Her Brother's Innocence

3: 3

Savannah's crying cut off for an instant, then picked right back up through the tears.

"Those two students were threatened by your brother. He told them if they said the wrong thing, he'd make sure they never graduated. They're too scared to testify."

I turned to the dean, my voice hard. "Dean, just bring those two students in for a face-to-face. Four people were in that car. Ask them and the truth comes out."

The dean turned straight to the counselor. "Go get them."

The office went quiet in an instant, nothing left but Savannah's crying.

I crossed to my brother and took his hand.

He looked at me, his voice raw. "Maria, I really didn't. I swear I didn't do it..."

I gripped his hand tight. "I know. I believe you."

The office door flew open.

My brother's fiancée, Juliana Fox, stood in the doorway.

Her hair was a mess, like she'd run the whole way here.

Miles froze. "Juliana? Why are you here?"

Juliana didn't say a word. She walked straight up to him.

She stared at him, hard.

The next second.

Crack!

A ringing slap. Everyone in the room sucked in a breath at once.

His head snapped to the side with the force of it.

Juliana's tears kept falling. "Miles Pruitt, the engagement is off."

He panicked, reaching to catch her arm. "Juliana, let me explain, it isn't what—"

"Explain what?!"

She wrenched her hand away like a woman gone wild and screamed in his face. "You harassed a female student! You're that filthy! And you still have the nerve to explain to me?! I must have been blind to ever get engaged to you!"

I rushed forward and put myself between them. "Juliana, calm down! There were four people in that car! Two other girls were with them the whole way! How could my brother do something like that in front of two witnesses?! Use your head! Don't let them fool you!"

Juliana went rigid. A flicker of doubt crossed her eyes.

And in that pause.

Footsteps at the door.

The two summoned girls walked in, heads down.

I spoke at once. "They're here! Listen to them say it themselves! What actually happened!"

I fixed my eyes on the two of them. "What actually happened on the way to the hospital!"

The two girls exchanged a glance and answered under their breath. "He touched Savannah's thigh on the way there.

"And he threatened us! Said if we said the wrong thing, he'd make sure we never graduated, that we'd never be able to stay at this school again!"

The words landed and the whole room erupted.

Juliana looked at my brother, all the hope gone from her face. "Miles Pruitt, what do you have left to say?"

His head jerked up and he roared at the two girls.

"You're lying! I didn't!"

"I had both hands locked on that wheel the whole time! I never let go for a second!"

"I never said a single word to either of you! And I never touched her."

Juliana said nothing more. She turned and walked out.

He stood frozen where he was, tears of despair sliding down. "I really never said one word to them. I didn't do anything..."