That night, I lay in bed, my mind circling back to today’s failed interview and Sean’s so-called “brutal honesty.”

Sympathy or not—who cared? I didn’t need anyone’s pity. I only wanted fair, equal treatment.

But ideals were always pretty. Reality was usually vicious.

After I found out about Maverick’s betrayal, I chose a normal way to fight back. So why was I the one getting slapped with labels like “scheming,” “premeditated,” ...