Climbing up by stepping on Bryce Sterling is just too satisfying
Diana Marks's eyes narrowed at the message from Avery Hayes.
*Handling it herself?*
Who did this new talent think she was? Julian Shaw must see something Diana didn't, because from where she was sitting, this girl was way too full of herself.
Still, Julian's instructions had been clear: if the company's position clashed with Avery's, they were to give her ideas serious consideration. Diana was curious to see what gave some fresh-faced artist the guts to rewrite a script from a professional production team.
"Alright," she typed back. "Let me see the script first."
After sending the reply, Diana cleared her head and opened the file. The moment she started reading, she was hooked, staying up late into the night, unable to put it down.
By the time she finished, she was completely floored.
The technical jargon, the terrifying realism, the flawless logic connecting the four cases, it was all there. If the rest of the script was this strong, *You Are My Defender* had all the makings of a major network primetime drama.
A flicker of unease went through her, but she quickly realized it wasn't unease at all. It was excitement. If the entire show was this good, every major streaming platform would be clawing over each other to get it. Maybe this little web series really did have a shot at making a huge splash.
Diana made a snap decision. The next morning, with dark circles under her eyes, she booked the first flight back to New York City and went straight to the director's house.
Meanwhile, after sending off the revised script, Avery cleaned up and went to bed.
The next day, she joined Wyatt Riggs and Shane Croft for her usual morning run before Wyatt led her through some military combatives drills in the condo's common area.
It was his idea; he'd insisted that knowing some self-defense would give her a way to protect herself if she ever got into trouble.
Another skill in her back pocket couldn't hurt, he'd said, and Avery didn't mind at all.
In fact, she took the training very seriously.
After their workout, Shane left for the day. A little later, Avery's phone rang. It was her brother, Cole.
He told her that the news of Bryce Sterling's sentencing had been picked up by national outlets that morning.
It was even the top story on the local Westlake City news.
The last time around, Caleb Sterling had manipulated the local courthouse, which had made the public seriously question the integrity of the justice system.
To restore that trust, the media was going all out, covering the case from every angle and shooting it right back to the top of the trending topics.
The Sterling family was getting dragged through the mud all over again.
And the main beneficiary, once again, was Avery.
Her follower count on X was exploding, much to the delight of Dexter Reed, who was monitoring her account.
Of course, not everyone was on her side.
A lot of people, including Alden Pierce, were questioning if the sentence was too harsh.
Luckily, lawyers online were quick to explain that Bryce's three-year sentence wasn't for a simple assault; it was a criminal case with exceptionally severe circumstances.
"So, how are things in California?" Cole asked, his voice relaxed. "Did you get your Bar Exam results yet?"
"I passed," Avery said, her mood just as bright as his. Her eyes crinkled as she sipped her coffee and scrolled through the comments on X, a wide smile spreading across her face. "The essay portion is in two weeks."
The feeling of watching her own star rise while Bryce's crashed and burned was just too satisfying.
Now that everyone online knew she was the victim from the hospital incident, more and more people were following her.
They might not seem like much now, but one day, those followers could be the foundation of her entire career.
"Has the Sterling family been giving you any trouble?" Cole's tone shifted. "Was that car accident really their doing?" He was thrilled Bryce was behind bars, but he was still worried the rest of the family would keep harassing her.
Avery paused, gently pushing her half-finished coffee aside. "There's no proof the accident was their fault," she said, hesitating for a split second. "Don't worry, Cole. Wyatt and Shane are both here with me. I'll be fine."
She already knew from Caleb that Warren Sterling had orchestrated the whole thing, but she had no evidence.
The official police statement chalked it up to a cancer patient having a psychotic break, and the driver who'd hit her had died in the hospital the very next day.
The trail went cold. Without proof, she couldn't press charges.
But that didn't mean she couldn't get her revenge in other ways.
Shane had been working around the clock to find out who was really pulling the driver's strings.
If things went according to plan, she'd be living in California for more than half the year.
She couldn't relax until Ronan Bowen's reach into the state was cut off for good.
Her identity was public now, so the Sterlings wouldn't dare make a move for the time being.
But what about later? She wouldn't feel safe until the root of the problem was dealt with.
"That's true," Cole conceded. "With Wyatt and Shane there, I guess I don't have anything to worry about."
Avery was surprised. "You know Shane Croft, too?" The way Cole said his name, it sounded like they were close.
"Of course I know him," Cole said. "He was your classmate in middle and high school."
Avery's eyes widened. *Shane Croft was my classmate?* She searched the original Avery's memories, but the name didn't exist. She couldn't find a single trace of him.
"I don't think so," she said carefully. "Wyatt said he was in my year, but maybe just in the same grade."
"I couldn't have gotten it wrong," Cole insisted. "I played basketball with him a few times, and he always said he was your classmate."
"It's been a long time. Maybe I'm misremembering," Avery said, deciding not to argue. She was sure she was right, it had to be Cole who was mixed up, but it was a small detail not worth fighting over.
They chatted for a while longer before hanging up.
Just before they did, Cole mentioned that with her name trending, her uncle's family in California had taken notice.
Her uncle had apparently been pulling strings, trying to ask about her back home, but her grandfather had chewed him out and sent him packing.
Avery felt nothing. She wasn't the original owner of this body, and to her, these people were complete strangers.
Mainstream news, it turned out, had a much bigger impact than social media.
As soon as the Westlake City TV station ran the story, her phone started blowing up with messages from the original Avery's old colleagues, classmates, and even her former mentor, Professor Joel Finch, all of them worried about her.
She gave short replies to most, but when she saw the professor's name, she wasn't sure what to say.
He'd taught countless students, but he'd only personally mentored a select few, and Avery had been one of them.
He'd always believed her hands were made to hold a scalpel and was convinced that with a few years of experience, she would become a renowned surgeon.
When she'd finished her master's, he'd even offered to help her get settled if she wanted to stay in New York.
But she'd refused, promising to return for her doctorate after her three years of residency in Westlake City.
Who could have known that just two months later, one of them would be gone and the other would be recovering from surgery?
This body was the same, but the soul was different. Even with all of the original Avery's memories, she didn't have her talent. She could never become the master surgeon he expected her to be. Besides, she never planned on practicing medicine anyway.
After hesitating for a long time, she finally typed out a message. "Professor, I'm sorry. I've let you down."
His reply came quickly. "It's alright. I heard from your brother that you took the Bar Exam. If you can't be a doctor, being a lawyer is just as noble."
He must have heard the excuse she'd given Cole about her crisis of faith. His message was simple, but it carried the encouraging weight of a mentor, tinged with a hint of regret.
Avery sighed, staring at her phone. She decided to just tell him the truth.
"I might not become a lawyer either. I've found a passion for acting, so you might see me on TV a lot in the future."
This time, the other end was silent. At the top of her screen, the 'typing' indicator kept appearing and disappearing. After what felt like an eternity, his reply finally came through.
"That's good, too. Life isn't about sticking to one path. As your teacher, I'm just happy that you've found something you love."