No Echoes After Midnight

Adrian's POVMy head buzzed. I looked up sharply at Marissa Cole, who had been waiting outside the studio for me to get off work.No wonder the student's voice had sounded familiar. I had heard it on her phone before.The producer shot to his feet in panic and urged me through my earpiece to keep talking.Marissa's eyes darkened. Holding her phone, she turned and walked away.I took a deep breath and forced out a smile.I held myself together and finished the closing remarks, ending right at the five-minute mark.That brought the late-night program I had hosted for ten years to its final stop.When the song came in, my nerves gave way all at once. Cold sweat had soaked through my clothes.I laughed weakly at myself. I really had sounded like I was hosting for the first time.My coworkers looked at me with complicated expressions. Shock, gossip, pity."Mr. Miles..."I took my phone. The show and my name were already trending.[Holy crap! This is insane. I cannot believe the

"He did not do it," Marissa said with certainty. "He cannot possibly know your high school classmates, and he could not possibly have gotten those photos. Do not open your mouth and start slandering him."You were the one who insisted on mentioning some high school crush on a student teacher during the show. You should think carefully about who you offended back then, who you had conflicts with, and whether you did anything guilty."I have already contacted the account and had the original post deleted. I will handle this."I froze in disbelief. A sharp ache rushed into my nose."What do you mean? You think it is true? You do not believe me? You think I lied to you?"I pulled out the IV needle. When I got out of bed, my legs went weak and my head spun.She caught me and pressed me back onto the bed."What are you doing? Can you not feel that you have a fever?"What is the point of arguing about this now? True or false, I do not care about what happened in the past."Then she a

In the hallway, we brushed past Marissa.She reacted immediately, stopped, and looked back in disbelief."Ruby?"Ruby Walker gave her a cold glance and helped me walk straight ahead."Ruby, let go of Adrian! He is my husband. You have no right to take him away!"I laughed when I heard that. I spoke weakly."Attorney Cole, which law says a husband is his wife's property? Which law says a wife can restrict her husband's freedom of movement?"Marissa's face grew even uglier.I tightened my arm around Ruby's shoulder and said softly, "Let's go.""Move aside, Attorney Cole."The two women faced off for a few seconds. Marissa reluctantly stepped aside.Ruby took me to a private hospital with good security.After two mouthfuls of the pumpkin porridge she had made herself, the taste was so familiar that I could not hold it in. Tears fell into the bowl, one after another.She rubbed my hair and pulled me into her arms.I grabbed her clothes and cried until I could barely breathe.

Third-Person POVMarissa stood up from behind the desk, her expression dark.Caleb happened to open the door carrying fruit. When he saw the look in her eyes, his heart skipped."What is wrong? Is work difficult?"Marissa walked toward him and studied him."Caleb, you know I hate being lied to. I will give you one chance. Did you do what happened to Adrian? Do you know the person who leaked those allegations?"The man who beat Adrian in the ward, the reporters who interviewed him. You arranged all of them, didn't you?"Caleb's expression froze, and he shook his head instinctively."How could I... I know what happened to Mr. Miles started because of me. It is my fault. But I really do not know anything about the rest. Professor, believe me."Just then, the doorbell rang.Caleb immediately turned to open it. When he saw the person outside, his eyes widened and he lowered his voice to question her."How did you find this place?"Andrea ignored him with a cold face and walked s