Jimmy sipped the water Nelly gave him, his bruised fingers trembling slightly.
> "Thank you, Nelly. I mean it," he said, voice hoarse.
She gave him a small nod and sat beside him on the bed.
Julie stood silently in the doorway — arms folded, watching. The look in her eyes was unreadable.
Jimmy reached over and gently took Nelly's hand, giving it a weak squeeze.
> "I thought I was done for… but then you showed up."
Nelly looked down at their hands, then at him.
> "Let's just say… you owe me a lifetime supply of apology pancakes."
They both chuckled softly.
But Julie?
She didn't laugh.
She was frowning.
Her eyes were fixed on their tangled hands like she wanted to slap the connection right off of them.
Then Jimmy looked up and noticed her.
> "Julie," he said, clearing his throat awkwardly, "thanks for calling the doctor. I appreciate it."
Julie forced a tight smile.
> "Sure," she muttered, clearly jealous, "you're welcome."
But her tone was cold. Her arms were still crossed. And when Nelly shifted slightly away from Jimmy, Julie's eyes flicked straight to their hands.
Nelly and Jimmy both noticed.
Quietly, they let go of each other.
A beat of awkward silence passed.
> "You should rest," Nelly said, standing up. "You look like someone slapped you with a frying pan."
Jimmy smiled faintly. "Feels like it too."
Nelly turned to go, and Julie followed, still quiet… still staring.
---
OUTSIDE JIMMY'S ROOM – HALLWAY
As they walked into the hallway — BOOM.
Right there in front of them stood Luna, Kylie, Bella, and Clara — arms folded, like they had been waiting.
The air went stiff.
But Nelly didn't flinch. Not this time.
Julie instinctively slowed her steps, but Nelly? She walked forward like she owned the hallway.
> "Awww, look who crawled out of her dungeon," Luna sneered. "And she brought her new bestie too — Miss 'I'll-Slap-Your-Face-Off'."
Kylie glared at Nelly, still holding her cheek. "You've got guts. But they won't last."
> "You know what else doesn't last?" Nelly replied sweetly.
"Your fake friendship and your cheap perfume."
Clara's jaw dropped.
Bella scoffed. "Who do you think you are?"
Nelly didn't miss a beat.
> "I'm the girl you tried to break... and failed."
Julie blinked — shocked.
Luna stepped closer, eyes cold. "You're starting to talk too much."
Nelly leaned forward with a smirk.
> "And you're starting to look scared."
The hallway went dead silent.
Even Julie didn't know what to say.
Luna's lip twitched like she was holding back a slap — but instead, she turned sharply, flipping her hair.
> "This isn't over," she hissed.
> "I'm counting on it," Nelly said calmly. "At least your drama gives my life some color."
The girls stormed off in anger, heels clicking, threats muttered under their breath.
Julie turned slowly to Nelly, her eyes wide.
> "Where did that come from?"
Nelly shrugged, walking past her.
> "You either learn to bark… or they eat you alive."
Julie stared after her — stunned.
Because this wasn't the same scared, broken girl who used to cry quietly into her pillow.
This was a new Nelly.
And she was just getting started.
***********
Far away from the chaos of the Benson household, in a small, quiet town…
Maria sat curled up on the couch, holding her teddy bear, while Mama, Papa, and Aunt Caro argued in the living room.
The air was tense.
Aunt Caro had just gotten off a long phone call. Her expression was tight, her lips pressed into a line.
> "So it's true," she said slowly. "Nelly called from a public phone. She said things weren't okay. She said… Mr. Benson tried to—"
> "Lied," Papa cut in sharply, pacing the floor. "That's what it sounds like to me."
> "But why would she lie?" Maria said softly, her eyes wide.
No one answered.
Mama sat quietly, wringing her hands. She looked torn — worry flickering across her face — but then Papa spoke again.
> "Mr. Benson called me. Just now."
> "And what did he say?" Aunt Caro asked.
> "He said Nelly has been… misbehaving. That she's disrespectful. That she accused him of terrible things — false things — just because he disciplined her."
> "That doesn't sound like Nelly," Maria whispered.
But Papa didn't hear her.
> "He said it's all nonsense. That he's been paying her school fees. Feeding her. Giving her a future. And now she's trying to slander his name."
> "And you believe him?" Aunt Caro snapped. "What if she's telling the truth?"
Papa hesitated — then looked down at his phone.
> "He offered me… five million."
Dead silence.
Mama looked up sharply.
> "Five what?"
> "Five million," he repeated, slower this time. "To forget the accusation. To keep things quiet. He said it's just a 'misunderstanding' between him and the girl."
> "So we're selling her silence?" Aunt Caro asked, voice rising. "Is that what we're doing now?"
Papa didn't answer. He looked at Mama — as if waiting for support.
But Mama's voice was barely a whisper.
> "What if she's lying?"
Maria stood suddenly.
> "She's not lying!"
They all turned.
> "Nelly would never make that up!" the little girl shouted. "She's brave. She's been crying every time she called. I know it! I feel it."
Aunt Caro walked to her and hugged her tight.
> "Sweetheart, we know you miss your sister."
> "Then why won't you help her?" Maria asked, her voice breaking. "Why are you letting that man hurt her?!"
Papa looked away.
> "Sometimes… things aren't so simple. We need to protect our own name too."
> "She is your own!" Maria yelled. "She's your daughter!"
But it didn't matter.
Papa took a deep breath and pulled out his phone.
> "I'll call him. Tell him it's all been handled."
> "And Nelly?" Aunt Caro asked bitterly.
> "He said he'll 'forgive her'. That it'll all settle soon."
---
MR. BENSON'S CALL – LATER THAT EVENING
Mr. Benson sat in his private study, sipping wine, the curtains drawn.
His phone rang.
He smiled.
> "Yes?"
> "Hello, sir. This is Nelly's father."
> "Ah, my good man," Benson purred. "I assume you've come to your senses?"
> "We've… decided to handle it as a family matter. We're sorry for any trouble caused. She must have misunderstood some things. Please forgive her."
Mr. Benson leaned back, victorious.
> "Of course. These young girls… imagination can be dangerous."
> "We're grateful for all you've done for her," Papa continued. "The money… will help us make sure she learns her lesson."
> "Naturally," Benson said smoothly. "I'll transfer the full amount this week."
> "Thank you, sir."
As the call ended, Mr. Benson smirked.
> "Poor little liar," he muttered. "No one's coming for you now."
---
Back in her small room, Nelly sat on her mattress, unaware of the betrayal that had just taken place.
She clutched a tiny photograph of Maria — the only piece of home she had.
> "One day," she whispered, "you'll know I told the truth."
But for now… she was alone.
Far away from the Bensons' mansion, where the days were quieter, Maria sat cross-legged on the floor beside Aunt Caro's legs, holding her teddy bear close.
Her big eyes darted between the adults as the room grew more tense by the second.
Mama, Papa, and Aunt Caro were deep in a conversation — one that Maria could tell had everything to do with her sister.
> "She called again," Aunt Caro said, holding her phone. "Crying. Begging. Said Mr. Benson nearly—"
> "Stop," Papa interrupted sharply, rubbing his forehead. "Don't say it. I already spoke with the man himself."
> "And?" Aunt Caro asked.
> "He said it was a lie. All of it. Said she's making up stories because he punished her. Said she's being dramatic to get out of house chores. You know how teenagers are."
Aunt Caro narrowed her eyes. "That doesn't sound like Nelly."
> "He even claimed," Papa continued, his tone shifting slightly, "that she had the audacity to say he… made advances. To him, a respected man!"
> "Because he did!" Maria blurted out.
Everyone turned to the little girl, her voice trembling with anger.
> "She told me on the phone! She was crying. She's scared!"
Mama opened her mouth to speak, but Papa raised a hand and looked straight at Aunt Caro.
> "He offered me five million. Five. To settle this. To protect his name, and ours. We tell people it was a misunderstanding, and he'll take care of Nelly's tuition and more."
> "So we're selling the truth for money now?" Aunt Caro asked coldly.
Papa didn't answer.
> "You're going to let him hurt her again," Maria whispered.
> "We don't know the full story," Mama said, trying to calm her. "Maybe she misunderstood something."
> "You're choosing him over her," Maria said, standing now, tears in her eyes. "You're choosing money over your own child."
No one spoke.
The silence said everything.
---
LATER THAT NIGHT – MR. BENSON'S STUDY
Mr. Benson sat back in his leather chair, the wine glass in his hand nearly empty.
His phone rang.
He answered it on speaker, still swirling the drink lazily.
> "Yes?"
> "Good evening, sir. This is… Nelly's father."
> "Ah. I've been expecting your call."
> "We've… handled it. She must have misunderstood some things. We're sorry for the trouble. Please, forgive her."
Mr. Benson's lips curled into a victorious smirk.
> "Of course. These girls — always emotional. I forgive her. Naturally."
> "And… the support you promised?"
> "You'll have it by Monday," he said smoothly. "I keep my promises."
The line went dead.
He leaned back with a deep sigh, muttering to himself:
> "She really thought they'd save her."
---
NELLY – THAT SAME NIGHT
Nelly lay curled on her thin mattress, staring at the ceiling. The moonlight crept in through the cracked blinds.
She clutched the tiny photo of Maria — the only comfort left from home.
> "Maybe they'll call tomorrow," she whispered.
But no call came.
Not that night.
Not the next.
And in her heart… something broke a little deeper.