Chapter 72 Justice for Dandelion
Dandelion.
I was curled up in the corner of the Graham Estate library when my phone started buzzing. Once. Twice. Then continuously like someone was spam calling me.
I had been avoiding social media for months. Every time I opened any app, I saw my face plastered everywhere with cruel comments. Slut. Homewrecker. Talentless. So I stopped looking, stopped torturing myself with the hatred of strangers.
Then recently since Chase was exposed it was now frequent calls from Reporters and the buzzing wouldn't stop.
I grabbed my phone finally, ready to turn it off completely, but I saw Lilian's name flashing across the screen, so I answered.
"Dandy!" She was practically screaming. "Have you been online? Have you seen?"
"Seen what again?"
"Check Twitter. Right now. I'm serious, check it right now!"
My heart started pounding. "Lily, if this is more news about chase, I really can't---"
"It's not! Just look!" She insisted.
I pulled the phone away from my ear and opened Twitter with shaking hands. My notifications were exploding. Hundreds. No, thousands of mentions.
The top trending topic in Greenville was #JusticeForDandelion.
I blinked, to make sure I was reading it wrong. But no, there it was. My name. With the word justice.
I clicked on the hashtag.
The first post I saw made my breath pause.
I owe Dandelion Williams an apology. I called her terrible names,I believed she was manipulative. But Chase Brussel had SEVEN victims. SEVEN. She wasn't a homewrecker. She was abused. #JusticeForDandelion
I scrolled down, with trembling hands.
Remember when we all destroyed this woman's career over photos her ABUSER leaked? Remember how quick we were to call her names? I'm ashamed. #JusticeForDandelion
Chase Brussel had a PATTERN. He targeted young actresses, manipulated them, then destroyed their reputations when they tried to leave. Dandelion Williams deserves better. #JusticeForDandelion
To everyone who sent hate to Dandelion Williams: we were wrong. She wasn't the villain. She was the victim. #JusticeForDandelion
I couldn't breathe. The words were blurring on the screen.
"Dandy? Are you there?" Lilian's voice came through the phone, concerned.
"I'm here Lily," I sniffed back the tears that threatened to call.
"People are defending you Dandy. Your old fans are coming back. There's even a petition demanding the industry reinstate your projects."
I scrolled further. Comment after comment. Some were still hateful, still calling me names, but those were being drowned out by thousands of others. People were apologizing, they were angry at themselves for believing the lies, some were pointing out the pattern in Chase's behavior.
Anyone else notice Dandelion went completely silent after the scandal? No interviews, no statements, nothing. Because she was TRAUMATIZED. #JusticeForDandelion
I used to be her biggest fan. Then I turned on her the second those photos leaked. I'm sorry. I should have waited for the truth. #JusticeForDandelion
Chase Brussel manipulated, blackmailed, and destroyed multiple women. But sure, let's keep blaming them instead of him. Dandelion Williams deserves justice. Please comeback Dandy. #JusticeForDandelion
"Dandy, this is good news," Lilian said gently. "Why aren't you saying anything?"
"I don't know what to say." My voice cracked. "I thought everyone hated me."
"Some people are stubborn idiots who'll never change their minds. But a lot of people are waking up. They're seeing the truth."
I found a forum discussion thread titled: Was Dandelion Williams Actually The Victim?
I clicked it against my better judgment.
User1: Looking back at the timeline, Dandelion's behavior makes way more sense if she was being abused. She was quiet, avoided events, looked really exhausted in photos.
User2: And Chase was ALWAYS around her. Like controlling who she talked to, where she went. Classic abuser behavior.
User3: I feel sick. We destroyed this woman for being a victim.
User4: Not all of us believed the lies. Some of us knew something was wrong with the story.
User5: The fact that Chase had SIX OTHER VICTIMS and we still blamed the women says everything about our society.
User6: Dandelion Williams deserves the biggest apology. Her career, her reputation, her mental health. We took everything from her.
The words kept swimming on the screen. I realized I was already crying, hot tears rolling down my cheeks and dripping onto my phone.
"Lily, I have to go," I managed to say.
"Wait, Dandy you shouldn't feel sad."
"I know, I just need a minute." I sniffed.
"Alright I understand, talk to you later"
I hung up, My hands were shaking so badly I nearly dropped the phone. I kept scrolling, unable to stop myself.
A video compilation someone made of all my past interviews, showing how I had always been kind and professional. How I had donated to charities, supported other actresses, spoken out about mental health.
The comments underneath were overwhelming.
How did we let the media convince us this woman was evil?
She was always so sweet in interviews. The media really destroyed her for clicks.
I'm crying watching this. We failed her so badly.
The sobs came suddenly, erupting from my chest in harsh, broken sounds. I pressed my hand over my mouth, trying to muffle them, but it was useless.
For months, I had carried the weight of everyone's hatred. Every cruel comment, every word about my "fall from grace," every lost opportunity. Depression made me believe I deserved it somehow. That maybe if I had been smarter, stronger and better, I could have avoided it all.
But these comments were saying it wasn't my fault. That I'd been the victim, not the villain.
I didn't hear the library door open. I didn't hear footsteps approaching. I only realized someone was there when a shadow fell across me.
I looked up, tears still streaming down my face.
Alex stood there, frozen mid step. His expression shifted from surprise to something I couldn't quite name. Concern maybe. Or confusion about why I was sobbing in his library.
"I'm sorry," I said quickly, wiping at my face. "I'll leave. I didn't mean to---"
"What happened?" His voice was sharper than usual. "Did someone hurt you?"
I shook my head, unable to form words. He crossed the remaining distance between us in three long strides, crouching down so we were eye level.
"Dandelion, talk to me. What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," I managed to say through tears. "Something's right. For the first time in months, something's actually right."
I showed him my phone, the hashtag still trending at the top. He took it, scrolling through the posts with that intense focus he brought to everything.
His jaw tightened as he read. I watched emotions flicker across his usually controlled face. Anger, satisfaction, something that almost looked like pride.
"The exposé worked," he said quietly.
"Alex." My voice broke out his name. "Thank you. I don't know how to thank you properly, but thank you."
He looked at me then, really looked at me. I must have been a mess, crying and shaking with my face all red and puffy. But his expression softened in a way I'd never seen before.
"You don't have to thank me."
"Yes, I do, you---" Another sob cut me off.
I tried to cover my face with my hands, embarrassed by how emotional I was being. But then I felt warm arms wrap around me, pulling me against a solid chest.
Alex was hugging me.
Alexander Graham, the man who had multiple contract rules about not touching, was holding me while I cried.
I should have pulled away. I Should have remembered the boundaries, the fake marriage, all the reasons this was a bad idea.
Instead, I buried my face in his chest and let myself break down completely.
All the fear, the shame, the months of carrying hatred from strangers, it all poured out in harsh, ugly sobs. And through it all, Alex just held me. One hand rubbing slow circles on my back, the other cradling the back of my head.
"It's okay," he murmured. "Let it out."
"I thought everyone would hate me forever," I choked out. "I thought I'd never have a normal life."
"He caused this And now everyone knows it."
"Some people still think I'm lying."
"Some people are idiots. Let them think what they want." His voice was rough against my hair. "The people who matter know the truth now."
I pulled back slightly, looking up at him. His green eyes were intense, studying my face like he was memorizing it.
"Your shirt," I said, noticing the wet patch where my tears had soaked through. "I ruined your shirt."
"I don't care about the shirt."
"But--"
"Dandelion." He cupped my face with one hand, thumb brushing away a tear. "I don't care about the shirt."
The moment stretched between us, heavy with something unspoken. His thumb was still on my cheek, his eyes locked on mine. I could feel my heart pounding.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" I whispered.
His expression flickered and for a second, I thought he might say something important, something real. But then he dropped his hand and stood, putting a distance between us.
"You should rest now, don't go online for now." He muttered.
"We need to plan how to handle your public return."
Then he immediately turned and left without another word.