Chapter 5: The Wolves Bleed
Preston lunged forward, but the lawyer in the grey suit immediately grabbed his arm, pulling him back.
"Preston, stop. We are in a hospital. If you touch her, my job becomes impossible," the lawyer hissed. He stepped forward, fixing his tie, and looked at me with cold, shark-like eyes.
"Ms. Hayes. I am Richard Vance, legal counsel for your father. What you have done constitutes severe defamation, cyberbullying, and extortion. If you do not immediately retract your statements, we will bury you in civil lawsuits. We will take your house, your savings, and we will petition child protective services to investigate your fitness as a mother, considering you purposefully put your daughter in harm's way for internet fame."
The threat hung in the air, toxic and heavy.
For thirty years, this was how my family operated. Fear. Intimidation. Financial ruin. They expected me to fold. They expected me to break down crying, beg for forgiveness, and do exactly what they told me to do.
"Mr. Vance," I said, crossing my arms. "Are you aware of the legal definition of defamation?"
The lawyer blinked, clearly not expecting me to fight back. "I am a lawyer, Ms. Hayes. I know the definition."
"Then you know that truth is an absolute defense to defamation," I replied, my voice steady. "Everything in that video is real. Therefore, you have no case. And as for your threat about CPS?"
I reached into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and tapped the screen.
"I've been recording this entire conversation since the moment my brother kicked the door open. I just captured you, a licensed attorney, attempting to blackmail a victim of assault on behalf of your wealthy client."
Vance’s face drained of color.
"Now," I continued, staring directly at my father, who suddenly looked very, very old. "You have exactly five seconds to get out of my daughter's room before I send this audio file directly to the State Bar Association, and then to the millions of people currently waiting for an update on my Facebook page."
"You wouldn't dare," Preston whispered, though his voice was shaking.
"Try me," I challenged, holding his gaze. "One... two..."
"Let's go," Vance muttered, grabbing my father's shoulder. "We need to leave. Now."
My father glared at me, a look of pure hatred. "You are dead to me, Evelyn. You are no longer my daughter."
"I never was, Dad," I replied coldly. "I was just a prop in Preston’s life. But the show is over."
They backed out of the room, Preston casting one last terrified look at me before the door clicked shut.
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I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding, my entire body shaking with adrenaline. I had won the battle.
But as I looked out the hospital window, I saw two black police SUVs pull into the parking lot, followed closely by a news van. The real war was just beginning. And I was going to burn my family's empire to the ground, brick by brick.
