The Cole family scandal consumed the headlines for days. News anchors debated legacies, justice, and whether Adrian should've spoken out sooner. On social media, Isabel's name trended beside his—half in support, half in speculation.
It wasn't just a story. It was a storm.
Inside their apartment, Adrian paced. The tension clung to him like smoke.
"Maybe if I give them another statement—"
"No," Isabel interrupted gently. "They'll twist your words again. This time, we don't talk to them. We talk to the people who matter."
Adrian stared at her, then slowly nodded.
So they crafted something raw and real—a joint op-ed titled Truth Over Legacy. It acknowledged everything: Adrian's privilege, his father's crimes, the university's silence. And Isabel's journey—from silence, to survival, to strength.
They posted it without a publicist, without a press conference. Just two voices daring to break the pattern.
---
Reactions were swift and polarizing. But the most powerful responses came from students.
Anonymous emails. Handwritten notes left at Isabel's office. Messages on Jude and Vanessa's support forum.
"Thank you for naming it." "I thought I was alone." "You gave me language."
Isabel printed every message and pinned them to a corkboard in her apartment.
Adrian noticed it one evening. "You're building a wall of hope."
She smiled. "Proof that the fire didn't just burn. It lit something."
---
Meanwhile, Vanessa and Jude found themselves overwhelmed by the impact of The Quiet Room. After their radio interview, foot traffic doubled. Students were coming not just to talk, but to heal.
But not everyone was happy.
That week, Vanessa opened an envelope slid under the door. No return address. Inside: a blurry photo of her and Jude at the mural wall. Scrawled across the top in black ink:
"Fake rebel. Real hypocrite."
She froze.
Jude entered seconds later. "What's wrong?"
She handed him the note.
He studied it, jaw tightening. "Do you know who—"
She shook her head. "But I know fear when I see it. Whoever this is... we scared them."
He looked at her seriously. "Do you want to stop?"
Vanessa straightened. "No. I want to go louder."
---
Later that week, Isabel and Adrian attended a student town hall hosted by Harper. Tension buzzed in the air. Whispers. Cameras. Questions.
Harper stood before the crowd. "We've failed many of you. But change doesn't start with polished statements. It starts here."
She turned to Isabel.
Isabel took the mic, scanning the crowd.
"I was scared when I first told my story. Scared no one would believe me. Scared I'd be blamed. But silence didn't protect me. It only protected them. And I won't be silent anymore."
She glanced at Adrian.
"And neither will he."
Adrian stepped forward.
"My name is Adrian Cole. My father abused his power. And for too long, I looked away. Not anymore. I stand with the survivors. And I stand with this woman—who taught me that truth matters more than reputation."
The room was quiet. Then came the first clap. Then another. Then the whole room rose.
Applause. Real. Raw. And earned.
---
That night, Adrian lay beside Isabel in bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Do you think it's enough?" he whispered.
She turned to him. "We don't need to burn it all down in one day. Just keep the fire lit."
He pulled her close. "With you, I will."