The Scars Of Her Disdain

blow, not just ending the proceedings, b

dism

courtroom. Brandon Thorne was fr

the sec

t for defamation. Mr. Miller, you are ordered to pay one hundred thous

red thousand dollars. They weren't just letting a mon

d narratives. Headlines flashed across my phone screen: "Tech Scion Cleared of All Cha

teran looking for someone to blame. They used my service, the very thing I was proud of, as a weapon against me. The public ate

sking in the flash of cameras, a red mist of rage descended over me. I pu

ght in h

low and shaking. "You think you've won?

ips. "I think you'll find I'm very free. Free to do

rms, their grips like iron vices, and slammed me back against the marble wall. My

e crowd watched. Some gasped, most

t picture of concern for him. She put a hand on his

and public. "You are violating a court order. If you don't le

as if I were a stranger, a pi

et and pulled out a wad of cash. He peeled off a single hundr

to hear. "A little something to help with your...

st my enemy, he was my benefactor, tos

ould hear his whisper. The smell of

for you." He paused, letting the words sink in. "And Sarah... she's so much more fun when you're not around. S

trol I had spent years honing as a SEAL, it all ev

smug face. There was a satisfying crunch of cartilage and bone. He staggered back, blood pouring from h

lasted a

slammed into my ribs, another into my kidneys. Pain shot throu

s side, dabbing at his bloody nose with a silk handkerchief, playing the part of the damsel protecting her ch

arble. I looked up and saw them standing over me-Brandon, bleeding but tri

this happen? How did we get here? Lily was the victim. I was fighting for her. But