After Rejection, she crawled to my feet for forgiveness

Exposing Lucas and Henry II

Lucas shifted uneasily, sweat forming on his forehead as he fumbled for words. Henry, however, maintained his composure, his expression hardening as if he was doubling down.

Bethany, seething with anger, pointed an accusatory finger at both of them. "You two should be ashamed. Not only do you fail to appreciate Norman's kindness, but you also have the audacity to defame him publicly? Are you so blinded by your agenda that you can't see the truth?"

Henry’s jaw tightened, refusing to back down. "Kindness? If he really wanted to help these women, why buy them such expensive houses? Why not something simpler? This just screams of ulterior motives."

Bethany shot him a fiery glare. "So, let me get this straight. Women whose husbands gave their lives defending this nation don't deserve these homes? You think you deserve them more than they do? Is that it?"

Henry faltered for a moment but quickly recovered. "That's not what I’m saying," he snapped. "I’m saying this entire setup is suspicious. Norman’s guilty—why else would he hide this? Why keep it secret unless he’s orchestrating some grand scheme to clear his name?"

Bethany’s patience wore thin. "Or maybe he didn’t tell anyone because he knew people like you would twist it into something vile!"

Henry and Lucas exchanged uneasy glances, their confidence visibly shaken, but their stubbornness kept them from admitting they were wrong. Henry squared his shoulders and countered, "If he’s innocent, then why not let us investigate further? I bet these women were coached to say this. They’re probably part of his plan!"

Harris stepped in, his voice steady but firm. "Enough, Henry. This is ridiculous. These are widows who’ve lost everything. Show some respect."

But Henry was relentless. "Respect? If Norman has nothing to hide, then there shouldn’t be an issue with searching these homes. Let’s see if his so-called generosity holds up under scrutiny."

Bethany clenched her fists. "This is absurd! You can’t just invade people’s privacy on a whim. These women have already endured enough. Leave them out of your witch hunt."

The officials murmured among themselves, but some seemed to side with Henry, nodding in agreement with his suggestion. Lucas, sensing an opportunity to regain control of the narrative, backed Henry. "We’re only asking to verify the facts, Chief. Surely you understand the importance of transparency in cases like this?"

Bethany hesitated, knowing they were cornering her. With a reluctant sigh, she gave in. "Fine. But if you don’t find anything, Henry, you’re going to apologize."

Henry scoffed, crossing his arms. "Apologize? Sure, I’ll apologize. But I doubt it’ll come to that."

Harris stepped forward, his tone sharper now. "A simple apology won’t cut it. If you find nothing, you’ll issue a public apology online. And not just once—every day for an entire month."

Henry’s face reddened with indignation. "That’s ridiculous!"

Lucas placed a hand on Henry’s shoulder, urging him to stay calm. "Let’s not make this personal. Henry will apologize if it comes to that. Let’s just proceed with the inspection."

Henry, though visibly enraged, nodded begrudgingly under the mounting pressure. "Fine. But don’t think for a second that this means I’m backing down."

The search was thorough, every corner of the homes meticulously inspected, but as the hours dragged on, Henry and his team found nothing incriminating—only further proof of Norman’s selflessness. Shelves were stocked with food provided by Norman, photographs of fallen soldiers displayed prominently in living rooms, and notes of gratitude written by the widows' children thanking him for his support.

Harris, arms crossed and voice icy, broke the tense silence. “This investigation is over. You’ve humiliated yourselves enough.”

Henry’s face darkened, while Lucas shifted uncomfortably. The smug confidence they carried earlier was gone, replaced with growing unease as the reality of their failed scheme settled in.

The officials turned their attention to the duo, their criticisms sharp and unforgiving. One of them pointed directly at Lucas. “This is what we expect from a mayor? Abusing your power and wasting resources to smear an innocent man? Where’s your integrity?”

Another official added, “And you, Henry—what kind of investigator jumps to conclusions without proof? Your motives here are highly questionable.”

Henry gritted his teeth, but before he could respond, the murmuring of the gathered widows rose to a crescendo. Some were crying openly, their voices trembling with anger and grief.

“You came into our homes, treated us like criminals!” one widow sobbed. “We lost our husbands protecting this country, and this is how we’re repaid?”

An elderly woman clutched a photograph of her late husband tightly, her hands shaking. “Norman has done more for us than anyone ever has. You humiliate him, drag his name through the mud, and now this?”

The officials were visibly affected. Their stern expressions softened as they watched the women break down in tears. One of them turned back to Henry and Lucas, his voice firm. “This is unacceptable. Someone needs to be held accountable for this disgraceful behavior.”

Lucas, seeing the tide of public opinion turning sharply against him, quickly shifted blame. “This was Henry’s operation! He insisted on it. Henry, apologize to these women and offer them proper compensation immediately.”

Henry’s jaw clenched, his defeat written all over his face. He stepped forward, his tone icy and devoid of remorse. “I apologize for any... inconvenience caused today.”

The widows erupted in outrage, their voices rising in protest. “Inconvenience?” one shouted. “You call this an inconvenience? You’ve insulted us, disrespected our late husbands, and shamed Norman for nothing!”