"Was she the same shameless slut who slept with an old man six years ago?" someone asked from the crowd, her voice laced with resentment. As if she were the man's wife.
"Yes, she was. I couldn't bring myself to watch the video. So vulgar!" another person responded.
With the woman leading the conversation, everyone else, both online and offline, who knew the story began to chime in, explaining it to those who didn't know – mostly the strangers.
Valerie's grip on her phone tightened as she struggled to contain her fury. Her eyes seemed calm on the surface, like an undisturbed lake, but beneath them, a storm raged, its intensity enough to destroy Zoey if looks could kill.
This issue was the stumbling block she needed to overcome, and to do so, she had to find that man. Otherwise, Zoey would continue to deal her devastating blows, a reminder of her flawed past.
