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.