He Waited She Wilted (Ottilie and Yorath) novel Chapter 185

"Talk to you about what?" Jevon snapped. "Three years ago, you were as stubborn as a mule. We told you to plead guilty! As long as the compensation was paid and they signed the settlement, you would've gotten probation. And what did you say? I didn't do it! I'm innocent!

"And then what? They had witnesses, physical evidence, and high-definition video of you stabbing Nyssa in the eye and starting a fire that killed people! Attempted murder and arson! I know you wanted to claim self-defense, but where was your proof? Without evidence, what good is screaming until you're blue in the face? Even if you could prove self-defense, it would've been deemed excessive force. With bodies dropping, you were going away regardless."

"If Yorath hadn't dug up your old medical records showing you spent time in a psychiatric ward, not a single one of us could have saved you. You were a glorified pet, not his girlfriend! He did more than enough for you. So who the hell are you playing the victim against? What right do you have to hate anyone?"

"Everyone is responsible for their own messes. He paid to keep a trophy around. Was he supposed to strap you to his waist and watch you twenty-four hours a day? Why would he pay just to suffer? Even if he had money to burn, he shouldn't have wasted it on a walking disaster like you."

Ottilie absorbed every single word of Jevon's tirade, letting it slowly digest in her mind.

She turned back to Yorath. "You should have just told me it was over. Even if we weren't really dating, there should have been a clean break. You should have let me know we were done."

Instead of treating her like trash to be swept out the door, leaving her completely in the dark as to why.

Her words plunged the entire car into heavy silence.

"I know you thought I was too much trouble back then," she continued softly. "Keeping me around was a liability. I was a stumbling block for your career. You saved my life, and that was your way of settling the tab for the years I spent warming your bed. I understand it all perfectly."

He reached out, pulling her firmly into his chest. "I have never stopped investigating what happened that night. Gathering evidence has been difficult, but I promise I will clear your name."

She didn't fight his embrace, her deadened eyes locked on the burled walnut box.

There was absolutely no emotion left in her gaze.

These rich elites were master manipulators when it came to buying loyalty.

They would break you down until you were half-dead, then spin a bullshit story about how they did it for your own good, leaving you desperate to cling to them forever.

Ready to hand over your very life.

Back then on set, the director, the assistant director, her own bodyguards, her manager, her assistant...

Every single one of them had been on Yorath's payroll.

And she was supposed to believe he had absolutely no idea what they were doing to her?

It was almost funny.

The Fordham family refused to accept Nyssa, so he would marry Ottilie first, using her as a human shield to absorb all the family's vitriol.

Then, when the stress finally drove her to the grave—just like Mandy—he would be free to officially be with Nyssa.

By that point, Nyssa's background wouldn't look quite so unacceptable in comparison, and the family would likely welcome her with open arms.

It just went to show—when a man truly loved someone, he would walk through hellfire to make her his wife.

He had practically manipulated the entire board to ensure Nyssa's victory.

She remembered seeing Nyssa standing at the gates of the Meridian Villa in sexy lingerie. They were practically living together, screwing every single day.

And now, to pull off their perfect wedding, they were actively dragging her into the crossfire.

They truly were willing to sacrifice anything in the name of true love.

If she had to guess, the woman hiding out at The Empyrean was definitely Nyssa.