He Waited She Wilted (Ottilie and Yorath) novel Chapter 54

Heath Schmidt, sitting beside Lachlan in his wheelchair, sneered. "I agree, but I have one condition. Break both of her legs so she spends the rest of her life in a wheelchair."

Warren Walden practically bristled with rage. "Mr. Heath and I are on the exact same page. My demands are simple: she pays for my only son's life with her own. Do that, and I'll agree to let her back into the industry."

An investor chimed in angrily, "Because of her, the entire palace set built for the movie burned to the ground. The reconstruction and delays caused catastrophic financial losses. If she compensates us in full, then we'll agree."

And they hadn't even mentioned the biggest blow. Because of Ottilie's scandal, *Echoes of Antiquity* had been pulled from theaters by Yorath at the eleventh hour.

A movie that was projected to make a massive profit ended up hemorrhaging money.

Several production companies went completely bankrupt over it.

Cutting off someone's livelihood was as bad as killing their parents.

The executives glared at Ottilie with enough venom to tear her limb from limb.

Yorath remained unfazed. "There was more to the incident from three years ago. I have a witness who can prove that many crucial details were never fully investigated."

On cue, the conference room doors opened. Soren walked in, leading an ordinary-looking middle-aged man.

The man's face was marred by horrific, jagged burn scars that made him tough to look at.

He scanned the room before his eyes locked onto Bryce Cameron.

"Director Cameron, do you remember me? I'm Fabian. I was the script supervisor on *Echoes of Antiquity*."

Bryce's face turned ashen. "What are you doing here?"

"Mr. Fordham asked me to come. He said he had some questions for me."

Bryce offered a tight, threatening smile. "Then answer carefully. Think before you speak, and don't tell lies that might ruin you."

Fabian gave a stiff nod.

Yorath spoke up. "Fabian, where were you when the incident occurred during filming?"

"Director Cameron told me there was no need to rush in. He said to wait outside while Ms. Sewell and the others did a read-through, and only come in after. So I sat by the door, smoking. I saw several people who weren't actors go inside. Then I heard Ms. Sewell's voice. She sounded like she was yelling, but I couldn't make out the words. After that, the fire broke out. I ran in to save people and got burned."

This was the exact testimony Fabian had given in court years ago.

There were no inconsistencies.

"I'm not lying," Fabian insisted. "Some things, you only need to see once to never forget."

Heath slammed his hands onto the table. "Fine! Even if you did see that, what does it prove?"

"It proves that Ottilie was assaulted," Yorath stated coldly. "Her clothes were ripped off her body. She started the fire to defend herself and escape."

Yes. That was exactly what Ottilie had testified in court.

That was what she had told Yorath.

She had begged him to believe her.

Yorath had replied, *"What does it matter if I believe you? You need the whole world to believe you."*

Ottilie had wept, *"I don't need the world to believe me! I just need you to!"*

But Yorath had only given her a cold shoulder, walking away.

She was left alone in a sweltering, crowded detention center, shivering every single day as if she were trapped in a freezer.