Chapter 18
I had a fight with my husband and moved into a hotel. I never imagined that one night away would make me go viral across the internet.
In the video, my face was flushed. I was dancing in a hotel room, surrounded by eight different men.
Sean was furious. He slapped me–hard.
“Is this what you meant by going out to cool off? You fucking slut!“}
I couldn’t explain the marks and love bites littering my body. I didn’t even know how they got there. Ashamed and overwhelmed, I called the police.
The investigation only made things worse. The officers said the video wasn’t tampered with. They even found DNA–mine and those men’s–on the used condoms in the trash can.
I had no defense. No proof. No way to tell anyone that I had been alone that night. The evidence had spoken. To the public, I was a whore. My parents, lifelong schoolteachers known for their principles and quiet kindness, couldn’t bear the harassment that followed. The whispers, the phone calls, the stares. They took their own lives.
And me? I didn’t even have the chance to grieve. The next day, I was dragged into an alley and beaten to death by thugs hired by the wives of those eight men. They never questioned whether it was real. They just wanted blood.”
Even in death, I couldn’t figure it out. I had been alone that night. Nothing had happened. So why had I woken up to that nightmare?! When I opened my eyes again, it was the day I was supposed to check in at the hotel.”
8–
“Honey, please don’t be mad. I’ve explained it to you so many times before. I don’t know who sent those messages. I thought it was you testing me the first time and after that, I never replied again.”
Sean’s voice pulled me back. He was standing beside me, looking as exasperated and tired as he had that day.”
I had been reborn.”
In my previous life, I found an unmarked number constantly texting Sean things like “I miss you,” and “Are you free tonight.” I confronted him and we had a huge fight.”
He claimed he didn’t reply. That he’d blocked the sender. That the sender kept changing numbers.§
I didn’t believe him. I thought he was lying, covering for an affair. That argument marked the first real crack in our three–year marriage.”
I packed a suitcase and left, too angry to think, too stubborn to turn back.
That night, I checked into a hotel to cool off. And the next morning, a scandalous video of me had exploded across the internet. Now, here I was again, repeating every step. I watched myself pull the same suitcase behind me. Watched Sean sigh and shake his head.” “Where do you want to go? I’ll drive you.“}
His voice was weary, not angry. Just like before, when I threatened to leave and get a divorce. Those were the same words he said.”
I had originally planned to go to my parents‘ apartment. But Sean had talked me out of it, pointing out how worried they’d be if they knew we had a fight. In the end, I’d gone to a hotel instead. And everything had fallen apart after that.
So this time, I hesitated only briefly before saying, “I want to be with my parents. Just tell them you’ll be going on a business trip. They won’t ask too much.“>
Sean nodded and took the suitcase from my hands. “Alright. I wouldn’t feel comfortable if you stayed anywhere else anyway.”
I studied him carefully, searching for any signs of deception or unease. But he looked and acted exactly as I remembered–concerned, gentle, even regretful.}
He really did take me to my parents‘ place.”
But the more normal things seemed, the more unsettled I felt.
After Sean left, I stood in the kitchen doorway, watching my mother bustle around, humming softly as she cooked. My eyes stung with
tears.
She had been so respected, so kind. And in the end, she and my father had died because of me–because of a video that ruined us all. As their only daughter, I’d brought nothing but disgrace. They had loved me, trusted me and I had dragged them into hell.
My father noticed I was unusually quiet and asked, “Did you have a fight with Sean? You need to work on that temper of yours. Don’t be too hard on him. He’s a good guy–maybe a little too forgiving, even.”
In their eyes, Sean was the perfect son–in–law. Polite, generous, attentive.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a smile. “No, nothing like that. He’s just away for work. I thought I’d come spend some time here.”
In my previous life, one night in that hotel destroyed everything.N
This time, I’m staying right here at my parents‘ home. Nothing should go wrong… right?
Even so, I barely slept that night. My mind wouldn’t stop. Every second from that incident played on loop behind my closed eyes–vivid, merciless, unrelenting.
