âWhat?â My heart pounded, and my eyes bulged in disbelief.
âWhat happened?â
Jenniferâs face darkened as she scrutinized me from head to toe.
âThis morning, the reporters took their filming gear to the prison, all set to broadcast Jaylaâs transfer.
But to their shock, they discovered her lifeless body.
She died in agony, her eyes wide open, frozen in pain
Now everyone thinks youâre the culprit.
â
My mouth hung open, the weight of the accusation rendering me speechless.
Jayla was gone, and I was cast as the prime suspect in the mystery of her death.
I furrowed my brow and said calmly, âAlthough Caleb and I visited her yesterday, he only forbade her from uttering a word.
We didnât do anything else.
The prison guards can vouch for that.
â
Silently, Jenifer handed me a report.
As I perused the contents, I caught a glimpse of a photograph depicting
Caleb and me leaving the prison, followed by a blurry image of Jaylaâs lifeless body.
The report was brimming with harsh accusations.
âJayla had accepted her fate, but Debra insisted on resorting to merciless vengeance, dispatching someone to end Jaylaâs life in the cruelest manner possible.
Thereâs no denying this is an unparalleled depravity committed by the Xeric Pack!
Even if Jayla had a checkered past, she belonged to the Thorn Edge
Pack.
Debra had no authority to pass judgment on her.
This is a step too far!â
The more I delved into the document, the fiercer the flames of rage burned within me.
How did this happen?
I had never uttered a single unkind word to Jayla, yet somehow, a torrent of damaging rumors slandered me overnight.
It was as if an invisible puppeteer manipulated every twist and turn, just like the dark forces that once banished me from the Silver Ridge
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Pack in a blaze of scandal.
Their sinister intention was crystal clearâ to drag me down into a loathsome abyss and ensure my demise.
No.
I couldnât allow myself to be defeated so easily.
Mustering my strength, I vowed to remain calm.
I took a deep, steadying breath and said, âThese allegations are nothing but a malicious fabrication.
Even if I harbored ill will towards Jayla, I would never stoop to such a level, especially not now.
This would do no good to the Roz Town residents.
â
Jenifer massaged her forehead as she grappled with the predicament.
âSadly, public opinion is one-sided.
No one will buy it, Debra.
The crowd needs proof before theyâll even consider your side.
â
A heavy silence engulfed the room.