Chapter Thirty Four

The sun felt sharp against Thea's eyes as she walked across the Zean business school campus. She was heading towards her first class, her mind still replaying the near-kiss with Seth in her room.

This morning had been nothing short of awkward. They were at the dining area at the same time and neither of them could look at the other. Seth had left in a hurry, claiming he had a meeting.

Something tells her he didn't have any meetings but how could she know for sure?

As Thea got closer to the main building, she noticed a few students staring at her and laughing. She sighed, she knew exactly what they were thinking.

The cheating Balmero Daughter. She was starting to get used to the accusatory glances she received every now and then.

She ignored them but it seemed persistent.

Some students stood in small groups, their heads bent over their phones. Then, one by one, they looked up. Their eyes wide and filled with shock, flickered from their screens to Thea.

A few gasped. Others quickly averted their gaze, their faces flushing. Thea's steps slowed down, her eyes scanning everyone.

What is it this time? Did Posy release another interview, playing the victim card?

The whispers started, hushed but growing louder with each step she took.

"Is that… her?"

"Oh my god, it is!"

"The video, look!"

“Oh my gosh! It's really her!”

A cold dread began to coil in Thea's stomach, what is happening?

Her phone vibrated in her hand. It was Daisy. Thea answered, her voice tight.

"Hey, Daisy. How are you doing?"

"Thea? Oh my god. Have you seen it? The internet! There's a video! It's everywhere! Of you... with some stranger! Having sex.”

The blood drained from Thea's face.

‘A video? Of me? With a stranger?’

“Oh my goodness, it's everywhere! They are reposting it! This is bad! This is very bad!” Daisy panicked, her words barely coherent.

Thea's eyes flickered to everyone staring at her and whispering. Her eyes landed on Chloe who was laughing uncontrollably as she stared at her phone and back at Thea, a smug look on her face.

Thea's fingers fumbled, pulling up her phone's browser. Her heart hammers against her ribs as she inputs her password. She navigated to a prominent news site, then another, then another.

She gasped, eyes scanning one website after another in horror. Headlines screamed: "Balmero Heiress Caught in Sex Scandal!"

"Runes Sterling's Ex Fiancee Caught Cheating. Shocking Sex Tape Leak!"

"The Holden Child Exposed!”

Her finger trembled as slipped through the article,

And beneath the headlines, a blurred thumbnail. But Thea didn't need clarity. She recognized the outline of her own body, the dark hair, the setting.

It was the video. The video Posy had taken of her and Damon, the one from that night.

Her stomach churned. A wave of nausea washed over her, making her head spin. world. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at everyone pointing fingers at her.

It has to be a dream, a nightmare and she would wake up from this horrid tale soon. But it wasn't a dream. It was real.

Tears sprang to her eyes, blurring the horrifying images on her screen. She couldn't breathe.

She turned and ran. She ran blindly, pushing through the startled students, ignoring their whispers, her only thought to escape. She needed to get out. She needed to go home.

She burst out of the school's main doors and almost collided with Ethan, who was standing discreetly by the waiting car, as always.

"Ms. Thea? Is everything alright?" Ethan asked, his brow furrowed with concern at her panicked state.

Thea didn't answer. She could only point a trembling finger towards the school. Tears streamed down her face, her gasps caught in her throat.

"Take me home," she choked out, her voice barely a whisper. "Please, Ethan. Just take me home. Now."

Ethan's face hardened despite having no clue why she wanted to run. He didn't need an explanation, he had to get her to safety first. He opened the car door instantly, ushering her inside.

As she stumbled into the back seat, her phone buzzed again. A new message. It was from Posy Sterling.

The text read: "OMG Thea! I just saw the article and the video! I'm SO shocked! How could this happen? Are you okay?! Call me when you get this! So, so sorry this is happening to you :("

Thea's grip on her phone tightened as she read the message over and over again, knowing fully well this was all Posy's doing.

A gut wrenching scream tore from Thea's throat as she hurled the phone across the car interior. It hit the window with a sickening crack, shattering the screen, the sound almost lost in her anguished sobs.

"Just drive!" she sobbed, burying her face in her hands.

Ethan, without a word, pulled away from the curb, leaving the campus behind. The ride home was a blur of tears and choked breaths for Thea. Each tremor of the car, each passing building, seemed to mock her. The thought that everyone, everyone, had seen her in her most vulnerable state. A stranger's eyes on her intimate moments were unbearable.

Her dignity, her future, her very identity, shredded.

She arrived at the penthouse, a wreck.

“Ms Thea? Is everything okay?” Butler John had asked on seeing her carefully pull over. Her hair was a mess, her face soaked with tears and her breaths came in horrid gasps.

She stumbled out of the car, past the concerned Butler John, and made a beeline for her suite.

“Ms Thea? Is anything the matter?” Butler John called after her but she ignored him.

She locked the door behind her, sliding down against it, sinking to the floor. The tears came harder now, letting herself scream to her heart's content.

She curled into a ball, clutching her knees to her chest, rocking back and forth. Her life was over. How could she ever face anyone again? How could she continue school? How could she look anyone in the eye after this?

Thea lost track of time but it didn't matter. She spent it crying and wailing. She lost count of the number of times her phone rang and from the scratched screen, half the calls were from Daisy and the other from her father, Gina and that bloody witch, Posy.

She ignored them, she didn't want to talk to anyone, didn't want to see anyone.

Hours go by and a soft knock comes at her door.

"Thea?"

It was Seth's voice. Low, calm, but laced with worry. His hair was a mess and his eyes heavy as he leaned on the door.

He knew. Of course, he knew.

Thea stiffened. She didn't want him to see her like this. She was broken, humiliated.

"Open the door," he said again, his voice closer, firmer. "I know what happened. Let me in."

Thea shuts her eyes, tears rolling down her chin, she didn't want to see anyone. “Just go away.” She begged.

Seth sighed, his head leaning on the door. “I can't. Open the door Thea.”

“Get lost!” She screamed. This was all his fault! He ruined her life and he was doing it all over again!

“Please Thea. I….I'm begging you..”

Nothing. Not even a whimper.

“It's my fault,” he muttered. “This is all my fault. Take it out on me, I can handle it. Please. Open the door.”

She hesitated, her body shaking. He's right, she should take her anger out on him. She slowly pushed herself up, her limbs heavy. With trembling fingers, she unlatched the door.

Seth stood there, his eyes filled with worry as he stared at her. “Thea..” he whispered, his eyes scanning her face.

“It's all your fault!” She screamed, slamming her clenched fist against his chest, crying.

Seth stood still, his eyes staring down at her like her pain was his. It was. He hated it, seeing her so distressed and broken..

“Your!” She slams his chest again. “Fault!” she slams his chest again. “You. Ruined. Everything!” She sobbed. “I hate you! I hate you!” She screamed, wailing.

Without a word, Seth stepped into the room. Thea didn't resist. He closed the door behind him and moved towards her.

He didn't say anything. He simply pulled her into his arms as she pulled them both to the ground. He held her close, letting her lean against his chest as she cried.

“I'm sorry “ he muttered, holding her close. “I'm so sorry..”

Thea buried her face into his chest, her sobs racking her entire body, soaking his shirt. Seth held her, one hand stroking her hair, the other on her back.

He said nothing, just let her cry.