"Ms. Kane, do you have any comment on losing the case?"

"You insisted Professor Kane was framed, but the court ruled against you. Does this mean you were willing to ruin a young woman’s reputation to protect your father's?"

I stopped and looked at the reporter who spoke. "My father was framed."

"If he was framed, then why did even Mr. Goldman, your husband, argue that Professor Kane was guilty of harassment?"

My simmering rage boiled over. I shot a look at Ryan.

"This isn't the final verdict."

"I will appeal. I will get justice for my father."

Ryan’s face paled, but he couldn't say anything in front of the reporters.

Staring into the flashing lights, I suddenly remembered where I had seen her before.

I turned to Chloe, a cold smile playing on my lips.

"So you're the ex-girlfriend. The one who broke up with Ryan after he couldn't afford the fifty-thousand-dollar engagement ring you demanded, only for you to go and marry some rich guy."

My tone was flat, just stating the facts.

Chloe's face changed instantly. "What are you talking about?"

Her eyes welled up with tears, and her voice quivered. "Ms. Kane, I already chose not to press charges against your father. Why are you slandering me now?"

Slandering her?

I laughed as if I’d just heard the world's funniest joke.

"So, Ms. Miller, tell me which part is a lie? The fifty-thousand-dollar ring, or marrying a rich man?"

"I…"

Chloe’s eyes darted around frantically, at a loss for words.

"That's enough!" Ryan roared, looking at me with complete disapproval. "Hannah, do you have to be so aggressive?"

I swung my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

"Ryan! You're a real piece of work! And for the record, we're not divorced yet!"

"The way you're defending this woman right in front of me, it's hard not to be suspicious of your relationship!"

"Hannah Kane! Don't be ridiculous!" Ryan snapped, then softened his tone. "When we get home, I promise I'll explain everything."

"Don't bother. The divorce papers and your luggage will be couriered to you. I don't want to see you ever again."

With that, I turned and left with my colleague.

On the way back, I stared blankly out the car window.

My colleague gasped, looking at his phone. "Hannah, you have to see this!"

He showed me his Twitter feed. Trending topics included not just the trial verdict, but also my father's name.

I clicked on it. A blue-check journalist had reposted a clip from the trial livestream, adding their own commentary.

"Hannah Kane loses case. University Professor David Kane confirmed to be a subway predator."

"Lawyer Hannah Kane publicly berates opposing counsel Ryan Goldman, falsely accuses defendant Chloe Miller of being a homewrecker."

The post included the clip of our argument outside the courthouse, edited to emphasize my "aggression" and Chloe's innocent, tear-stained helplessness.

The comments were overwhelmingly in support of Chloe. The few comments defending me were buried under an avalanche of hate until they were deleted.

I fought back my anger and turned off my phone.

I didn't have to guess who was behind this.

It was a blatant attempt to crush me with public opinion, to pressure me into dropping the appeal.

But the more they did this, the more determined I became.