Chapter 3

Both Ethan and Chloe were gone.

I frantically searched the hallways, pulling out my phone to dial 911.

"My boyfriend might have been drugged. He's being set up in one of the hotel rooms."

Seeing my panicked state, a few classmates started helping me search.

Some whispered as they ran:

"Where did Ethan and Chloe go?"

"Hazel looks absolutely terrified. Did something happen?"

"Why did she call the cops? Isn't she overreacting?"

I searched room by room until I heard Chloe's muffled cries coming from Room 1608.

I kicked the door open. The room was in complete disarray.

Chloe shrieked when she saw us barge in.

"Get out! Don't look at me!"

She was huddled in the corner of the bed, her dress strap sliding off her shoulder, crying hysterically.

Ethan was lying on the side of the bed, his eyes closed, completely unconscious.

My heart shattered.

"Ethan!"

I rushed forward to check on him.

Chloe suddenly reached out to push me away.

"Don't touch him!"

She pointed at Ethan, sobbing uncontrollably.

"He... he just tried to assault me!"

The room fell into a stunned silence.

The next second, the classmates behind me started whispering furiously.

"Ethan always acted like such a gentleman. I can't believe he's this disgusting."

"I told you, men can't bottle it up forever. Something was bound to happen."

"Hazel, you kept forcing your 'no-sex' rule on him. You pushed him to this. Satisfied now?"

I stood firmly in front of Ethan, my voice like ice.

"He would never do this."

As if triggered by my words, Chloe lost her mind and screamed at me.

"Hazel! What is that supposed to mean?"

"Do you think I tore my own clothes and lay here just to frame him?"

"I'm a girl! Would I risk my own reputation and dignity to make up a lie like this?"

With those words, everyone instantly sided with her.

"Hazel, do you have a conscience?"

"Chloe is the victim here, and you're still defending him?"

"Just because your boyfriend is hot doesn't mean he gets a pass for assault!"

"Did you two plan this together to bully Chloe?"

Someone even pointed their phone camera at me.

"Look at this, guys. This is Hazel, the girl who always acts so pure and innocent."

"She refused to sleep with her boyfriend, and when he assaults someone else, her first instinct is to cover up his crime."

I snapped my head toward the camera.

"Put that phone down."

The person sneered.

"Scared?"

"If you're scared, you shouldn't have done something so corrupt."

Right then, Ethan groaned and slowly opened his eyes, forcing himself to sit up.

I immediately supported his back.

His eyes swept across the crowded room, finally landing on Chloe.

Realizing the situation, his face turned pale. He quickly looked at me.

"Hazel, let me explain. I would never do this."

"I don't know what happened. I suddenly passed out, and when I woke up, I was here."

Chloe sobbed even harder.

"Of course you won't admit it!"

"You just told me that Hazel was driving you insane."

"You said you were sick and tired of her playing hard to get."

Ethan's eyes turned lethal.

"I never said that."

Chloe curled into herself, tears pouring down her cheeks.

"Then explain this!"

"Why am I like this?"

The crowd at the door began to jeer louder.

"Ethan, be a man and take responsibility."

"Hazel, stop playing the victim. You're part of the problem."

"Chloe is traumatized, and you guys are still gaslighting her?"

I looked at their accusing faces and suddenly smiled.

"Ethan, pull out the voice recorder."

The moment those words left my mouth, the shouting in the room stopped.

Even Chloe's crying caught in her throat.

Ethan nodded. He reached into his inner pocket, pulled out a sleek black voice recorder, and pressed play.

When the audio began to play, the color completely drained from Chloe's face.