A man with a history of petty theft, in and out of jail more times than I could count.
He cleared his throat and spoke, voice shaky.
"That incident back then… Rachel Dawson ordered me to do it. Miss Burns was completely innocent. Her own daughter tricked her into attending a gathering at the Dawsons’ estate.

“She was given too much to drink, and when she was too intoxicated to stand, I was told to take her to a room and slip a wad of cash under the pillow."
Rachel had orchestrated everything, ensuring the authorities received an anonymous tip at just the right moment.
Before my mother even had a chance to wake up, before she could even realize what was happening, officers burst through the door under the guise of a vice raid.
"Even now, it’s easy to ruin a woman’s reputation. Spread a little gossip, slap a label on her, and suddenly, she’s a pariah. And back then? It was even easier."
I tightened my grip on the microphone.
"I didn’t study journalism just for this one case.

"I will spend the rest of my life fighting for every woman who has been slandered, falsely accused, and silenced."
That livestream was the final blow to the Dawson family's downfall.
Their entire empire was built on corruption, and now, just as the government was cracking down, they found themselves caught in the storm.
"They were never under my protection," Liam said casually.

"My dear half-brother was the one supporting them all this time.
"It was just business. Any partnerships we had can be severed at any time. It won’t affect me."
Relief washed over me.
With that reassurance, I submitted every last piece of evidence I had gathered to the authorities.
Liam kept his hands clean after taking control of the Hughes family, cutting ties with the Dawsons long ago.
He remained untouched.
On the day the Dawson family finally collapsed, I brought a bouquet of flowers and took Liam with me to visit my mother’s grave.
In the photo on the headstone, her smile remained as gentle as ever.
Yet, there was always a trace of sadness in it.
She had been a kind, delicate woman—one who truly loved my father.
And because of that love, she had never been able to move on.
"Before she passed, she lay in that hospital bed, clutching my hand. She told me not to blame Linda.
"She said, ‘Your sister isn’t truly a Dawson by blood. Life there must have been difficult for her.’"
She never knew.
All these years, Linda built her place in that family by trampling on my mother’s name, belittling and shaming her.
Winning Rachel’s favor by pretending to be a victim.
She secured her status in the Dawson family, step by step.
From the moment they took her in, she had been rotting from the inside.
I ran my fingertips over the engraved image of my mother, tracing the contours of her face.
"Mom, no one will ever question your innocence again. I have a good career now. And a boyfriend—"
Liam, standing beside me, corrected softly, "Fiancé."
I exhaled, shaking my head before relenting.
"Fine, fiancé."
Without thinking, I twisted the silver band on my left ring finger—the matching set to Liam’s.
After leaving for school abroad, I had tucked it away at the bottom of a suitcase.
I thought I would never have the chance to wear it again.
Straightening the bouquet in front of the headstone, I rose to my feet and bowed.
When I turned, Liam was still watching me.
"Chloe, wait for me in the car. I want to speak with your mother alone."
The autumn night carried a sharp chill.
I waited in the car for what felt like a long time before finally seeing Liam return.
His black coat was damp with dew, the crisp night air sharpening the angles of his face.
Tilting my head, I asked, "What did you say to her?"
He started the car, his fingers resting lightly on the steering wheel.
He stayed quiet for a long moment before finally speaking.
"I just thanked her for bringing you into this world. Because if she hadn’t, I would have died at my lowest point… five summers ago."
…
Once everything finally settled, life moved forward.
I was officially hired full-time and even got a small promotion.
Now, I was in charge of handling interviews on my own.