Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

"Whatever. We can't control what others say, so let them be. Josh Schmidt might think he's dealing a blow to me, but he has
underestimated me." Alyssa declared, lifting her chin proudly and smiling. "We don't have to do anything at all."
"Lyse." Jasper's breathing grew heavy. He held her hand tighter.
"Fame always comes with trouble. The netizen's attack only proves my popularity." Waving her hand, Alyssa added, "Remember,
explaining yourself is dumb behavior. You're not going to rip your heart out to prove a point when accused of having an ugly
heart, are you? Let's ignore that troublemaker, Josh Schmidt. He's going to shoot himself in the foot one day."
Then, she put on a serious face and said, "I'm more concerned about the girls who suddenly changed their minds. I suspect the
Schmidts have pressured them into it."
"They come from ordinary families. There's no way they could fight against the Schmidts." Lowering his gaze, Jasper analyzed,
"As for the two minors, they not only suffer from the Schmidts' threats. If the scandal is publicized, they might risk media and
public scrutiny.
"They are victims, but society will gossip about them. There might be awful commenters who brand them as loose women and a
'willing victim.'"
"A willing victim?" The term dropped like a bomb on Alyssa. She felt a jolt of shock across her body.
Jasper's level-headed and cruel assessment dealt a huge blow to her. She could already imagine the horrible remarks.
"It takes two to tango."
"Things don't happen for no reason."
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"It's their fault for wearing miniskirts."
"Why did it happen to them and not someone else?"
The victims would be forced to endure slander after all they had gone through, pushing them deeper into the pain of being
labeled as "willing victims".
"They have a long life ahead of them. Their parents might care more about public perception than seeking justice. I do not agree
with their decision, but I empathize with them."
Jasper pulled Alyssa into a hug when he noticed color draining from her face. Her shoulders trembled incessantly. He rested his
chin against her neck and tightened his grip as if he wanted to be one with her.
"Jasper, I'm fine. I just feel sorry for those girls." Choking on tears, Alyssa muttered in a feeble tone.
"You're overly kind, Lyse." He patted her on the back. "But I would love you to stay true to yourself— bright, passionate, and
kind."
He would willingly take on any challenge for her as long as he could keep her happy and carefree.
Feeling cheered up, she gathered herself and said, "Jasper, can you make the arrangements for me? I'd like to meet the girls
one-on-one."
"Are you planning to convince them to testify?" Jasper's brow twitched in surprise.
"They changed their mind not because they didn't care for justice. They feared retaliation from the Schmidts." She smiled brightly
and explained, "I will make it clear that I'm here to defend them against the Schmidts."

After David's release from the detention center, he was ferried back to the Schmidt Residence in all the pomp. On his way home,
he indulged in red wine in the luxury car, scrolling through mean comments about Alyssa Taylor and laughing out loud like a
repressed maniac who was back in action.