Haynes pressed his lips together, falling silent.


    Foreman continued, "It was Jasper, always egging you on-telling you to file for divorce first, to teach Ste a lesson and make here crawling back to you."


    He shook his head. "But look at how things turned out. Not only is Ste noting back, she''s drifting further away from you every day."


    Foreman hesitated before adding, "I know it''s not really my ce to say all this, but... Haynie, I don''t want to see you and your brother turn against each other. You understand?"


    Foreman was never one to talk much, which made his sudden outpouring all the more unusual.


    Haynes''s expression darkened, clouded with thoughts.


    Just then, someone knocked at the office door.


    "Haynie—something''s happened! The police just took Jasper! Hiswyer tried to post bail, but they wouldn''t allow it."


    Rachel strode in, face tense and eyes anxious.


    "Haynie, you have to do something. We need to get Jasper out."


    It was only after she''d spoken that she noticed Foreman standing there.


    "...Mr. Richards? I didn''t realize you were here."


    Foreman nodded politely. "Ms. Pearce."


    Unlike Haynes and Jasper, Foreman never called her Rachel. He always kept that formal distance, addressing her as Ms. Pearce. That subtle reserve made it impossible for her to call him by his first name, no matter how many times she considered it.


    She''d mentioned it to Jasper once, just in passing, but he''d just shrugged her off. “Foreman? That''s just how he is with everyone don''t let it bother you."


    Haynes''s clear, steady voice broke through Rachel''s thoughts.


    "Why can''t Jasper be bailed out?"


    Rachel exined, "Right now, the inte is furious. People are convinced that Jasper''s the viin Ste described in her story-some ruthless corporate shark. They''re saying he filed a false police report, ndered her, set her up... Now everyone''s demanding the police throw the book at him."


    She sighed. "This could''ve been exined as a misunderstanding, but..."


    She took a breath. "Just now, someone leaked dirt on Jasper online-ims he''s not only a reckless driver but that he once hit someone while driving drunk."


    She nced at Haynes, worried. "The police are reopening the investigation based on these new leads. If those charges stick..."


    She let the implication hang in the air. "Jasper could be facing serious consequences."


    The tension in the office was palpable; it felt like the air itself had thickened.


    The situation with Ste had spiraled out of control.


    Haynes''s jaw tightened. "What do thewyers say?"


    "There''s some room to negotiate, since most of it happened a while ago. But right now, public outrage is sky-high. People want answers, and they want someone to pay."


    She paused before continuing, "Thewyers say Jasper has two options. One, he could make a public apology to Ste-which would basically mean admitting he orchestrated the smear campaign against her."


    Haynes asked, "And the second option?"


    Rachel bit her lip. "The Wilkinson Group''s mediapany couldunch a massive PR campaign, spinning the story to say Ste''s just ying the victim for attention, building her brand as a rebel against big business... We could also leak that the viral videos that made her famous all originated from Jasper''s own livestream. There''s room to maneuver there, but..."


    Jasper would have to swallow his pride and take the me in silence. And even then, he''d be forced to promote Ste-something he''d never agree to.


    It would be aplete defeat: not only would he lose, but he''d be helping Ste''s star rise even higher.


    This time, Ste was winning on all fronts-public sympathy, reputation, and free publicity.


    Rachel didn''t care if Jasper took a hit. But watching Ste bask in her newfound glory? That was a bitter pill to swallow.