Her Night Dance
Chapter 7
The media latched onto a heavily edited video of me being dragged across the red carpet by Marcus due to my injured leg.
1/4
In the distorted version, it appeared as though I was desperately trying to crash the event for attention.
Internet users, ever ready to pounce, created GIFS of the footage, pairing them with degrading captions like, “Desperate diva wants the spotlight!”
Alongside the video were photos of me holding a wine glass, seemingly approaching former collaborators, and they were twisted into an entirely new narrative. Comments flooded in.
[Clara Bennett isn’t just a slandering bitch. She’s also hunting for shady deals. What a perfect match for the bitch title!]
[This is hilarious! Every exec she approached bolted like she had the plague. What a disaster.]
[Look at her pathetic face. Honestly, if she’s that desperate, I’d pay for one night.]
[I’m serious–Clará Bennett should just sell herself at this point.]
The vitriol escalated after footage surfaced of Amber being
rushed to the hospital for a stomach pump.
Chapter 7
2/4
Amber fueled the fire, posting two new photos on Space X.
The first was her hospital record. The second was a picture of two
intertwined hands, the couple’s rings on full display.
The ring on her finger stopped me cold.
It was the very ring I had picked out as a gift for our seventh
wedding anniversary.
Ethan had dismissed it, claiming the overseas flagship store
appointment was unnecessary.
Now, there it was–on Amber’s hand.
Amber: [Being harassed by a lunatic landed me in the ER. Thankfully, I have someone who’ll always protect me. @Ethan.]
Almost immediately, Ethan shared her post with a comment.
Ethan: [Don’t let a crazy person ruin your mood, sweetheart. Remember, you’re destined to shine, while some people are only fit to rot in the gutter.]
The comment section erupted, with tags directed at me.
Among the insults were responses from verified accounts- former colleagues, no less–detailing alleged instances of my workplace bullying.
These weren’t random strangers. They included people I had been
Chapter 7
close to, people I had helped financially when they were struggling, even a woman I once shared meals with.
My fingers trembled as I hovered over the flood of hateful comments, unable to look away.
“Don’t,” Julian said, taking my hand firmly in his. “They’re not
worth it.”
3/4
I tightened my grip on his hand, my resolve hardening. “I need to remember the faces they’re showing me now.”
It reminded me of when my family fell. Those who once held me in high regard had been the first to shatter me, eagerly casting
themselves as victims while I became their scapegoat.
I thought I had learned my lesson, but I still gave my trust to the
wrong people.
“Am I an idiot?” I asked bitterly.
Julian gently wiped the tears from my cheeks.
“A flower that blooms in the dirt will always attract pests, jealous
of its beauty and bent on destroying it. The flower isn’t at fault-
it’s the vile insects that are to blame.”
He held my gaze, his tone firm. “From now on, I’ll be the wall that
shields you. You just focus on growing and flourishing.”
“Thank you, Jules,” I said, removing my SIM card and tossing it
into
Chapter 7
the trash without hesitation. “You’re right. It’s time to leave the
past behind.”
4/4
Neither the joy of my youth nor the solace I once found in Ethan could justify the pain he had inflicted on me.
We had gone from supporting each other to being strangers. By sparing him the exposure of his infidelity, I had already shown him
mercy.
Write your comment