Chapter 118
The Hockey Star’s Remorse
The sun was dipping below the horizon as I walked out of the office building. I had endured another grueling day at work, battling
nosy co-workers and an all too invested boss. As I approached the parking lot, I couldnât wait to escape the suffocating
atmosphere and head back to the sanctuary of my apartment.
But as I turned the corner and spotted my car, my heart sank, and my steps faltered. There, in bold and viciously red spray paint,
the word âwhoreâ adorned every inch of my carâs windows. Fury boiled up inside me like a volcano about to erupt, and I clenched
my fists, my knuckles turning white.
âWhat the hell?â I muttered to myself, my voice shaking with anger and disbelief.
Without thinking, I stormed over to my defaced car, breathless, my heart pounding in my chest. As I stood there, my phone
buzzed insistently in my bag. I pulled it out, and Ariaâs name lit up the screen. I answered the call with a voice quivering with
rage.
âAria,â I spat out, âyou won't believe what just happened.â
Ariaâs voice on the other end was laced with concern. âWhat happened?â
My voice shook as I struggled to contain my anger. âSomeone vandalized my car, Aria. They sprayâpainted the word âwhoreâ all
over it.â
There was a stunned silence on the other end, followed by Ariaâs outraged exclamation. âOh my god. Did you see who did it?â
âNo, I didnât!â I practically shouted into the phone. âAnd they must have done it hours ago because itâs already dry.â
âOkay, okay. We'll figure this out. Just come home.â
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. âOkayâ
As I hung up the phone, I couldnât shake the feeling of vulnerability that coursed through me. This wasnât just a random act of
vandalism; it was a targeted attack on my character, an attempt to smear my name and reputation. Why would someone do this?
When I arrived back at my apartment, Aria was waiting for me outside the building. She rushed over to give me a comforting hug,
and I clung to her, my
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tears mingling with the anger that still simmered beneath the surface.
âHow bad is it?â Aria asked gently.
I pulled away from the embrace and wiped my tears. âI'll show you,â I said, and she followed me to my car.
Ariaâs face twist in anger as she took in the hateful graffiti. âThose monsters,â Aria muttered under her breath.
As Aria and I walked back inside the apartment building, I couldnât shake the anger and frustration that simmered within me. Who
could have done such a vile thing, and why?
When we stepped into the apartment, I couldnât hold back the torrent of questions that flooded my mind. I turned to Aria, my
voice trembling with a mixture of anger and fear. âItâs not like I know what I did wrong.â
Aria hesitated for a moment, her expression conflicted. She reached for the magazine on the counter and placed it in my hands.
Her eyes were filled with sympathy as I eyed the front cover.
âWhat's this?â I asked, the dread pooling in as I read the headline: âSleeping her way to the top, accompanied by a photo of me
and Mr. Erickson.
The anger that had been smoldering within me erupted like a wildfire. âWhat the hell is this?â I shouted, my voice rising with
indignation as I threw the tabloid back on the table.
Aria bit her lip, her eyes brimming with compassion. âI picked it up at one of the stands in town. You might want to take another
look.â
Hands shaking, I picked the magazine back up and flipped through the first couple of pages.
I could feel the anger rising within me as I scanned the article, my eyes narrowing in on the words that painted a false and
damaging narrative. According to the tabloid, Jasper had tipped them off, claiming that I had been fired from my internship due to
poor performance but had resorted to selling my body to Mr. Erickson in order to keep my position.
The accusations were baseless and infuriating, but what struck me the most was the image they had painted of meâa woman
who would compromise her
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integrity for personal gain. It was a betrayal of everything I believed in and stood.
for.
I turned to Aria, my voice shaking with anger. âThis is outrageous!â
Aria nodded, her own expression filled with anger and disbelief. âI know, Evie. Jasper must have some ulterior motive for doing
this.â
My mind raced with possibilities, but I couldn't dwell on Jasperâs motivations at that moment. I needed to address the situation
head-on. âI need to find out what heâs up to,â I said, my determination unwavering. âAnd I need to set the record straight.â
With that, I rushed to the television, flipping it on to see if there were any updates on the situation. The news had already picked
up the story, and Jasper was front and center, speaking to a reporter with a self-satisfied smirk.
âWe have evidence to support our claims,â Jasper declared, his voice dripping with smugness. âI have here a recording and a
photo that prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Evie and Mr. Erickson are involved in an inappropriate relationship.â
My heart sank as I watched Jasper produce a recording and a photo. The image showed Mr. Erickson and me in a seemingly
compromising position, though I knew I never would've kissed him. He was merely standing in front of me, though the camera
angle tried to suggest something else.
The recording, however, was even more damning. It was my voice, unmistakably, saying that Mr. Erickson had kissed me and
that it had felt good. I had gone on to declare that I was going to be the âboss ladyâ of the firm.
I was shocked to hear my own voice making
me even more was that I didnât recall all tch statements, but what disturbed
I had told Jasper. He had to have been close enough, and get me to say the right things. That night at the bar was a blur, but
Jasperâs intentions with meeting me there were clear as day.
The recording was clearly edited to paint a false narrative, and I couldnât understand how he had managed to obtain such
damning material. Heâd made my words sound seamless and intentional, as if me ever sleeping with my boss was something
that I would casually discuss.
Aria watched the news alongside me, her expression a mix of concern and frustration. âThis is a disaster.â
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Chapter 118
I clenched my fists, unable to contain my anger any longer. âAria, I swear to you, none of this is true. I would never compromise
my principles for personal gain.â
Aria placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. âI know that, Evie. I just donât know how we'll fight something this bad.â
Ariaâs words echoed in my mind as we sat down on the couch and scrolled through our phones. âEvie, your reputation seems to
be taking a hit,â she said, and I couldnât help but feel a growing sense of despair.
Aria showed me her phone screen, her expression somber. âTake a look at this, Evie,â she urged.
I reluctantly took the phone and opened the app, revealing a world I had been a part of, a world that had once celebrated my
achievements and my partnership with Timothy in the form of the #TEVIE fanpages. But now, as I scrolled through the posts and
comments, I was met with a stark and heartbreaking reality.
The once-âadoring fans of #TEVIE had turned against me. They had taken to the online chatroom where I had once gone
undercover to interact with them, and their perceptions of me had shifted dramatically.
One comment after another, the fans expressed their disappointment, anger, and even disgust at my alleged behavior. They
called me a âwhoreâ for supposedly betraying Timothy, accused me of selling out my principles, and questioned my integrity. It
was as if the very foundation of my online support system had crumbled beneath me.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I read the hurtful comments, the weight of their accusations pressing down on me like a crushing
weight. These were the people who had once championed me, who had believed in #TEVIE, and now they saw me as a traitor.
Aria placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, her voice filled with empathy. âEvie, I know itâs tough to read those comments, but
remember that they donât know the truth. We'll find a way to clear your name.â
I placed my head in my hands and sighed. âI canât believe how quickly they turned on me, Aria. Itâs like Iâve lost everything.â
The only worse than being invisible to the world was being hated by it.