Chapter 1: She Said He Attacked Her
“He attacked me!””
Tiana’s scream tore through the penthouse before anyone could even understand what had happened.
She shoved Jordan hard in the chest.
The seventeen-year-old stumbled backward, his black hoodie twisting around his shoulders as he fought to keep his balance. His eyes widened. Both hands shot up immediately.
“I didn’t touch you!”” Jordan shouted.
Tiana pointed at him with a trembling finger, tears streaking down her face.
“You pushed me!””
“I didn’t!””
The argument exploded across the living room.
Marcus moved first.
The muscular, bald man in the black tuxedo crossed the space between them in three furious strides. Denise rushed after him, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor.
“Jordan!”” Marcus barked.
“What happened?””
Jordan stared at his father, breathing hard.
“Dad, she came at me!””
Tiana backed toward Denise.
“She just stood there?”” Tiana cried.
“She just let me fall?””
“I didn't fall!”” Jordan snapped.
“You shoved me!””
Denise grabbed Jordan by the arm.
“Enough,” she said.
“Stop moving.””
Jordan looked down at her hand.
“Mom, you're hurting me.””
“Then stop pulling away.””
Jordan pulled his arm free.
“I’m not going to let her lie about me!””
Marcus stepped closer.
“You need to calm down.””
“I am calm!””
“You're yelling.””
“Because nobody is listening!””
For one second, the entire penthouse went silent.
Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city glittered beneath the darkness. Thousands of tiny lights reflected against the glass, making the room feel impossibly high above the streets.
Tiana pressed herself against Denise's shoulder.
“She scared me,” Tiana whispered.
Jordan looked at her.
“You attacked me.””
Tiana's expression changed for half a second.
Not fear.
Something colder.
Then the tears came again.
Marcus saw the tears.
His jaw tightened.
“Jordan,” he said quietly, “why would she say you attacked her?””
Jordan's lips parted.
“I don't know.””
“Think.””
“I am thinking!””
Marcus stepped forward.
Jordan stepped back.
“I swear, Dad, I didn't hurt her.””
Tiana covered her mouth.
“She was screaming at me.””
“I wasn't!””
“You were!””
“I wasn't!””
Denise turned toward Marcus.
“Maybe we should separate them.””
Marcus didn't answer.
He was staring at Jordan.
The boy's eyes were wet now, but he refused to cry.
“Dad,” Jordan said, his voice suddenly smaller, “please.””
That word changed something in the room.
Marcus's expression flickered.
Jordan had never sounded afraid of him before.
Then footsteps came from the hallway.
Fast.
Maya appeared around the corner.
She was twenty-two, curly-haired, wrapped in a white robe, and gripping a phone with a bright red case.
“Stop.””
Everyone turned.
Maya's chest rose and fell rapidly.
She had clearly been running.
Marcus frowned.
“Maya, stay out of this.””
“No.””
“Maya—”
“You need to watch something.””
Tiana's face went pale.
Maya walked directly toward them.
Jordan stared at the phone.
“Maya?””
She didn't answer him.
Instead, she stepped between Jordan and Marcus.
Marcus stopped.
“Maya, move.””
“No.””
Her voice was steady now.
She unlocked the phone.
Tiana took one step backward.
“What are you doing?”” she whispered.
Maya looked directly at her.
“Showing Dad what really happened.””
Tiana's mouth opened.
No sound came out.
Maya raised the phone.
“Watch this first.””
Marcus looked at the screen.
May you like
And the room went silent.
Because the truth was already playing.
