That night, Emerald spent hours gathering her strength and determination. This time, she wasn't backing down.

Alaric held her wrist, a hint of hesitation in his touch. Emerald gave him a small smile, "Trust me, I can handle it."

"Alright," he said, releasing her, "but if you need anything, just call."

As he charged his phone, Alaric saw the internet already buzzing with accusations. Mrs. Santos had publicly claimed that Emerald seduced her husband during a home visit, even sharing a screenshot from a video. In it, as Emerald tried to push him away, the angle made it look like she was leaning into his arms. With Mrs. Santos’s testimony,...