Chapter 100
100
Some mothers didn’t care about their own daughters, and there were mothers like her–willing to do anything for their
children.
I respected her. I respected her honesty.
“Don’t worry,” I told her firmly. “No matter what happens to me, I make sure you and your daughter are taken care of for the rest of your lives.”
Her eyes reddened instantly, and I could see how much those words meant to her.
She was a good mother–through and through.
When she offered to protect me while I was here, saying slie was willing to risk everything as long as I promised to help her daughter, I refused.
I didn’t want her to take unnecessary risks. She deserved a chance to live peacefully with her daughter without jeopardizing her
future.
Besides, I had my own way of handling things.
I returned to my cot, but before lying down, I turned to the room. A few of the other women were already eyeing me, their expressions full of ill intent.
“I don’t care what anyone promised you or how much they paid,” I said loudly, my tone steady and sharp. “Whatever they’re offering, I’ll pay you ten times more. So don’t even think about it.
The room fell silent–so quiet it was almost eerie.
They stared at me, clearly taken aback.
Then, the woman who had saved me stepped forward. “You might want to believe her,” she said, her voice firm. “She’s married to the richest man in the city. Money isn’t a problem for her.”
She glanced at the group, adding, “That’s why I chose to help her.”
Her words seemed to flip a switch.
Suddenly, the tension in the room eased, and the women’s expressions shifted. Their hostility was replaced with something more neutral, maybe even respectful.
It wasn’t hard to figure out why. People who could be bought with money could also be swayed with more money.
No matter how much Julianne paid them, she couldn’t outspend me. Irvin might love her, but there was no way he’d hand over half his fortune to fund her schemes.
This was exactly why I refused to sign her revised divorce agreement. Money was power, and without it, Julianne could crush me in an instant.
With the immediate threat handled, I lay back on the cot, waiting for Mr. Stern to finish processing my bail. I thought everything was under control.
I was wrong.
When Mr. Stern returned, the look on his face immediately set me on edge.
“Ms. Quill,” he began cautiously, “I’m afraid you won’t be getting out today.”
I froze, confused. “What? Why not? What happened?”
1/2
100
+25 BONUS
He sighed, looking grim. “Things outside have escalated. Let me explain, Earlier this morning, around nine, the new about Julianne being Irvin’s former stepinother spread like wildfire online. It’s everywhere now.”
He paused, his tone growing heavier. “People are calling her a gold digger. They’re saying she’s shameless, that she deserves to disappear. Some of the comments… they’re brutal. Things like, ‘How can she still call Irvin “brother” after everything? or She’s disgusting and has no limits.“”
I could already see where this was going.
“Julianne saw those comments,” he continued. “She… lgst it. She tried to take her own life again.”
I felt my stomach twist, but he wasn’t done.
“Your parents, feeling sorry for her, decided to take action . They released the video.”
“What video?” I asked, even though I already knew.
“The one that allegedly shows you drugging Julianne,” he clarified “They also held a press conference with your brother, where they accused you of being jealous of Julianne. They claimed you couldn’t stand her relationship with Irvin, so you sabotaged her life–first by breaking up her supposed ‘relationship‘ with Irvin, and then by drugging her to make sure she could never be with him again.”
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.
“They’re saying the assault by Mr. Sawyer wasn’t Julianne’s fault–that it was your doing. That Julianne’s not a gold digger, but a victim.”
“And Irvin?” I asked, my voice tight.
Mr. Stern hesitated, then nodded. “Irvin… confirmed their claims. Publicly.”
His words hit like a sledgehammer.
“With your parents, brother, and husband all speaking against you the internet believes them. People are convinced it’s true. The comments have shifted.
“Now you’re the one being dragged through the mud. Everyone’s calling you a jealous, manipulative homewrecker. Some even showed up outside the station to protest, demanding justice for Julianne.”
He sighed deeply. “And that’s not all. People online are tagging the police, demanding a full investigation. With all this pressure, there’s no way they’re letting you out on bail right now.