Chapter 2

After packing my personal items, I left the break room.

Chloe saw me and rushed forward, wildly tugging at my clothes.

Her long nails dug deeply into my skin, and blood immediately seeped out.

I winced in pain, then forcefully broke free from her grasp.

Glancing at my bleeding wound, I warned her angrily.

"Chloe, if you dare touch me again, I'm calling the police right now!"

A flicker of panic crossed Chloe's eyes, and she didn't dare speak again.

But bystanders stepped forward, blocking my path and preventing me from leaving.

They spoke sarcastically, shoving their phones in my face and filming non-stop.

"Seducing someone's husband and acting so righteous? All that education went to waste!"

"Apologize now, or I'll blast you all over the internet!"

Seeing that she had support, the guilt in Chloe's eyes vanished.

Before I could react, she rushed over and slapped me across the face.

"That's for seducing my man, you shameless home-wrecker!"

"No wonder you had money to be a self-sponsored intern here; you just spread your legs for dirty money to support yourself!"

My gaze hardened on Chloe; I was at my breaking point.

Just as I was about to speak, a familiar voice came from around the corner.

"Ava? What are you doing here?"

It was Mia Chen, my elementary school classmate.

We had kept in touch after graduation and were close friends who talked about everything.

Seeing her, my agitated mood vanished.

She hurried over, affectionately linking her arm through mine.

"What's going on here? So much excitement!"

Someone in the crowd muttered sarcastically.

"What else? We're catching a shameless home-wrecker!"

I shot an annoyed glance at the person, who, far from being intimidated, even rolled their eyes at me.

Mia looked confused, as if still trying to process what was happening.

I managed to control my irritation and pulled Mia closer.

"I've never done anything I regret in my life. This is my good friend; if you don't believe me, you can ask her."

At my words, everyone's gaze shifted to Mia.

I looked at Mia with certainty and anticipation, sure she would vouch for me.

But Mia gave an awkward smile, pulled her arm away, and stepped back.

She looked at me suspiciously, speaking cautiously.

"Ava, are they talking about the pictures you showed me?"

I froze, not understanding what Mia was referring to.

Before I could speak, Mia quickly swiped on her phone a couple of times.

A minute later, she handed the phone to me.

"Are they talking about you and this man?"

"Didn't you say you really liked him and Photoshopped intimate photos with him?

"So, did you get him? If you did, you owe me dinner!"

On her phone were intimate bedroom photos of me and Daniel Hughes, in very suggestive poses.

My mind went blank instantly; I couldn't think at all.

"SMACK!" The crisp sound of a slap echoed loudly in the hallway.

"Ava, you little tramp, you actually Photoshopped such disgusting pictures!"

"And you said you didn't seduce my husband? Your own friend just exposed you!"

She started hitting and kicking me, nailing me to the pillar of shame.

The bystanders were even more enraged, showering me with insults.

"I didn't, I didn't Photoshop these pictures..."

But no matter how I explained, they wouldn't believe me.

I looked at Mia like a ghost, utterly bewildered.

Why would she frame me?