"Look at the comments under those videos. They're calling her the biggest slut in Sterling City—no shame, throws herself at any man who'll have her."
"Now look at your comment section. Nothing but praise for how clean and pure you are, a lotus untouched by mud. Isn't that exactly what I wanted?"
Nausea churned up from the pit of my stomach.
I bowed my head, eyes falling to the delicate diamond bracelet on my wrist, and unclasped it without a second thought.
Two hours ago, Clyde had fastened it on me himself.
A proposal gift, he'd called it. He'd gone down on one knee to give it to me, his voice and his expression so reverent.
Anyone watching would have sworn he was desperately in love with me.
Funny—with skills like that, he was the one who deserved an award in the entertainment industry.
I forced the tears back, clenching the bracelet so tight the links bit into my palm.
From inside the garden, their voices drifted over again.
"So when are you going to tell her the truth?"
Victoria's voice was thick with grievance. "The backlash online is already at full boil. She's being torn apart. Are you really going to keep this up?"
"No rush."
Clyde ruffled Victoria's hair, indulgent.