Night settled heavily across the apartment while distant thunder rolled softly beyond rain-covered windows overlooking the glittering city below, and inside the dim living room silence pressed painfully through every corner as pale blue light from scattered phone screens reflected across Elara's exhausted face.
The rumors had spread everywhere now.
Campus forums.
Anonymous accounts.
Edited photographs twisting half-truths into public humiliation cruel enough making strangers feel entitled judging a girl they never truly knew.
Words flooded endlessly beneath every image.
Slut.
Gold-digger.
Attention-seeking bitch.
Pretty little liar.
Elara sat motionless upon the couch while one phone rested loosely within trembling fingers now, her oversized dark sweater hanging softly from one shoulder beneath dim apartment lighting as silver-gray eyes moved silently across the screen without visible reaction.
That frightened Rhea more than anger would have.
