Benson Residence – Evening
The air inside the mansion was sharp with tension. Glasses clinked. A storm was brewing—and this time, not even Mr. Benson's money could silence it.
Mrs. Benson stood at the center of the living room, arms crossed, her voice trembling with a mix of rage and guilt.
> "You lied to me!"
Mr. Benson didn't flinch. He sat calmly, like a king on a throne.
> "I did what needed to be done. You know how things work, darling."
> "You paid them off! Her family! That poor girl—Nelly. And now Jimmy's involved, and you just act like none of it matters?"
He sighed, as if he were the one tired of her noise.
> "You're being dramatic. Nelly was unstable. Always clinging to attention. It was better to silence it quietly than make it public."
> "She was hurting! You knew what you did to her!"
> "Don't twist it," he snapped. "She was the one who came onto me. Acting grown. Manipulative. Dangerous."
At that moment, the front door opened.
Julie walked in, followed by Jimmy, and to everyone's shock — Nelly.
They'd heard everything.
The room fell into cold silence.
Mrs. Benson turned, her face pale.
> "Jimmy—what are you doing bringing her into our house?"
> "Listening to the truth," he said flatly.
Julie's eyes lit up with bitter opportunity.
> "Finally. We're all being honest, right?" she said with fake sweetness. "Let's talk about how Nelly tried to seduce your husband."
> "Julie—" Jimmy warned.
But she wasn't done.
> "She wanted attention. Always following him, smiling too hard. She even said he was 'nice.' How else do you think this all started?"
Mrs. Benson's lip curled in disgust.
> "Is that true, Nelly? Did you try to sleep with my husband?"
Nelly's fists clenched.
> "No."
> "Liar!" Julie shouted.
But Jimmy stepped forward, voice rising for the first time.
> "Enough!"
Everyone turned to him.
> "She didn't try to sleep with anyone. She cried in my arms the night it happened. She begged for someone to believe her, and you all looked away."
He stared at his mother.
> "You knew. You saw the change in her. But you chose him."
Mrs. Benson's face cracked with something—shame, maybe—but she looked away.
> "She ruined this family," she whispered.
> "No," Jimmy said. "He did."
Mr. Benson stood, finally rattled.
> "Be careful what you say, boy."
> "Or what?" Jimmy shot back. "You'll buy me off like you did her parents? Send thugs after me like you did Joy?"
Gasps.
Julie stepped back in shock.
Nelly stepped forward.
> "I didn't come here to argue," she said. "I came to say this: you tried to destroy me. But I'm still standing. And this time, I have people who believe me."
> "You should be afraid."
Then she turned and walked out, Jimmy following close behind.
Mrs. Benson just stared at the floor, lips trembling.
Mr. Benson's fists were clenched, but he said nothing.
And for the first time in that house…
Silence wasn't safety anymore.
**********
They had barely stepped outside when the door shut quietly behind them. Nelly took a deep breath. She hadn't realized how tightly she was holding herself until Jimmy pulled her into a hug.
It was quiet. Gentle. No words. Just warmth.
> "Everything will be fine," he whispered into her hair. "I promise."
Nelly didn't answer. She didn't need to. She just let the moment stay a little longer—then slowly stepped away.
> "Thanks, Jimmy."
He gave a soft smile. "Get some rest."
She nodded and walked down the hall toward her room.
---
INSIDE THE ROOM
Julie was already lying on the bed, scrolling through her phone. But she wasn't relaxed. Her jaw was tight. Her fingers stiff.
Nelly entered and closed the door quietly. She was surprised to see julie operating a phone while she has been here loooking for a cell phone to reach out to her parent for decades anyways that doesn't matter anymore cause she has one . Yes the one Mrs Grace gave her.
She sat at the edge of the bed, back turned to Julie. But the silence between them was louder than shouting.
> "Why, Julie?" Nelly said quietly.
Julie didn't answer.
> "Why are you always against me?"
Julie scoffed. "You know why."
Nelly turned around slowly.
> "No. I really don't."
Julie sat up now, eyes flashing with frustration.
> "Because Jimmy was never supposed to be your man!"
Nelly blinked. "Your what?"
> "He was mine! Before you came along with your sad eyes and your stupid stories. I've known him longer. We used to talk. Joke. He never even looked at you until you started falling apart and needing saving."
Nelly stared at her for a long moment. And then… she smiled — not out of joy, but out of tiredness.
> "Julie… Jimmy and I were never lovers."
> "Don't lie!"
> "We were friends. Barely even that before all this started. And honestly? I don't even want anything to do with him in that way."
Julie froze.
> "Then why does he keeps chasing you?"
> "Why, Nelly?"
Nelly didn't move.
> "Why are you always against me?"
Julie scoffed without looking at her. "You already know."
> "No. I don't."
Julie finally snapped her head around, eyes blazing.
> "Because he was never supposed to be your man!"
Nelly blinked. "Jimmy?"
Can you stop pretending
> "Yes! He used to talk to me. Sit near me. Joke. Then you came along, acting all innocent with your tears and pain and… everything became about you."
Nelly just stared at her. Then, calmly, she said:
> "Julie, Jimmy and I were never together."
> "Liar."
> "We were barely friends. And even now, I don't love him. I can't. I'm nineteen. I have dreams. A future to focus on. Jimmy is twenty-two. He's… older. We're not even in the same place in life."
Julie looked confused, almost wounded.
> "Then why does he keep chasing you?"
> "I don't know," Nelly said quietly. "But maybe you should ask him that."
> "You think you're better than me?"
> "No," Nelly said calmly. "I just don't fight over boys."
Julie's face twisted, but she didn't say anything else.
Nelly laid down and turned her back.
> "Goodnight, Julie."
There was no reply.
Just silence.