The news spread like wildfire.
Photos. Texts. Even a grainy video.
Anonymous screenshots flooded the school's gossip page overnight. And at the center of it all?
Ava Canter.
"Did you see the messages she apparently sent to Rylan? So flirty…"
"I heard she was leading both guys on. Typical transfer drama."
"Damien must've dumped her for a reason."
The whispers didn't stop, and Ava was still in the hospital, completely unaware.
Meanwhile, someone had posted a heavily edited clip of Damien walking alone in the hallway, taken right after Ava fainted—cleverly captioned to hint that he had moved on quickly.
To the world, it looked like he was cold. Detached. Heartless.
---
(Damien's POV)
I saw the post during first period. My blood boiled.
It was all lies. All twisted.
My fists clenched. Someone was messing with Ava's life and mine.
---
(Ezra's POV)
I found Chloe outside, fists clenched. "It's all fake," she growled. "But the damage is real."
Chloe was angrier than I'd ever seen her. And for the first time… I saw something flicker in her eyes when she mentioned Ava.
And something broke inside me when I realized I hated seeing her hurt.
---
(Hospital – Ava's POV)
The nurse brought me my phone.
Big mistake.
I opened it.
And everything I'd built… every person I trusted…
Shattered.
I stared at the screen as an edited video played beside a private message I never sent. Rumors. Lies. Judgement.
Damien.
Rylan.
Even Chloe and Ezra had comments under the posts.
And all I could do was watch the world twist my truth into something cruel.
---