozen in some twisted mix of horror

and disbelief.

I looked right at him. “Still going to pretend you had nothing to

do with it?”

Jimson scoffed, trying to actposed. “You’ve got the wrong

guy. Looks like you’re just trying to ruin her reputation in front

of Alexander.”

That low blow hit Jess like a p. Her jaw clenched, and she

stepped forward, eyes shining. “You’re such a liar,” she snapped,

voice cracking. “She’s just acting–trying to win everyone’s

sympathy!”

“Enough,” Alexander said coldly, not even ncing at her. “Jess,

your jealousy is no longer excusable. You’ve crossed the line.”

Jess opened her mouth again but closed it just as fast, stunned

silent.

I sighed. “Jess isn’t the problem right now” I looked back at Jimson. “You really think you were alone in that house with

me?”

His confidence slipped, barely noticeable. Just a flicker in his

eyes, a twitch in his lip. He straightened his spine.

“You’re making things up.”

“I left a tape recorder,” I said, tone calm but firm. “It’s voice-

activated and can record up to forty–eight hours. It’s been

running since yesterday. Everything–your conversation with

John, the threats, the entire disgusting mess–is on it.”

Yve, who was quiet until she whispered,“Are you bluffing.”

“Of course I am.It’s the only way to break him.”

“Do you think he’ll crack?”

“He has to.”

Alexander tilted his head. “Where is the recorder?”

“At the old seaside mansion. I can draw a map.”

“No need,” Alexander said, eyes locked on Jimson. “John already

confessed it’s his property. Gai is retrieving the recorder now.”

Chapin 35

That was a twist I hadn’t expected–but a wee one.

Jimson’s face visibly stiffened.

The tension in the room spiked like a live wire. Several people exchanged nces. Whispers filled the background. I saw the

panic starting to bloom on some faces. But Jimson… Jimson still

yed the calm card.

“You’re grasping at straws,” he said. “Even if you have

something, it can be edited. Fake. Anyone can record voices these days!”

“You think I don’t know that?” I said, voice colder. “Which is

why the recorder uploads audio to the cloud every ten minutes.

Nothing you say now can undo what’s already on file.”

That was lie number two.

Alexander pulled out his phone and gestured to the others in

the room. “If Olivia’s telling the truth–and I believe she is this

recording will make national headlines. You still want to stand

by your story?”

One by one, others in the room reached for their phones too,

cameras aimed at Jimson.

I turned slightly. “Alpha, do you have aptop or aputer?”

“I’ll have one brought in.”

Popter 43

He gave a shortmand. Within minutes, a sleek ckptop

was ced on the table beside me.

Jimson’sposure fractured.

He stared at theptop like it was a live bomb.

“I can give you the login,” I said sweetly. “We can listen

together.”

“I-” he started, but the words died in his throat. He nced at

the door like he was calcting escape routes. Beads of sweat

broke out on his forehead. His shoulders started to hunch as if

his body was copsing under the weight of the lie.

“I don’t think you’re that smart, Jimson,” I said, quiet and slow.

“But I think you’re scared. And now you should be.”

His hand shot out and grabbed theptop–not to destroy it, but

to clutch it like a beggar clings to hisst meal.

His lips trembled as he turned to me. “Let’s… settle this

privately.”

I raised an eyebrow

He was sweating, desperate, cornered.

Perfect.

Olivia’s POV

“You tried to rape me,” I said, my voice steady despite the

ringing in my ears. “You tied me up, held me captive, and if I

hadn’t jumped into the sea, I might not be standing here. So

don’t you dare tell me this can be talked out.”

Gasps echoed across the room. Jimson’s face twisted, but he

tried to y it off. “I didn’t touch you,” he said quickly, voice

cracking. “I just–maybe I said something off. That’s all. It was a

joke, that’s all.”

“A joke?” I echoed. “You call tying someone up and threatening

them a joke? You think sniffing someone’s cheek and touching

their legs is funny?”

He opened his mouth, clearly fumbling for a lie, but I didn’t give

him time.

“Why were you crouched beside me and caressing my leg?” I

asked, raising my voice so everyone in the room could hear.