Chapter 12
No one spoke up for me.
They all said I had to pay for my parents‘ sins. My mom and dad had committed terrible crimes, and the consequences were mine to bear,
Bullying me became the most righteous thing they could do.
Those memories were far too heavy to carry, and I genuinely felt that the fewer people who had to suffer, the better.
Noman’s eyes darkened, a trace of guilt flashing across his face. “It’s my fault. If I’d been faster, maybe your parents-
“Stop blaming yourself,” I interrupted him. “What happened back then couldn’t have been changed, even if you were here.”
Noman pressed his lips together, hesitation flickering in his gaze. “Violet, actually-”
Knock, knock
A knock at the door interrupted him, and my attention shifted toward the sound.
“Mr. Carter, Miss Dean.“.
A man stepped in, nodding briefly at me before handing a tablet to Noman. “There are people online distorting what happened at the gala and organizing a smear campaign against Miss Dean. It’s already trending at the top.”
I frowned and reached for my phone, but Noman wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer to him. “Let’s look together.”
The broad expanse of his chest pressed against most of my back, the faint it of cedarwood filling the air. I glanced up at him, feeling slightly awkward.
But Noman was focused intently on the screen, his expression calm and serious.
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at myself for feeling uneasy.
This was Ash.
No matter how many years had passed or how far he’d risen as a CEO, he was still the same Ash who used to carve little wooden figures and braid flower crowns for me.
I had no reason to overthink this.
Steadying myself, I shifted my focus back to the tablet.
Cha
