Chapter 162. Vultures at Home

Tristan's POV

The shouting followed me all the way up the driveway. Questions were still thrown like stones. Accusations sharpened by lenses and microphones. My name was being mangled into headlines before I even stepped out of the car.

“Mr. Crane, did you intimidate Grace?”

“Are you planning to apologize publicly?”

“Is it true she was underage when you-”

I didn’t slow down. The gates slid shut behind me with a metallic finality that felt like oxygen rushing back into my lungs, but even then, the noise lingered, it was echoing, clinging to my skin like sweat I couldn’t wash off. Cameras flashed through the bars. Voices rose. It was a chant of speculation and judgment.

I got out of my car, still ignoring those vultures. Walking up the few steps, I unloc