CHAPTER 6

SOFIA JOHNSON

“No... no...” I mumble, staring at the photos, seeing the likes and comments growing more and more on each post.

I turn, finding Lucas’s cold gaze on me.

“How could you, Sofia?!” he yells, his face red, eyes bloodshot with rage. “With my father?! You slept with my father!”

I swallow hard, my hand trembling as I hold the phone. I feel Dante’s heavy gaze on me, ready to step in, but I don’t let him. Not this time.

I turn to Lucas, the anger burning stronger than the shame.

“You have no right to accuse me of anything!” I scream, pointing a finger at his face. “You’re the one who cheated first, Lucas! Over and over again!”

He steps back, surprised, but I don’t stop there. The words pour out like venom, sharp.

“Do you want me to say the names? Clara, Giovana, Nicole... Need more? Because I know everything, Lucas. I’m not stupid. I just got tired of being betrayed by you.”

Lucas loses his breath, unable to answer. Dante steps forward, grabs the phone from my hand roughly, staring at the photos.

“Who did this to you?” he asks, his voice low, controlled, but full of fury.

“Lexie.” I spit the name like acid. “That snake from the university. She’s hated me from the beginning.”

His jaw tightens. I can almost feel the ground shake with his anger.

“I’ll handle this.”

But Lucas opens his mouth again, now spitting venom at his own father.

“Handle this? Are you kidding me? While I was taking my girlfriend to meet you, you were fucking her? You’re a fucking traitor!”

Dante loses his patience.

In a second, he shoves Lucas against the wall, pinning him with a firm hand on his shoulder. He doesn’t hurt him, but holds him still, eyes blazing with fury.

“You’re my son, and I love you more than anything. But never speak of her, or of me, like that again.”

My breath falters. I look at Lucas, who struggles but can’t escape.

“You still think I’m your girlfriend, Lucas? For God’s sake...” I shake my head, disappointed, exhausted.

I grab my things in silence and head for the door. They both try to follow, but I raise my hand, firm.

“No. I’ll handle this on my own. Stay out of it. And don’t follow me.”

Lucas takes a step, but Dante holds him by the arm.

“Let her go. She needs time.”

I leave without looking back.

At home, I open the computer, and what I find destroys me more than any scream. The comments. Hundreds, maybe thousands.

“Cheap slut.”

“She’s a gold digger.”

“Mafia whore.”

Each word cuts through me like a knife. My stomach churns, my hands tremble. Damn Lexie.

The next morning, I walk into the university feeling the stares glued on me.

Whispers. Snickers. Everyone knows. Everyone saw.

“Did you see Lexie’s post? She’s that girl who cheated on Lucas Moretti.”

I roll my eyes, clenching my fists tight.

And then my body freezes when I see several photos of me and Dante taped to the lockers and walls.

Shit. Shit!

I hear more laughter around me, but I keep my eyes fixed on one picture where I’m pressed against the wall while Dante takes me from behind.

It’s not that explicit, but our faces are very clear, and now everyone knows it’s me.

I walk through the halls, furious, hearing someone call my name.

“Sofia! Wait!”

Sam calls from afar, waving with a worried expression.

She saw the photos, I know she did.

But I can’t. Not now. I ignore her, walking straight ahead, with firm steps.

And then I see her.

Lexie. Sitting with her friends, laughing like she’s the queen of the party.

I walk up to her without thinking. Grab her arm hard and drag her to the girls’ bathroom.

“Let go of me! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she screams, confused.

I slam the door shut, noticing some girls inside looking at us curiously.

I shove Lexie against the wall.

“Who do you think you are to try to humiliate me like this?”

She blinks, pretending innocence.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t play with me, Lexie!” I shout, my voice echoing through the bathroom. Some girls hold their breath.

“If you think you can spread lies about me, you’re very mistaken!”

She crosses her arms, trying to look confident.

“You’re going to delete every post about me, every photo, right now.”

“And if I don’t delete them? What are you going to do? Huh, Sofia? Afraid everyone will find out you sell yourself for money?”

I get closer, so close I can smell her expensive perfume mixed with cigarette smoke.

“Delete the photos. Now. Or your dear parents will find out what you do after university.”

She laughs nervously, but I don’t blink.

“I still don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m sure they’ll love to know that their perfect daughter smokes weed every day and snorts cocaine in secret.”

Her eyes widen.

The crowd of girls around us lets out low gasps.

Lexie tries to speak, but the words die in her throat.

“Delete the photos now,” I whisper, and she blinks, staring at me in shock.

I smile, seeing the fear in her eyes.

“Looks like we all have secrets, don’t we, Lexie? Your parents are so strict that I can’t help but wonder what they’d do to you. Maybe disown you...”

She glares at me before grabbing her phone.

I cross my arms, watching as she starts deleting the photos.

“This isn’t over, Sofia. If you think you can threaten me like this again, you’re wrong. Everyone will know what you really are.”

I leave the bathroom, finding Sam staring at me wide-eyed.

“Sofia, were those photos real? Were you really sleeping with Lucas’s father?”

At that exact moment, I get a message on my phone, Dante’s name flashing on the screen.

“We need to talk. Today. Say no, and I’ll come to your house myself and take you even if I have to do it against your will.”

Fuck.