Chapter 3

3.

The moment my advisor saw me, she almost poked my nose with her finger, screaming at me.

"Quinn, have you no shame?!"

"A girl like you, instead of studying, you're doing such disgusting things!"

I was stunned, my mind a complete blank.

"Professor, I don't understand what you're talking about."

"Still acting innocent!" She slammed the table, her face red with fury.

That's when Lucia stepped in, looking all helpful. "Quinn, just admit it. Otherwise, the school can't protect you."

I whipped my head around to stare at her. "What lies did you tell her to ruin me?"

She immediately started sobbing. "I'm your friend! I'm only trying to help! Don't blame the professor; she's doing this for your own good."

The professor snorted. "Stop blaming others! You had the nerve to have a one-night stand with a rich man, but no guts to own up to it? You think we're blind? The photos are all over the internet!"

My heart tightened. "That's not true!"

"Still lying?! Fine! I'll show you!"

"People like you never learn until it's too late!"

The professor shoved her phone at me. It was an anonymous post on the school forum.

A grainy screenshot from a security camera showed a man carrying me into a hotel room.

My breath hitched. The blood in my veins turned to ice.

The person in that photo was undeniably me.

But the only time I had been to a hotel was with Grayson.

I was working a shift as a server in the hotel's VIP lounge that day. I had felt dizzy and strange.

I thought I was just overworked, but then everything went black.

When I woke up, it was the next morning.

The man beside me was Grayson Sterling, looking cold and grim.

He told me I had been caught up in a plot meant for him.

He promised he'd find out who was behind it and give me an explanation.

But I couldn't understand. With his power, how did security footage leak? How did it end up on a school forum?

The professor's gaze turned even more hateful. "I can't believe I have a student like you. You're a disgrace!"

Lucia looked down, hiding her smug grin.

I stood there, my heart sinking into my stomach.