Chapter 7
“My client woke up without answers, not knowing who helped her or if they could be trusted—completely in the dark,” Jasmine said firmly.
“And knew she’d been unconscious around strangers.
That potion was powerful, and she was in physical pain from the aftereffects.
Like any reasonable and responsible woman, she worried she might have been raped.
“So, she did the rational thing and made sure. She immediately called Morrigan’s impressive security team and was updated.
She also asked for a healer and no, I will not give you a copy of that report.
This is all beyond intrusive and ridiculous.
What we are saying is rational, logical, and documented enough.
I’m not giving out my client’s medical records.
“And neither would you. If it was you or someone from your family, you wouldn’t either, so don’t lie to me and tell me otherwise.
” She paused and let out a slow breath. “So yes, my client absolutely took a pregnancy test. She even reported her purity status as unknown to be safe because she was scared and her own family tried to facilitate this.
“She even wrote to her family saying she no longer had her purity because she was terrified they would try again. That is what the guards spoke about in Gregg Haddock’s interrogation video.
It disgusts me that people run their mouths about her virginity instead of the crimes perpetrated against her.
Her own attorney—who was supposed to protect her—believing the rumors.
“Bevin Millen did not get caught in a compromising situation with Gregg Haddock and cry foul.
No matter how we have stated that to certain parties, they just love their drama and lies.
One of whom is Coach Dunham who has lost his position at Morrigan for spreading his lies and repeated attacks against Bevin.
“Both Bevin and Gregg were questioned under magic. It’s done.
Any more of these malicious lies and we will be taking legal action because it has spiraled out of control.
Bevin thought people would get bored and to leave it alone so she could focus on her schooling, but unfortunately people are too petty and enjoy tearing others down. ”
“Does she have her purity then? Prove she has it,” someone yelled out.
Jasmine’s gaze narrowed on someone. “You’re a sick bastard to take all of that and your first inclination is to demand to know the sexual situation of a teenager. I don’t care she’s legal, she’s a teenager, and her sexual anything should never be on your damn mind, pervert.”
“It’s not that simple and you know it,” he snapped.
“No, it is,” Clare snapped and moved up to the microphone.
“We are not broodmares. We are not ‘damaged goods’ if we’ve had the same sex you men brag about.
I have no idea if Bevin’s had sex.” She growled when people whispered.
“Who cares? I don’t care. I didn’t ask. It’s not my business and I’m her sister. It’s really not your business.”
Jasmine cleared her throat and pushed Clare back a bit.
“Our position is none of your business. It’s disgusting so many of you are here to try and get that answer so you can go report whether she’s eligible for certain top-tier family matings or just to be disgusting.
We are explaining the events that have occurred and are well-documented. ”
And then she just smirked. She took a full minute to smirk at a lot of the people there.
“She’s setting them up,” Carmen chuckled quietly.
“It would just be nicer if this wasn’t an issue and people shut the fuck up,” I grumbled.
“Yeah, it would be, but at least now there’s a plan to fight back and punish them.”
“Let me be clear that both the test and healer’s report came back with the same conclusion that nothing sexual happened to my client that night,” Jasmine continued.
“Professor Wyatt was questioned under magic by the council before Gregg Haddock was sentenced.
He did nothing but help my client. These rumors have affected his career as well.
“And we’re done leaving that be, especially when we know the main source is fanning the flames of them with an agenda.
It stops, Neal Wyatt.” She chuckled when people gasped.
“Yes, I’m naming him because I have proof of my words while he speaks lies to try and pressure his younger brother to come back to the Wyatt family and bring Bevin with him.
“It’s a stupid plan because he has no knowledge of the situation but understands people in this society don’t check facts or ask the questions they should. Like if anyone benefits from all of this?”
“Glad to hear you’re back on the market, Shaw,” a guy said loudly so I missed the rest of what Jasmine was saying. “Now that we know you didn’t lose your purity to Haddock. I mean, there were a lot of us pissed he was getting you after we all saw your mating profiles.”
I turned and swallowed a shudder as he eyed me over in a way that made me feel it—feel violated more than Conrad had made me feel putting his hands on me.
“You’re disgusting,” Carmen growled.
“Shut up, witch. Learn your place. Speak when spoken to if you’re not even from the right family.”
That was the wrong thing to say. I might not have stood up for myself, but picking on those supporting me?
Yeah, wrong move.
I angled my head and studied him back. “I heard there was some inbreeding in your family, but I don’t really listen to rumors. Now I might when it comes to your family.”
Several people behind him chuckled and his face burned red with anger.
“You have a lot of fucking nerve saying that when I was paying you a compliment,” he snarled.
“You need to reassess your idea of a fucking compliment,” Winter drawled as he grabbed the guy’s shoulder and yanked him back. “That was gross and—”
“Shut up, orphan. No one values your opinion,” he stupidly snapped. People who had been standing with him collectively took a step back when they glanced at what was on Winter’s face.
“Oh, one person here values it, and it gives me all the right to turn you into a pretzel if you ever speak like that to Bevin again. If you hadn’t opened your loud mouth, you would have heard the rest of the press conference,” Winter told him, before shoving him towards his friends.
Then he sat down by us with all of his friends… And that guy from a top-tier family couldn’t speak.
Trying but unable. Winter had used magic on him to prove he was stronger even. Nice.
People ignored that and focused back on the press conference.
I mentally winced when Jasmine confirmed I was suing Neal Wyatt for defamation, both libel and slander.
And this time it wasn’t for a dollar like the Rices.
No, it was for real money that would be used in a new non-profit for the legal defense of any witch who needed it.
Or witches who wanted to study law like Jasmine had because clearly we needed more witches able and willing to fight for each other.
“And before anyone gets any other disgusting ideas about Bevin’s eligibility now that the rumors were cleared up, she’s in a committed relationship.
Part of Conrad’s stupid plot was to tell everyone that Bevin is a goddess witch and he was her priest. He confessed after Bevin’s security apprehended him.
“Conrad Hanson confessed to Taylor Reid that he thought it would help him take over his father’s seat and line him up to take the head council seat from Councilman Reid.
” Jasmine smirked snitching that. “That if he was the priest of a goddess witch—the foretold one from a top-tier family even—that it would help his chances.
“So before the next flurry of crazy and lies, let me be clear—Bevin Millen has been checked for the mark of a goddess witch. She does not have it. A powerful witch does not make one a goddess witch. No one would immediately jump to that if she was a warlock. This is more sexism. More than that, please think logically, and if the daughter of Charles Shaw had the mark—”
“She would never have left that house alive,” someone cut in. “He would have hidden her forever or killed her and taken her magic. But I thought that was what Bevin said he was trying to do?”
“We have no comment on that as the new head of the Shaw family has cleared up that situation,” Jasmine said.
“But you’re right that Charles Shaw would never have let her go.
Never let her be known and free at college.
Mate her to slime like Gregg Haddock? No, he would have—horrible things.
It’s just not logical, and that’s why Conrad Hanson’s plan was so stupid.
“He’s a narcissist who overinflates his ego.
Plain and simple. And we’re done letting people just say what they want because it comes with real consequences.
” She glanced down at her papers. “Yes, Bevin was seen at dinner with Sergey Koval and he made his interest known.
However, they realized how that would look and invite trouble they could not handle.
“Mr. Koval also realized given his predicament being the bastard of two warring top-tier families, he could never have any sort of normal relationship nor life while they controlled him. So he was a good person and admitted he couldn’t handle the stacked deck at nineteen and not risk Bevin.
As such, they are just friends. He was tutoring Bevin for a bit, but that contract has ended.
“Yes, Bevin also went out to dinner with Kelton Rose and I believe there was a picnic, but nothing beyond that given they were both focused on their studies where their focus should be. After what has happened and what Charles Shaw did to Kevin Rose, it’s more than understandable that both Kelton and Bevin have decided to only be friends.
“I cannot believe I’m here commenting on the college gossip and listing dates like this is newsworthy, but after stating it plainly, there shouldn’t be any more misunderstandings. Or again, we will take legal action.” She let out a slow breath and hesitated which wasn’t like her. It worried me.
And it worried Winter from the way he frowned when I glanced at him.