Chapter 1

My roommate posted her spicy web novel on Ins.

The story was filled with steamy, intimate details of her and her boyfriend fooling around all over campus - and she threw the rest of us into it, too.

Even worse? She used all of our real names.

Seeing that she wrote me as a filthy, petty villain who secretly lusted after her boyfriend, I just scoffed at first. I didn't even want to waste my energy on it.

Except the readership blew up. Soon enough, my actual friends started asking if the crap written about me was true.

When I told her to take it down, she sneered right in my face.

"Babe, a publisher already reached out to me! When the paperback drops, I'll totally hook you up with a signed copy!"

"Honestly, you should thank me for putting you in my book. My readers adore your character - they love to hate you!"

I smiled, gave her a polite nod, and dialed my brother right in front of her.

"Hey, top-tier corporate lawyer. Stop slacking off. It's time to work."

I hung up the phone, my brother's calm voice still echoing in my ear.

"Mia, do exactly as I say. Preserve every scrap of evidence. Leave the rest to me."

All hesitation vanished. I took a deep breath and looked at Chloe, who was still admiring her view count.

"Chloe, I'm saying this for the last time. Delete what you wrote, or you won't like the consequences."

My voice was quiet, but in our cramped dorm room, every word hit with crystal clarity.

Chloe looked at me like I had just told the world's funniest joke, her jaw dropping in mock terror.

"Consequences? Mia, what consequences could a nobody like you possibly give me?"

She laughed until she ran out of breath, looking me up and down with utter contempt.

"What, gonna cry to the dean? Oh, right, I forgot to tell you - my dad is the Head of Academic Affairs."

She puffed her chest out, sounding like her dad wasn't just a department head, but the university president himself.

Our other roommate, Penny, chimed in to play peacemaker. "Come on, Mia, drop it. She's just joking around. Don't take it so seriously."

Beside her, Harper had her headphones blasting, pretending she didn't hear a damn thing.

I watched their spineless display, completely speechless.

These were my roommates: one spineless enabler, one cowardly mute.

Never mind the fact that they hated being written as background props in Chloe's public sex diary just as much as I did.

Seeing me stay quiet, Chloe assumed I was intimidated. Her smirk grew nastier.

She pulled out her phone and deliberately typed a line at the very end of her latest chapter, making sure I could see.

"The girl who inspired 'Mia' tried to threaten me today. She said I'd face 'consequences' - I'm literally shaking in my boots, you guys~"

"Besties, should I make her character suffer even harder in the next update?"

The comments flooded in instantly.

- "Don't let her scare you, Chloe! Bitter losers like her are just pure jealous!"

- "Team Chloe all the way! Please update soon, I can't wait to see Mia get utterly wrecked!"

I lowered my eyes, slipping my hand into my jacket pocket. My finger tapped the tiny recording pen, its indicator light silently blinking once.

I brought out my phone, taking screenshot after screenshot of Chloe's novel chapters, the vile comments, and every single Ins post where she bragged about her "creative genius."

Chloe noticed nothing. Humming a tune, she strutted over to my vanity table, grabbed my brand-new bottle of luxury essence, and slapped it generously onto her cheeks.

"Wow, Mia, this stuff is actually nice. I'll help you use it so it doesn't expire."

I watched her steal my skincare, yet my chest stayed completely numb.

Go ahead. Use every drop.

A bottle of essence in exchange for your total public ruin? That's a bargain.

That night, Chloe updated right on schedule.

In the latest chapter, the fictional "Mia" didn't just continue throwing herself at "Chloe's" boyfriend - she went so far as to steal Chloe's diamond necklace for petty revenge, only to be caught red-handed.

Beneath the chapter, her braindead fans cheered wildly over the villain finally getting humiliated.

I silently screenshotted the final webpage.

I bundled all the images, audio files, and links into a single encrypted file, and hit send to my brother.

When the notification confirmed delivery, I looked up at Chloe, fast asleep across the room.

I gave you a way out, but you spit on it.

See you in court.