Love's Bitter Edge (Eva and Leonard)

Astrid climbed onto my bed and immediately grabbed her phone after seeing the photos. "Yes, the ones I just sent you. Wipe them completely from the internet. Leave no traces. Make sure everything is blocked-no leaks, no remnants. I'll pay whatever it takes. Just do a clean job," she said firmly before hanging up.

Turning to me, she tried to reassure me, "Rinatta, don't worry. It'll be fine." But her anxious expression betrayed her words.

Finding clues didn't require much effort in the digital age, just persistence. If Leonard saw these photos, he might connect the dots and discover I wasn't dead.

The chilling thought settled in as I stared at the photos. My face was clearly visible. The photos were not of the sharpest resolution, but it was enough to recognize me. My wig was identical to the one I had used before, and despite my efforts, my overall style hadn't changed much.

While strangers might not notice, I was certain that Leonard or Alisa would recognize me instantly.

Zack also texted me, saying he had contacted friends to help get the posts removed. Even so, unease lingered. Once these photos were online, their trace couldn't be entirely erased. If someone stumbled across them later, it could explode like a time bomb.

I slumped onto the bed, unsure what the future held. Astrid hugged me gently. "You've been through worse. No one's going to care about a few gossip photos. You're not a celebrity, Rinatta."

She paused, trying to sound optimistic. "Even if someone saw them, they'd never connect the dots. You had a funeral; no one will think it's you. Trust me."

I nodded weakly. Leonard was about to marry Amelia. There was no reason for him to pay attention to me anymore.

...

The next morning, Andrew told me my condition had improved and I could be discharged.

Astrid quickly handled the paperwork, eager to get me out of the hospital where familiar faces might appear.

Meanwhile, Zack prepared to leave for Manovia for a work trip. Before departing, he asked if he should inform Jack. "Jack has decent connections in Erewhon. Letting him help might make things easier."

I shook my head. "The posts are gone now. It should be fine."

I tried to sound confident, but deep down, the thought of the original photos still haunted me. Whoever had posted them-likely Mr. Finnley still had the originals. For Mr. Finnley, they were just tools to smear my reputation. But for me, they were a loaded weapon capable of exposing my true identity.

I decided to take Monday morning off and return to work in the afternoon. Oddly accommodating Mr. Finney approved my request without hesitation. "Take the day off. Rest up," he said, almost too generously. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Astrid dropped me off at home before heading to the office. Alone in my apartment, I felt restless and uneasy. The buzzing of my phone broke my thoughts. Seeing Jack's name on the screen, I hesitated before answering, my heart inexplicably racing.

"Jack," I said, my voice soft.

"You didn't tell me something happened. Do you not trust me at all?" he snapped, his frustration evident.

I opened my mouth to explain, but he sighed heavily before continuing, "The project here in Manovia is a mess. I can't leave right now, so I've asked Sidney to return and handle the photos."

He paused briefly, his tone shifting. "And why was Zack in Erewhon? Doesn't he know you just had surgery? What was he thinking, letting you drink?"

I blinked, stunned into silence. His focus had veered entirely off-course. Of all things, was he really hung up on the fact that I had a drink?