Chapter 9 I mentally kicked myself for being so pathetic. But years of feelings donât just vanish overnight. It would be a slow, painful detox.
Mom, seming the tension, stood up: âIll give you two some space, Going to grab some food from the cafeteria.â
Sid politely tried to decline but eventually agreed to stay for dinner. Once we were alone in the hospital room, I looked up at him with a forced smile: âThanks for coming, Sid.â
Sid sat beside the bed, quiet for a moment before saying softly: âYou donât have to pretend with me, Phoebe.â
âYou donât need to smile if you donât feel like it. Itâs okay.â
I felt unexpectedly awkward.
I reached for my phone, needing a distraction.
Sid gently touched my wrist, his eyes concerned: âMaybe donât check that right now. It might be better to wait...â
But after our hands touched, he quickly pulled back. His ears turning visibly pink. âSorry, I didnât mean to... I just was worried about...â
I unlocked my phone anyway, immediately bombarded with notifications.
Several concerned classmates and friends had sent messages.
I replied to each one until I saw a message from Mason, one of Zephyrâs sketchy friends:
Mason: [So whatâs your rate? $200/hr? Or you giving discounts now that everyone knows?]
I responded with a question mark, completely bewildered.
His replies came instantly:
Mason: [Cut the innocent act, babe]
12:47 The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights 35.9%
Chapter 9 Mason: [DiscordScreenshot.jpg]
Mason: [The school slut who got railed so hard she passed out in the boys bathroom? Thatâs prior entertainment]
Mason: [The whole schoolâs talking about it, might as well cash in, right?]
Mason: [Whatâs the deal? Zephyr gets all the fun but you wonât share with his boys?]
My hands shook violently as I opened the screenshot.
It showed a Discord post titled:
[HOLY SHIT! Phoebe Johnson caught passed out in the boysâ bathroom looking like she just finished shooting a porno!]
The post described in awful detail how I was carried out of the boysâ bathroom to the marseâs office It included a secretly taken photo that made me want to disappear forever.
In the picture, I was unconscious, face flushed, lips visibly swollen from Zephyrâs forceful kiss.
Sweat from my fever had soaked through my blouse, making it cling to my body in a way that looked intentionally provocative.
My clothes were disheveled from Zephyrâs aggressive grabbing.
What had actually been a terrifying moment of standing up to my abuser before collapsing from illness was being twisted into something vile and degrading.
I dropped the phone like it had burned me, a strangled sound escaping my throat.
The room started spinning again.
After everythingâafter all the humiliation and betrayalâthis was how my reputation would end?
This was what people would remember about me?
âPhoebe?â Sidâs worried voice seemed far away.
âWhatâs wrong? What did you see?â
12:47 The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nichts I costi cu for words Your med low any face curled into myself, my entire body shaking with silent sobs.
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