I nodded.
For the first time, I felt that the situation might not be hopeless.
Nadia also explained that the public accusations could potentially support a defamation claim if we could establish that false factual statements had damaged my reputation.
I left her office carrying a folder full of evidence.
Outside, Caleb was waiting beside his truck.
“How did it go?”
“She says we have a case.”
He smiled with relief.
“Good.”
I looked at him.
“Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“Yes, I do.”
I hesitated.
“You could have walked away from all this.”
He opened the passenger door for me.
“I could have.”
“Why didn’t you?”
He looked directly at me.
“Because the thought of you sitting alone in that house, believing everyone hated you, made me feel sick.”
My eyes filled with tears.
I turned away before he could see them.
But he had already noticed.
