- 7.
I thought Mark would keep fighting, but he
signed the papers right away.
He moved into a new place with Ashley.
Their relationship was getting weird.
Just like I thought, they got louder and louder.
They even started a livestream.
Lying, blaming me for everything.
They said the alley attack was my idea.
Г
I was jealous of Ashley, so I hired people to
hurt her. I hated to see her happy.
Most people didn’t believe them.
But Ashley kept going, got more and more
excited.
She made me out to be an evil mom, saying I
ignored her, yelled at her, even hit her.
“She may be my mom, but she never liked
- me. I don’t know why.”
“I thought if I was patient enough, she’d show
me some love. But she hated me more as I
got older and prettier. She even took me to
dinners with a bunch of older men!”
<
Ashley cried, and Mark was angry.
They put on a good show, and some of the
online people started to wonder.
They got more motivated, livestreamed every
day.
I let them do what they wanted, knowing
they’d fall hard.
Meanwhile, I was busy fighting lawsuits.
The trial date got moved up because of the
media frenzy.
It was a public trial.
The redhead and the others, who we couldn’t
find. showed up to the trial.
They looked cocky, too sure of themselves.
I clenched my fists, grit my teeth.
Someone took a photo. I calmed down and
looked away.
Summer and the lawyers gave the judge the
evidence.
It was enough to convict them.
But then something unexpected happened.
The defendant had someone come to court to
testify.
Ashley and Mark, and all the classmates and
teachers.
r
“I wasn’t hurt. Leah made the whole thing up.”
“I was there to pick up my daughter. The
teacher can prove it.”
“Yes, Mr. Turner got there early. I never saw
Ms. Rhodes.”
The redhead and the others got more
confident.
The redhead gave me a “friendly” wave.
The victim was saying it was all a lie. The
case was a joke.
All the evidence went out the window.
People were shocked.
I had underestimated Ashley’s willingness to
sink low, and Mark’s lack of morals.
They were made for each other.
“You guys got over your anger fast. I didn’t
think you had it in you to be so forgiving.”
I looked at Ashley and Mark with a scornful
smile.
Mark’s face was calm, and Ashley was blank.
I was shocked. I looked at them closely.
They were reborn!
Ashley looked determined, cold.
Г
And Mark was dark, distant!
It was a problem, but it was also exciting. An
even match.
