Love's Bitter Edge (Eva and Leonard)

Chapter 101

Chapter 101 Drugged

When I woke up in the private hospital, my brain was still completely fried. It wasn't until I saw Jill's anxious but frustrated face that I finally let out a breath of relief-I'd been saved.

Jill's face turned red as she stared me down. "Eva, you went nuts... you nearly choked me after you were drugged!" "Sorry, I was totally out of it." I shook my head fast, not wanting to even imagine what I'd done to make her so flustered. Jill flicked me on the forehead. "You owe me Again."

"I'll never forget what you did for me: I owe you big time, and next time I'll

She cut me off, shoving her phone in my hand. "Forget next time. Just deal with the disaster you've got going on first."

When I saw the video on the screen, I was frozen in shock. The naked woman in the video... was me. The guy on top of me? His face was blurry, but from the side, he kinda looked like Zack. And where were we getting it on? A private room in a damn restaurant. I didn't even need to check the comments to know the Internet was exploding, just like my brain was

"You... You said you saved me..." I stammered, my thoughts spinning out of control.

I instinctively touched myself. Jill rolled her eyes. "I got there in time, okay? What are you even checking for?

She snatched her phone back. "Whoever set you up had this planned from the start. Al face-swaps are easy these days"

I nodded, dazed, knowing this was about to go nuclear.

Even though the platforms pulled it down fast, I knew people already had copies. Five whole minutes of video-more than enough to ruin me for good.

enough, it was blowing up. Almost everyone I knew-or anyone looking for

talked to Emma, so she's not freaking out. I also pulled the restaurant's security footage, but it only shows me getting you out. The rest was erased. Want me to help clear this up? My dad's friend owns the place." I squeezed my phone, keeping quiet. I had a pretty good idea who was

sink this low.

check why that private room was the

for but no one ever showed. Cash, of course. The guy was wearing a baseball cap and a mask, so his face was hidden. And even if we saw him, what

knew exactly what she meant. Even if we had a clear shot of his face, it wouldn't matter. When someone got the money to cover their tracks, they'd

decline. I didn't need to answer to know what he wanted-40-something missed calls made

rang next, and she answered, looking a

sharp and urgent Jill and I

I took her

into the hospital room. He wrapped me in

Are you trying to kill me? Murder's

let go immediately "Are you

gave me a knowing wink before sheaking out

were you with

"I was set up"

Leonard's voice exploded, catching me completely

shocked. He'd seen the video and still believed

shoulder, his voice breaking. "Eva, what do you want me to

we fought. He never knew how to deal with me, and in the end, he'd always back down. Usually, it was my fault, though I'd never admit it. But