Chapter 4

Watching her leave, feeling the lingering warmth on my face, I was livid.

I turned, ready to march back and explain everything to Mr. Davies.

But a sliver of rationality held me back.

Bethany dared to openly admit this to me, so someone must have helped her.

Everything must have been prepared.

I wouldn't be able to expose her with just words.

But what she did wouldn't be flawless!

There were cameras in the office, and only I knew my computer password.

So she couldn't have copied it physically.

It had to be online.

And if it was online, my computer, the one that was copied, must have left traces.

Those traces were evidence!

I swallowed my rage and returned to my desk, meticulously checking my computer.

As I was sifting through files, my phone rang.

Messages from my mom and Liam popped up almost simultaneously:

[Daughter, I got a text from a short number saying you're selling your body for work!]

[Your dad and I both got it. It also said you have an STD. What's going on?]

[Honey, did you upset someone?]

[Someone Photoshopped nude pictures of you and sent them to me and my parents from a virtual number.]

[It also said ninety percent of your job opportunities came from selling your body.]

[The words… were really, really disgusting…]

I froze, then quickly clicked to have Liam send me screenshots of the messages.

Liam initially refused.

But finally, he couldn't resist my insistence and sent them over.

I opened them:

[The woman you're about to marry for hundreds of thousands in dowry? She's been passed around countless times!]

[She throws herself at any man, any job opportunity, like a slutty dog.]

[Image], [Image], [Image], [Image], [Image], [Image]

[You haven't seen her acting like this, have you? You haven't enjoyed her being so eager?]

[Marry a rotten whore, you stupid man, you betrayed animal, wait till you get an STD.]

[Then she, you, and your kids will all have STDs!]

[Oh, I'm being optimistic. The child she gives birth to might not even be yours!]

My knuckles turned white gripping the phone. My breathing hitched.

Rumors!

Now? Rumors about me?

I didn't even need to think who was behind it!

I shot up, glaring at Bethany across the office.

She was looking at me.

Our eyes met, and she immediately smiled.

Her lips mouthed: The, real, show, is, yet, to, come!

More to come!

She wasn't stopping!

My job! My reputation! My family!

My single act of defiance had earned me her disgusting revenge!

Now, it seemed, in her eyes, I was not only never a friend, never an equal.

I was more like a dog!

A dog that, upon even the slightest resistance, Bethany, its owner, would utterly destroy!

I looked down at my computer, which still showed no traces, and then at my phone, displaying those vile messages.

She attacks me, I passively accept, then search for her weaknesses.

No, no, that's too passive.

Offense is the best defense!

If she wants to play, I'll play with her!

Who's the human and who's the dog remains to be seen!

No! There's something…

It won't just defeat her, it could ruin her entire life!