Chapter 8

Josie Cohen POV:

The words on my phone screen blurred. Jordan. My brilliant, tenacious Jordan. A wave of lightheadedness washed over me, so potent I had to steady myself against the wall. It was real. The evidence. The truth.

I remembered Jordan' s unwavering loyalty, her quiet assurances in the darkest days after my expulsion. "I don't believe them, Josie. I'll find something. I promise." She had never given up. Not like Demetri. Not like everyone else.

A joyous, almost delirious laugh escaped my lips. She'd actually found it. After three years of living under a cloud of lies, of being branded a bully, of losing everything because of one manipulative woman, the truth was finally within reach.

"Jordan," I typed, my fingers shaking. "Thank you. Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means."

I looked out the hospital window, at the bustling New York skyline. The city suddenly seemed less daunting, less foreign. The heavy chains of my past, the ones that had bound me so tightly, were finally beginning to loosen. I was free. We were free.

My first call was to Caron Wolfe. I explained Bennie's condition and my decision to leave New York with him. Her response was surprisingly understanding. "Josie, you've earned your way out. I'll make sure your final payout is processed immediately. Take care of your brother."

Packing was symbolic. Three years of my life condensed into a single suitcase. Worn clothes, a few cherished photos of my parents, and Bennie's favorite comic books. Each item a reminder of the hardship, but also of the resilience.

As I finished, my phone rang. Demetri. My stomach clenched. He was calling to remind me about the public apology.

"Josie," his voice was clipped, impatient. "The live stream is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. Be at my office at noon to go over the script."

I felt a surge of cold fury. "There won't be a script, Demetri. And I won't be there."

A beat of stunned silence. "What are you talking about?" His voice sharpened. "You agreed. You can't back out now."

"Watch me," I said, a dangerous calm settling over me. "And you know what? I hope you enjoy the show." I hung up before he could respond.

I hailed a cab, Bennie carefully settled beside me, still weak but animated by the prospect of a new start. The airport was a whirlwind of activity, a vortex pulling us towards a different future. Jordan was waiting for us at the check-in desk, her eyes bright with excitement and a fierce determination.

"You're really doing this, aren't you?" she asked, pulling me into a tight hug. "Running away from it all."

"I'm not running away, Jordan," I corrected, my voice firm. "I'm running to something. A new life. Away from all the lies." I squeezed her hand. "Are you ready?"

Her eyes gleamed. "Ready to blow up the internet and expose that witch? You bet your ass I am." She patted the small flash drive in her pocket. "Demetri's going to freak when he sees this. He deserves to know the truth about his precious fiancée."

I smiled, a genuine, hopeful smile. "He chose to believe her lies over my truth, Jordan. He made his bed." I hugged her tightly one last time. "Thank you. For everything."

Bennie, leaning heavily on his crutches, gave Jordan a small, shy smile. "Thanks, Jordan."

"You two just focus on healing and building your new life," Jordan said, her voice full of warmth. "I'll handle the fireworks here."

We boarded the plane, leaving behind the city that had chewed me up and spit me out. As the plane taxied down the runway, I took out my old phone, removed the SIM card, and snapped it in half. A symbolic gesture. A final farewell to the past.

Demetri Anderson POV:

The live stream was set to begin. Claudia sat beside me, preening, her carefully crafted image of a wronged victim radiating from every angle. I felt a knot of unease in my stomach. Josie hadn't shown up. She hadn't answered my calls.

"Where is she?" I growled into my phone, calling her again. Nothing. Just an automated message. The number you have dialed is currently unavailable.

My jaw tightened. She dared to defy me. To defy the agreement.

"Don't worry, Demetri darling," Claudia purred, placing a hand on my arm. "She's probably just scared. She knows she's in the wrong."

The door burst open. Jordan Ochoa, Josie's friend, stood there, her eyes blazing. "Scared? No. Josie is done with your lies. But she sent me. For the truth."

"What is the meaning of this?" I demanded, my voice icy. "Where is Josie? She needs to be here. She needs to apologize."

Jordan stepped forward, a defiant set to her jaw. "Josie won't be apologizing. But I will show the world the real truth. The truth about Claudia." She held up a small flash drive. "Do you dare, Demetri? Do you dare to see the evidence you so blindly ignored?"

My eyes narrowed. She had something. I could see it in her unwavering gaze. "You have five minutes. If you try anything, anything at all, I will have you removed."

Jordan just smirked. "Fair enough." She walked to the technical desk, plugging in her flash drive. The producer, confused, looked at me for confirmation. I gave a harsh nod.

The live stream started. Thousands of viewers already tuned in, expecting Josie's public humiliation. The comments flowed rapidly across the screen.

"Where's Josie? Is she finally going to confess?"

"Claudia, you're so brave for facing your tormentor!"

Jordan cleared her throat, her voice calm and clear. "Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Jordan Ochoa, and I'm here today to present some undeniable facts about the alleged bullying incident at USC, an incident that has been misrepresented for far too long." She looked directly into the camera. "Let's start with a little snippet of security footage, shall we? From the campus cafeteria, three years ago."

The screen changed. The grainy, but clear, footage played. It showed Claudia, not Josie, initiating the confrontation. Claudia, bumping into Josie, then deliberately spilling coffee on herself. Claudia, screaming and pointing, tears ready on command. Claudia, not Josie, instigating the entire staged event.

The live chat exploded.