Chapter 6

Caroline POV

The wind on the rooftop was fierce, giving me a headache.

I leaned against the railing, looking at the traffic below.

"Caroline!"

Harry ran up breathlessly, clutching a USB drive in his hand.

"Got it!"

He rushed over and pressed the drive into my palm.

"I bribed the property manager at Sam's apartment complex. This is the complete surveillance footage from that day!"

My hand trembled, nearly dropping it.

"Look!"

Harry pulled out his phone and plugged in a card reader.

The screen showed clear footage.

Sam had been the one to surround Jason with his friends, pointing at my photo and calling me a whore.

When Jason tried to leave, Sam pushed him to the ground and they kicked him while he was down.

Jason only grabbed a brick in self-defense when he was cornered against the wall with no way out.

This was self-defense, absolutely not intentional assault.

I stared at the screen, tears finally streaming down my face.

This was Jason's innocence. His future.

With this, Gavin's accusations were worthless.

...

Just then, a news alert pushed to my phone screen.

Ruby's PR team had issued an announcement:

"Tomorrow night's charity gala will feature bully Caroline's confession, serving as a warning about the dangers of cyberbullying."

Immediately after, Gavin reposted the tweet.

Caption: "Justice may be delayed, but it will not be denied."

The comments exploded.

"Ruby is too kind. That person should be in prison!"

"Can't wait to see that evil woman Caroline apologize tomorrow!"

"Lawyer Gavin is so hot, what a devoted protector!"

My hand shook. I closed the phone.

...

In the hospital room.

When Jason learned I was going to apologize on livestream, he got so agitated he nearly pulled out his IV.

"I'm not afraid of prison! You can't go!"

He banged his casted hand against the bed rail. "That bastard Gavin will ruin you for life! We don't need him. Worst case, we all go down together!"

"Jason."

I held him down, my expression gentle but resolute.

"This is the last time."

I tucked the blanket around my brother, saying softly, "After tomorrow night, we leave this place. Head south. Never come back."

"But-"

"Trust me."

I looked into my brother's eyes. "I will never truly bow my head."

When I left the hospital, Lulu sent me an audio file and a technical analysis report.

Lulu was my old college roommate, now an audio expert.

Lulu: Caroline, the audio restoration is done. Listen to this.

Then came an audio file and a technical analysis report.

I put on my earphones and hit play.

Three years ago, the muffled audio from Ruby's suicide note became perfectly clear after enhancement.

Ruby, supposedly slitting her wrists, spoke with eerie calm.

"Adjust the blood pack. Make it look convincingly brutal. Gavin likes that."

Then the makeup artist: "Is this angle good, Miss Ruby?"

"Perfect. Toss the blade far away. Don't get caught."

I stood on the sidewalk hearing the recording. My whole body shook uncontrollably.

Three years of buried injustice had found its release.

Gavin. Ruby.

You two will pay for this.