Chapter 6
A tall, commanding figure filled the doorway.
My father stood there in a perfectly tailored suit, silver at his temples, his eyes sharp as an eagle’s as they swept the room, a storm of fury in his eyes.
“Dad!”
The moment I saw him, every ounce of fear, humiliation, and despair I’d been holding back came crashing down. Tears poured freely.
I tried to get up, but my body gave out and I collapsed.
My father took in the sight of me–clothes torn, hair disheveled, utterly wrecked–and his eyes went red.
In three long strides, he was at my side, stripping off his suit jacket and wrapping it tightly around me.
His voice trembled, just barely:
“Jess, I’m here. I’m sorry I’m late.”
J“Dad…”
I buried myself in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
The moment Scott saw my father, the rage and cruelty drained from his face, leaving only deathly pale fear.
“Dad… I…what are you doing here…” His voice shook.
“Bastard! Who the hell is your dad?!”
My dad’s head snapped up, his gaze a blade of ice.
He drove his foot into Scott’s chest with the full force of his fury.
Thud!
Scott flew back like a rag doll, slamming into the wall with a grunt of pain. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he tried–and failed to get up.
My father didn’t spare him a glance. He gently settled me on the sofa, then turned, his eyes like knives as they raked over the three men cowering on the floor, visibly soiled from fear.
Finally, his gaze landed on Chloe, pale and trembling in the corner.
“Jess.” His voice was low and deadly.
“Tell me these pieces of trash, and this pair of scum–how do you want to deal with them? Whichever hand touched you, I’ll cut it
off.”
He said it as though discussing garbage disposal.
The men froze, faces drained of all color, voices breaking in panic.
“Mr. White, please! Please spare us! We were wrong! We’ll never do it again!”
“It–it was that woman who told us to! It wasn’t our idea!”
I drew a steadying breath, clutched my father’s jacket tighter, and stood.
I strode to the one who looked like their leader, crouched down, and fixed him with a cold stare.
“Say it. All of it. Did I order you to touch Chloe Bennett?”
His face blanched, a dark patch spreading across his pants. His voice cracked.
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“No! No, Mrs. Collins, it wasn’t you! It was… it was Chloe! She paid us a ton of money to stage this–to make it look like we were going to… you know… violate her.
“The video–it’s Al–generated! The bruises–she painted them on herself!
“We never laid a finger on her, I swear! Please, we’re just hired muscle!”
The truth was out.
I rose and walked over to Scott, still crumpled on the floor.
Looking down at him, my voice was pure frost.
“Scott Collins, did you hear that?”
I pointed to myself, enunciating each word.
“I, Jessica White, own up to what I do. If I did it, I’ll admit it. But if I didn’t, no one gets to dump their filth on me.”
Scott clutched his chest, staring in disbelief at Chloe.
“Chloe… is… is what they’re saying true?”
She was already shaking uncontrollably, tears streaming, shaking her head.
“No! No, Mr. Collins, they’re lying! They’re all in on this! Jessica…she hates me…”
Smack!
I crossed the room and slapped her hard across the face.
“Say that again?”
“I… I…”
Smack! This one landed even harder.
“Say it again!”
My father’s patience snapped.
“Enough talking! She dared to frame my daughter–beat her to a pulp. If anything happens, I’ll take the heat.“.
The bodyguards moved in, radiating menace.
Chloe collapsed completely, clutching my legs and wailing.
“I’ll talk! I’ll talk! It was me! I paid them to do it! I told them to stage the whole thing!”
“The bruises–I faked them! The video–I had it made!”
“I just wanted to force you out so I could take your place… I wanted to be Mrs. Collins… I know I was wrong! Mrs. Collins, please, just this once–please forgive me! I’ll never do it again!”
“See?”
I shook off her grip and turned to Scott, my lips curling in an icy smile.
“She admitted it. I’ve never laid a hand on her.”
I stepped up to him and, with every ounce of strength I had, slapped him across the face.
Smack! Crisp and sharp.
“That’s for your infidelity.”
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Smack! A second one, snapping his head to the side, blood staining his lip.
“That’s for the humiliation you’ve put me through lately.”
Smack! The third came with the full weight of my rage and disgust, leaving half his face swelling rapidly.
“And that’s for almost pushing me into hell just now.”
Scott sat there, face burning, the metallic tang of blood in his mouth. He didn’t dare lift a hand in defense.
His voice was hoarse, pleading.
“Jess… I know I was wrong… I really was… Hit me, kill me if you want… Just–please, for Emily’s sake–give me one more chance…”
