"Come on, Justin. They can say whatever they want. James is underestimating me to think that he can hurt me with words and kill my spirit."

Lifting her chin, Bella said with a faint smile, "We don't have to do anything."

"Bella." Justin heaved while clutching her hand worriedly.

"This is what fame will do to you. I can't be famous without the help of trolls."

Bella waved her arm. "The most foolish thing to do is to justify ourselves. We can't prove everybody wrong just because they say so. Just ignore James. Karma will catch up to him."

Bella turned solemn. "I'm more concerned about the girls. For them to change their story, the Iverson Group might be threatening them. Those girls are from ordinary families. They can't fight against the Iverson Group."

With downcast eyes, Justin uttered sullenly, "Two of them are minors. It's one thing to be threatened, but if this thing blows out of proportion, the kids will be thrown into the middle of a media and public shitstorm.

"Even though they are the victims, they will become the talk of the town and the butt of jokes. Some ill-intentioned people might even label these girls troubled and say that they have themselves to blame for being put in such situations."

"Blame the victims?" It felt like a rug was pulled from under Bella.

Justin's conscious and harsh truth was a gut punch, and Bella was brought back to the past taunting.

"It takes two to tango."

"There's no smoke without fire."

"It's your fault for wearing a short skirt."

"Why does it happen to you and not others?"

These women were the victims. Yet, they had to face the world's vile comments. As if they were not hurt enough, they were to be blamed for supposedly inviting rape.

"These girls still have a long way to go. Rather than demand justice, their parents will fear putting the girls in front of the jury. While I don't agree with that, I can understand where they are coming from." Color drained from Bella's face as she shivered. Feeling sad, Justin pulled her into his arms and rested his chin on her neck while tightening his grip around her waist.

"I'm okay, Justin. I just feel bad for the girls." Bella felt a lump in her throat. Her voice was feeble and soft.

"You're too kind, Bella."

Justin patted her back. "But I hope you will keep being you."

He would ward off evil and walk through fire for her.

All he ever wanted was for her to be the kind person she was.

Bella got a grip on herself. "Can you arrange a meeting for me with the girls, Justin?"

"Are you going to persuade them to testify?" Justin raised a brow.

"They changed their minds, not because they didn't want justice. They are afraid of the Iversons and what they will do to them."

Bella curled her lips. "I want to tell them that I will shield them from any harm."

After leaving the detention center, Charles was brought back to the Iverson family's residence.

During the car ride, he drank red wine and scrolled through the mean comments about Bella online before guffawing hard.

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