"Fuck! Fuck!! Fuck!!!," Ophelia pulled at her hair and ran about naked in her room.
She threw her phone on the bed and went to sit on her toilet in the bathroom.
"Fuck you, Santiago!!!," she cursed out loud and began to think hard.
'Who could have gotten their hands on the tape?' she thought. She ran out of the bathroom to take her phone from the bed. Her phone had exploded with many messages already - most of them from her fans, others from her company, some from her collaborators, a few from her friends, and many from her family.
She's sure that her parents are the most embarrassed people on earth right now; they would be so embarrassed and disappointed. Maybe that's why she went to lodge at a hotel for a week.
There's no way she's going back to her house in the midst of the scandal. 'Is this how scandal looks like?' she asked herself.
Her phone began to ring as she was scrolling through her phone. She had a pleasant smile on her face when she realized it was her enemy's ex-boyfriend.
"Hey Julian," she said with a sexy voice.
"Really? It was that fast. I'm so proud of you."
"Where is she now?"
"Hurry up! I don't think he's aware that she's with you right now. Okay, talk to you later."
Ophelia laughed evilly and continued what she was doing. She began to read comments about her from people's opinions.
'I'd always known that she was a slut!,' a comment said. Ophelia hissed when she read the comment. She began to reply to the fan with an account she just created with a silly name.
~To Noah: That's who your mum is, bitch!! - From Lia_O1
She read another one that said, "I'm sure that Leonardo Grey would meet someone that's better than her. I'd never liked her anyway, because she's the definition of plastic surgery. She's so flat!"
~To Benjamin78: Says the mad man that's dating the flattest bitch! - From Lia_O1
She read and read until she was fed up. It seems like everyone was against her and defending her ex-fiancé. In fact, he was the one benefiting from what happened to her and Santiago. How the fuck did that happen?!!
She finally came across the comment she was looking forward to seeing. Someone was finally defending her.
"Don't attack a human like that! Remember that we are all humans at the end of the day. She must have her reasons for cheating, guys. What if Leonardo Grey doesn't see her as his ideal woman like we think he does?! I don't even think of her as a woman; she's just a female with a hole."
Ophelia burst into a fit of overwhelming rage after reading all the person had written as a comment. That was the definition of "don't judge a book by its cover." She had thought the idiot was defending her, not knowing it was something else.
~To SleepingBeauty14: Ophelia is a human too, sleeping whore! You ain't a beauty at all. You're a freaking ugly bitch, so don't go about telling people like me that you're beautiful. I'd prefer you to go into a coma till the rest of your life than see every blessed day to type as if you're an illiterate! Go and learn, bitch!! - From Lia_O1
"Bastards and bitches!!!," she purred angrily and walked into the bathroom for the third time that day to take a cold shower. Her head was too hot. She doesn't want to die yet because of the scandal. She still has boys to meet and cocks to take in. She still has designers to buy and many things to do.
"Gurl!!," she smiled and played with her boobs under the shower.
**
Here is the text with corrected punctuation:
8:46 PM. _Ding Dong!_ "Coming!!" Riley shouted and ran to answer her door. She was coming from her study but looked disheveled because she had been busy all day.
"Hey," she opened the door widely for her latest friend. It was Alice who showed up on her doorstep.
"Hi! How are you?" Alice asked with a small smile.
"I'm fine. Come in!" Riley invited her in and took her coat. "Aren't you feeling hot?" Riley asked as she spread the coat on the rack.
"I am, but I need fashion," Alice replied.
The girls laughed for a while.
"So, what would you like to have? How did you know about this place? I just got it," Riley asked. She was surprised because Abi didn't know about the place either.
"I saw it in my dreams," Alice replied.
"That's funny, but let it go. What matters is that you're here now," Riley retorted.
"Yeah," Alice muttered and looked around her home. "Nice place."
"Yeah, thanks. I worked for it, you know," Riley sighed.
"What would you like to have? You're my very first visitor," she smiled.
"Lemonade?" Alice exposed her white teeth.
"Fine! I ain't no Abi, but it'd be nice," Riley assured her.
"It's fine as long as you make it with lemons," Alice chuckled.
"What do you think I'm gonna make it with? My pussy?" Riley retorted.
"Oh no! I'm not into girls," Alice replied.
"Screw you!" Riley exploded.
"Fine, screw me," Alice gave up.
"So, what are you really doing here? I know we're not that close for you to show up on my doorstep and ask for silly lemonade," Riley became serious.
"Chill, businesswoman," Alice began.
"And don't you dare call my lemonade silly, 'cause it's gonna go all down my throat to quench it," Alice added.
"Fine. Sorry for that word," Riley apologized.
"Ahem," Alice cleared her throat. Riley stared at her, unsure what she wanted to say. What would make her show up at night to say something when there's a phone?
"Hold up," Riley interrupted quickly. "What you're gonna say now...is it good news or bad news?"
Alice was speechless by Riley's question. She had to answer but didn't want anything to ruin the night.
"It's just a question. That question is irrelevant," Alice replied smartly.
"Oh! I'm sorry for that again," Riley apologized.
"It's okay. Now the question is...have you spoken to Abigail today?" Alice asked.
"Yeah. Abi and I speak all the time. Didn't you know she went to see off Jessica at the airport today?" Riley asked back.
"What do you mean? I thought it was Park Junho who left," Alice responded.
"Both," Riley answered. "It was a surprise, but Jessica ended up going to South Korea with him. Abi sent me some photos and videos on her way there and after leaving the airport. That was the last time we spoke. Is something wrong?"
Alice didn't know how to reply to that question. She didn't want to tell Riley that her close friend was missing after seeing her friend off.
"Answer me, Alice. You're scaring me," Riley dropped the lemons in her hand and focused her attention on Alice.
"The thing is-" began Alice.
"Yes, I'm listening," Riley cut in quickly.
"Actually, Abi is-" started Alice.
"What?!" Riley began to panic.
"Damn it! Let me speak!" Alice yelled.
"Sorry. I'm sorry," Riley apologized swiftly and allowed her to speak without interruption.
"Abi is missing," Alice dropped the bomb.
"What?!" Riley collapsed on the floor and ended up spilling the water in the glass jug meant for the lemonade.
**
Leo was surrounded by six men and four women in his house. It was a full house. His butler was not home; in fact, he was out of town, spending time with his daughter. Leo gave him that space because he needed to be around his family too.
"Guys! You need to calm down and stop panicking," Benjamin said, singing to Leo's ears in particular.
Leo ignored Benjamin and continued typing to a million and one hackers on his phone. He couldn't seem to reach his wife anymore, and it was already midnight. He was going crazy, and everyone in the living room knew.
His pregnant wife was missing because of Leah—and partly because of Benjamin. Benjamin dropped her off and allowed her to take a cab to meet the bastard named Julian.
"Aren't you guys hungry?" Dominic emerged from the kitchen with three plates of doughnuts and juice.
"I am," Alice replied and went to join him.
"Abi would be so disappointed. She's missing, and you're busy eating!" Logan chirped in.
"I suggested an idea, but you all refused," Dominic replied.
"What was the foolish idea again?" Roman asked.
"Don't call my idea foolish, Roman," Dominic hissed.
"It is," Darcy replied.
"Shut up, Darcy," Dominic began.
"Anything, Matilda?" Cedric asked Matilda. She was sitting in front of four computers, and beads of perspiration had already formed. She was drenched in her own sweat.
"I'm trying, Cedric," Matilda replied softly.
Cedric nodded and dabbed at her sweat. "Don't overwork yourself, okay?" Cedric patted her shoulder.
"What do you mean?" Leo burst out. "My wife is missing, and all you can say to her is that she shouldn't overwork herself!"
Cedric and Roman exchanged glances. Darcy quickly spoke up and said, "That's not what he meant, Leo. You must have misinterpreted his words."
Leo didn't say anything; he just muttered under his breath, "Useless."
Matilda was hurt when she heard him insult her, but she didn't say anything. She began to search for the slightest connection she could get.
"I'm sorry," Leah muttered to Leo. Leo glanced at her and didn't say anything. He was sure he would say bad things to her if he decided to open his mouth.
"This is all my fault," Riley began. She captured everyone's attention by saying that. "I should have gone with Abi to see Jessica off. This wouldn't have happened if I was there."
"Why? Because you're Pink Ranger?" Roman asked, and the guys burst into laughter, except Leo.
Riley looked at her clothes and felt embarrassed because it was really true. She was Pink Ranger that night due to the color of her clothes. She had a pink bonnet on her head, protecting her hair. She wore a rabbit flip-flop and light pink joggers. She was also wearing a light pink sweater and had pink gloss in her hand.
"I miss Abi so much. She just made this," Riley touched the pink sweater.
Leo's eyes narrowed when he saw that. 'Two! She had time to make sweaters for people but ignored her husband.'
"Guys! Time is running out!" Dominic clapped his hands.
"Shut up, man!" Roman yelled.
Abi's pup ran into the room and ran back to where it came from after seeing Leo's sharp glare. It gave the pup the chills, even though it was an animal.
"Can't you track her using the earrings I gave her yesterday?" Leo said after a while.
Everyone kept quiet after he said that. Dominic began to clap. He dropped the doughnut in his hand and began to applaud Leo.
"I'm the perfect genius. That's what I was trying to say," He said.
"Sit your ass down, Dominic," Alice retorted.
"You never said anything like that," Roman backed up his girlfriend.
"You don't think, Dominic," Darcy fired. "And that's because food has occupied the space meant for your brain. You're not brainy at all. You're a foodie."
"Fuck," Cedric bit his lips hard.
"Shit!" Matilda shrieked all of a sudden. All eyes were on her, including Leo.
"What is it?" Leo asked with a stern tone.
"I found her," She replied.
The burden on Leah and Benjamin's chest dropped after hearing that. Leah and Riley began to cry suddenly. Leo ignored them and focused on the green dot on the computer.
"Where is she?" He asked Matilda.
"She's at Drew Stark's warehouse," Matilda replied.
"Isn't that—," Cedric's words were interrupted by Dominic.
"He's trying to get her out of the country," Dominic said.
"Brainy!" Darcy praised Dominic for the first time.
Leo grabbed his car keys and ran out of the room. Dominic and Darcy exchanged glances, while Matilda exchanged glances with Cedric.
"Let's go, people!!" Dominic clapped his hands and finished his juice in one go. "I need the energy to punch that bastard when I see him."
Riley and Alice stood up at the same time and looked at the two girls who remained seated.
"What is it?" Riley asked Leah.
"I don't think Leo wants me there. He'll kill me," Leah replied.
"True," Alice confirmed.
"No, he won't," Riley encouraged her. "You don't know him. I have to leave this house as soon as I apologize to Leo. I put his family in this mess. I made him worry because I encouraged Abi to see her ex-boyfriend for the last time."
Leah cried out, "He's so happy that he got a woman to love him. He has a woman to himself and a baby on the way. I came to ruin it in a blink of an eye. I'm not a good friend. How can I put a pregnant woman in danger?"
Riley and Alice patted her back slowly.
"It's fine. I'll talk to him," Alice replied.
"Thanks," Leah sniffed.
"You?" Alice looked at Matilda, busy looking at the green dot.
"I can't come. Hackers are prisoners. Don't you know that?" Matilda answered.
"We girls will remain here," Leah replied and sniffed a little longer.
"Well, we'll be back soon," Riley said and left with Alice.
"It'll be fine," the two girls said simultaneously.
They looked at each other and let out a gentle laugh.
*
Meanwhile, Leo drove alone, speeding on the highway in the dead of night. He defied all traffic lights as he drove off, not caring because his wife was in danger. When he heard she was missing, he couldn't breathe. He couldn't think. He had to leave work and come home. Deep down, he knew it wasn't Leah's fault, but he was too hard on her. He planned to apologize once he was back with his wife.
He was scared – scared of losing the person he loved, scared of losing his child, his only child. Scared of living without his wife forever. As he drove, memories flooded in – memories of him and Abi from day one.
He regretted many things. He regretted dragging her out of his company when she told him about her pregnancy. He had called her a slut then, though he was the one who took her virginity. That night was etched in his memory forever. He would always apologize for that.
He regretted calling her dumb all the time. He regretted not standing up for her, not defending her against his parents, especially his mother. He was furious when he found out his mom enjoyed slapping her. He cut ties with his mom because of Abi.
"What nonsense?!" he muttered and made a sharp turn in the darkness.