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

all over her face. "I 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."

sink this low.

private room

for but no one ever showed. Cash, of course. The guy was wearing a

finish. I 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

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

looking a

Leonard's voice came through, sharp and urgent Jill and I exchanged looks, and i gave her

drugged. I took her to the

He wrapped me in a bear

you trying to kill me? Murder's still a crime, you

let go immediately

me a knowing wink before

were you

"I was set up"

Leonard's voice exploded, catching me completely off

seen the video

dropped his head against my shoulder, his voice breaking. "Eva, what do you want me to do? How ar I supposed to handle this? How am I supposed to

in the end, he'd always back down. Usually, it was my fault, though I'd never admit it. But this