Verity:

"My brother came home one night, upset and devastated, and told me that he had parted ways with Gigi."

I picked up a pen from the desk and rolled it between my fingers.

"He did not tell me why or how it happened. He just let me know they were over and that she had lost the baby."

I tightened my grip on the pen, then loosened it again.

After Jaguar treated my wounds last night, he told me to come to the office and explain my side of the story.

Once he left, I started putting together a plan for the meeting.

"He did not speak to me that whole night, and the next day, he left for work. Then I found out he had been so anxious that he picked a fight with some warriors, and they beat him up and humiliated him."

My fingers stilled for a moment before I looked down.

"Then, the next thing I knew, he ended his life."

I explained with teary eyes, trying to hold back my tears.

I was standing in front of the brothers, lying about mine with a heavy heart.

Gigi was there, obviously.

She was sitting right next to Ragnar in a way that made it clear she was in charge.

I spoke carefully, making sure they would not realize that I knew the exact details.

So, in my statement, I said that Gigi had lost the baby, my brother had broken it off with her, and he had been so anxious that he started picking fights.

I hated doing that to my brother, but it was important at that moment.

"However, I am not sure why all of you think I am here for revenge," I added, lifting my head.

When I said that, I saw Theodore and Jaguar look at each other before turning back to me.

They were seated in a line across the table.

Gigi sat on Ragnar’s right, Theodore beside her, while Jaguar was on Ragnar’s left.

I stood in front of them, giving my statement.

"Is there anything that I need to know? Why would you immediately think my arrival has anything to do with revenge? Is there any part of the story that I am unaware of?" I spoke harshly and with determination, refusing to sound timid.

I wanted to give them a preview that I was starting to doubt things, that maybe there was more to the story and that my brother had been wronged.

"No, never. It’s just that—-Gigi started first but didn’t finish her excuse.

I noticed how she lowered her eyes from Ragnar, probably because she did not want to come across as a bitch and a two-faced hypocrite in front of him.

"I just thought you would be angry that we broke up. But I’ve been through so much because of your brother that I thought you would come to torture me."

Her voice cracked as she said those words, and I watched the others’ faces contort, almost as if they believed her lies.

I forced an empathetic smile and nodded.

"No, I would never," I lied. "I was just too ashamed to meet you again, to face you again. To lose a child, and then my brother breaks up with you because of it—it wasn’t your fault."

My lips pressed, my breath caught in my throat.

I was taking her side, even though I did not believe it one bit.

But if that was going to fool her, then I was going to do it.

The most painful thing was that I had to be empathetic toward her.

"Yeah, that is exactly why we were surprised when you came here and did not tell us that you know Gigi," Theodore spoke up.

I frowned in fake confusion.

However, I knew what a scum Theodore was.

I had a moment with him years ago, even before his whole drama with my brother, and I knew how it had turned out.

So I could tell he could lie with a straight face.

Ragnar, however, was just silently watching me.

"I am so sorry, Gigi, for what he put you through," I mumbled, noticing all the eyes on me.

I swallowed before I continued.

"And I am–" I paused, because it was not easy to say. "I am ashamed of my brother for being a coward, because after doing so much wrong shit, he decided to hide behind suicide."

As I said those words, I felt as if I had betrayed my brother forever.

I took a deep breath, swallowing my tears, and faced them.

Gigi looked impressed.

Now she was the ultimate victim, even in front of me, and I had to coddle her.

"It’s alright. I’m just glad that you’re not like your brother," she whispered, getting up from her seat and walking around.

As she wrapped her arms around me, I forced myself to close my eyes and hug her back, even though the tears that ran down my cheeks were from the hatred I felt in that moment.

"See, that is why I was saying we should hire her back."

As soon as Jaguar said that, I realized why Gigi had surrendered.

Jaguar had already told them that I was innocent and that I was not there for their blood.

Since she knew I was going to come back, she had decided to use the opportunity to make it about herself and paint herself as the victim, even after my return.

"Yes, I think that is the right decision," she uttered, agreeing with him because he had already made up his mind.

I turned to Ragnar, because he would be the last one to make the decision.

My heart was thumping hard in my chest as I realized I had one more shot at revenge.

I had worked really hard for it, to be honest.

I deserved it.

I deserved the taste of victory.

This office was filled with people who had wronged my brother and me, and I wanted to take them down, all of them.