THE 78-YEAR-OLD MAN THEY ACCUSED… BUT THE CAMERA SAW EVERYTHING
The woman in the yellow blouse stumbled backward, tears streaming down her cheeks as she pointed an accusing finger at the elderly man standing beside the living-room sofa.
“He tried to force himself on me!” she cried, her voice trembling with carefully performed terror. “Damon, please! You have to get him out of this house!”
The elderly man, seventy-eight-year-old Walter Hayes, stood perfectly still. His silver hair was slightly disheveled, and one hand rested against the edge of the sofa to steady himself. His expression carried the quiet exhaustion of someone who had just been accused of something unthinkable.
But the woman in yellow wasn't finished.
“He grabbed me! I told him to stop, but he wouldn't listen!” She covered her face with both hands, allowing another sob to escape. Then she peeked through her fingers to see whether Damon was watching.
Damon Cross, a broad-shouldered man in an expensive navy-blue suit, stood near the fireplace. A jagged scar cut across his forehead, making his already intimidating expression even harsher. His eyes flashed with anger as he turned toward Walter.
“You heard her!” Damon barked. “Get out of my house! Right now!”
Walter slowly lifted his head.
“Damon, before you do something you'll regret, you should—”
“I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANOTHER WORD!” Damon roared, striking the coffee table with his palm. “You come into my home, frighten a woman, and now you want to explain yourself? Get out!”
Walter's shoulders stiffened, but he did not raise his voice.
“I haven't touched her.”
The woman in yellow immediately let out a sharp, theatrical cry.
“See? He's still threatening me!”
Damon stepped forward, pointing toward the front door.
“OUT!”
At that exact moment, the front door slammed open.
A woman wearing an emerald-green outfit stormed into the living room. Her name was Evelyn Hayes, Walter's daughter. Her face burned with fury as she took in the scene: her seventy-eight-year-old father standing alone, Damon shouting at him, and a crying woman pretending to be the victim.
Evelyn rushed between the two men.