The next morning, my phone wouldn't stop buzzing. My name was everywhere again.

But this time, it was worse.


'Jane Grande sues Richard Lawson for defamation."

'Grande demands full investigation after media sabotage."

'Jane fights back!"


I stared at the screen and I was numbed. I was actually exhausted, but I was not giving up, not now all, and not when everything I have built was crashing.

I sat at the edge of my bed, and gripped my phone. My lawyer was on the other end of the line.


'We filed the suit this morning. Richard's team will get the summons today. Are you ready for this?"

I didn't hesitate. 'Yes."

I got dressed quietly, it was a simple black suit, no makeup and I didn't want to perform, I just wanted to fight.

In the car, I was silent and the city outside felt cold and foreign. But my company's name has become a battlefield and my face has become a symbol of controversy.

The people I have helped and the lives I have changed, none of it mattered now. All they saw was scandal.

When we arrived at the courthouse, the crowd was thick and the cameras were everywhere and reporters were screaming my name.

I walked into the courtroom again. This time, it was not just about me, it was about clearing my name and saving everything I have built.

My heart beat so fast and the courtroom was full, even more crowded than before. Cameras couldn't come in, but journalists from all over the world sat in the gallery and everyone was watching.

The case had gone viral and headlines read things like 'CEO Battles Tech Giant" and 'Jane Grande's Fight for Truth."

My lawyer, Ava, stood and presented our case, she had confidence in her voice and he told the court how Mason Group, led by Richard, used fake news articles, social media bots, and paid influencers to ruin my company and she even showed screenshots, video clips, fake posts, and the digital footprints behind them.

Richard sat across from me, he wore a dark suit and smirked. He leaned back in his seat, his arms crossed like he owned the room, but I could see the sweat on his brow.

Richard's lawyer was loud and he was aggressive, he tried to twist the story.

'Ms. Grande is using her traumatic past with Mr. Hades to gain public sympathy," he said 'This is emotional manipulation. She is not the victim here."

I clenched my fists and I wanted to scream, but I didn't and I waited for my turn.

Then I stood up to testify and the room fell silent and I spoke clearly.

'I didn't manipulate anyone," I said'I survived something terrible, but I didn't use it for fame. I didn't attack anyone's company. I built mine with honesty and hard work. And when people tried to destroy me with lies, I chose to fight back with truth."

Then I handed over a flash drive to the court and my lawyer plugged it in. On the screen, encrypted files appeared, emails, spreadsheets, digital logs.

'These documents were leaked by a former Mason Group employee," I said. 'They show everything. Payments to influencers. Orders to release fake articles. Proof that Richard planned the whole attack."

The courtroom gasped harder.

Richard stood. 'This is fake!" he yelled. 'It is not real!"

The judge bangs his gavel. 'Sit down, Mr. Richard."

Then something unexpected happened, a woman at the back of the courtroom stood. She walked to the front and her eyes were steady.

'Your Honor," she said, 'I used to work in Mason Group's PR department. Richard ordered the campaign. I have emails too."

The court erupted. People whispered and took notes and phones lit up as tweets flew and Richard looked pale.

Richard was called to the stand, at first, he kept calm. 'I don't know what she is talking about," he said, and then he snapped.

'They were supposed to keep their mouths shut!" he shouted. 'I paid them to follow the plan!"

Gasps filled the courtroom again and that moment broke everything.

The judge ordered a break, and outside, reporters shouted questions at me, but I kept walking and I felt stronger and this time, the truth was finally winning.

Back inside, the judge granted a temporary injunction. Mason Group must stop all online campaigns against me and no more bots and lies.

Ava stood again. 'We request a full criminal investigation into Mason Group's actions. This was not just defamation, It was organized through digital sabotage."

The judge nodded 'The court will consider it, for now, the injunction stands."

As we left the courtroom, I didn't say a word to the cameras, however inside, I felt peace. I fought back. And the world was finally seeing the truth.

Richard's POV

The courtroom felt like a trap.

I sat in the chair, and pretended to be calm, but my heart was ringing hard and the world was watching, and Jane was spinning a perfect little story, one that made her look like some kind of saint.

My lawyer told me not to speak unless I was asked, however I couldn't stay quiet.

They brought out that damn flash drive. encrypted files, old emails, I know exactly what was on them.

I told my team to clean up the evidence. They were supposed to delete everything. But now it was all coming back to haunt me.

Then that woman from PR showed up. I recognize her. I remembered she quit a year ago and I should have silenced her back then and now she was in the witness box, giving away everything.

The judge allowed her to speak, and suddenly it was like I was on trial for murder.

'This was not fair!" I shouted 'She was bitter because we fired her!"

But no one listened

Then I lost it and I yelled about the plan, the payments and I saw in the courtroom, shocked, angry. My lawyer buried his face in his hands.

Later, outside the court, I couldn't think. Reporters surrounded me, and flashes cameras. 'Do you have a statement, Mr. Richard?" one asks.

I pushed past them and my hands were shaking and I immediately called my assistant. 'Get me a flight out tonight. And call the board, tell them I need a private meeting."

Everything was falling apart.

They wouldn't stop, Jane wanted to bury me and the worst part? She might actually succeed.