Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed novel Chapter 666

“Your shenanigans have hit the internet, and now I've got a legion of authors banding together to sue you! They've got enough dirt to bury us in court, Nadine. If we end up in front of a judge, we're toast, no two ways about it!”

Nadine's eyes widened in shock. “How… How did this happen? Who put it online?! I thought it was just Madge coming after me. Why are the others…?”

“Did it ever cross your mind that shutting down a settlement would spread like wildfire? Other authors you’ve wronged would catch wind and eventually gang up for a piece of the pie!”

A legion of authors… all wanting compensation…

Even Nadine, who wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, knew this wouldn’t just be chump change.

“Mr. Lucius, please, go tell Madge I’m open to settling. Whatever she wants, we can negotiate!”

“Too late! I reached out to Madge’s daughter before coming here, and she’s not interested in settling anymore.”

“But… but why? Last time she was still willing to…”

Mr. Lucius sighed. “Opportunities knock but once. Miss it, and it’s gone. The world doesn’t revolve around what you want, when you want it.”

Nadine felt a cold sweat break out, her legs turning to jelly.

This online exposure meant her reputation was mud. Even if she somehow crawled out of this mess, there was no way she could continue in this industry.

And the looming financial ruin was enough to bankrupt her.

“Mr. Lucius, please… I know I messed up… Please, think of something…”

Mr. Lucius looked at her, pity in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I’ve done all I can.”

“I’ll pay whatever it takes, just help me win this case!”

Mr. Lucius shook his head slowly.

Win?

That was a pipe dream.

The evidence they had against Nadine could easily land her behind bars!

“All I can do is try to negotiate a settlement, not keep you out of jail.”

Jail?!

Nadine’s eyes widened. Was it really that serious?

Talking about Nadine’s situation, Madge shook her head, not a bit sympathetic.

Lucky for her, she had quickly caught her laptop that day, saving her manuscript. But Nadine had crossed a line.

“Mom, leave it to me and Stoner.”

“Stoner? He’s involved too?”

Roseanne nodded.

The recording was Stoner’s ace in the hole.

From the moment Madge signed with him, he’d been laying the groundwork.

Had Nadine backed down gracefully, Madge wouldn’t have pursued matters further. But Nadine chose to play hardball, and now she had to face the music.

Stoner was known in the industry for being fiercely protective of his clients.

Even the sudden surge of authors joining the lawsuit was Stoner’s doing. He’d personally reached out to each one, even fronting money for their legal fees, ready for a drawn-out battle.