Page 99 of Ranger's Wildflower

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His voice hardened.

“You’re making a mistake.”

“No,” I said. “You did.”

Silence cracked on the line.

“You had a chance to walk away quietly,” he said. “Take the settlement.”

“And let you bury it again?” I shot back. “Not happening.”

His tone dropped.

Colder.

“You don’t get to rewrite what happened.”

“I’m not rewriting it,” I said. “I’m telling the truth.”

“That’s not how people are going to see it.”

“Then they can watch the video.”

Another pause.

Longer this time.

Then—

“You’re not as protected as you think,” he said.

There it was.

The threat.

Clear.

Sharp.

Real.

My heart pounded—

But I didn’t back down.

“I’m not alone anymore,” I said.

I meant it.

I felt it.

His silence told me he heard it too.

“This isn’t over,” he said.

“I know,” I replied.

Then I hung up.

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