Chapter 1 The Humiliation

Valeria's POV 

Growth is a constant. That's what my mom always says. And I couldn't agree more.

We'd just started a new year. A year I'd always looked forward to. The year of college applications, leadership positions, prom, graduation…. everything.

Senior year.

And tonight, I was right in the middle of our Senior Welcome Party. 

I looked ahead, flicked my hair over my shoulder and smiled to myself. And as usual, eyes were on me.

It was impossible for Valeria Whitmore to walk into a room without drawing attention—admiring or hateful. 

Tessa dragged me to the centre of the room and nudged me with her elbow. “Come on. It's senior year!”

I chuckled and followed the rhythm of the music, dancing with my best friend beside me.

“What's the latest gossip?” I asked over the loud thumping bass. “Hope the school didn't burn down in my absence yesterday.”

“The day was boring without you, but…” Tessa said dramatically, then grinned. “I do have a little rumour.” 

“Oh.” I waved casually at a boy I didn't know who had been staring at me since I walked in.

“You know the new boy? The one who sits at the back of the class?”

I nodded. I'd only seen him twice since school resumed. Always sitting at the back. Hood up. Face hidden. Brooding like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“He’s on scholarship.”

“Oh,” I replied, no humor in my tone. My eyes darted around in search of two people.

“Yeah. Another crazy rumor…” she continued excitedly. “Some girls said they caught a glimpse of his face yesterday.”

“And?”

“They said he's gorgeous.”

Goodness. That wasn't the gossip I was interested in tonight. 

“Not as gorgeous as my Mason,” I said proudly, my gaze still wandering. No one could ever be compared to my perfect boyfriend.

“I’d love to see the boy who would challenge Mason one day.” She chuckled, then winked. “Maybe Mr Broody.”

I groaned. “Are we really talking about a scholarship boy right now?”

“I’m just keeping you informed,” she replied then grabbed a glass of drink from a passing tray and chugged it down in one go.

“Okay. That's enough gossip.” 

I left her there and moved forward, looking through the sea of faces. None of them were my boyfriend and my second best friend.

Tessa appeared beside me again, handing me a drink. “Here.” 

“Not now, Tes.”

“Oh.” She shrugged and gulped it down immediately.

I shook my head. By the end of the night, I'd probably be the one driving her home.

“Where's Scarlett? And Mason? We've literaly walked around this entire place, and I can't see any of them.”

“I don't know about Scarlett. We've not talked since our fallout. But I did see Mason drive in earlier.”

“Then…” I opened my purse to pull out my phone.

Just then, the loud thumping in the room became quiet. The volume dropped. 

Hushed voices spread across the room.

I frowned slightly, glancing around. Tyler's parties were never quiet unless something big was about to happen.

“What's going on?” I murmured.

Tessa shrugged beside me, equally confused.

Then, a soft whirring sound came from above.

My eyes lifted instinctively toward the large projector screen mounted on the wall—the one Tyler usually used for music visuals during his parties.

The blank white screen flickered.

I looked away, uninterested. Probably another one of Tyler's boring visuals.

Something started playing, but I didn't pay much attention. I was still scanning the room, still looking for Mason.

But when gasps erupted among the crowd, and a boy let out a low whistle… I knew something was wrong.

“Oh no,” Tessa muttered beside me, her eyes fixed on the screen.

And I finally looked up.

A girl was displayed on the screen. She was sitting on a bed, hair loose over her shoulders, a soft laugh escaping her lips as she leaned toward the camera.

My heart pounded in my chest.

That girl was me.

“Is that Valeria?” 

“No way.” 

People whispered among themselves.

“Mason,” the girl on the screen giggled. “I can't do without you.”

“Say it again,” Mason's voice boomed in the background. He wasn't in the video.

“I don't think I can live without you. I love you so so very much.” She leaned closer to the person recording. “Why are you recording me? Stop… stop it,” my voice slurred.

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

“Oh, she's so drunk,” someone said loudly.

More laughter erupted in the room.

No. No.

I was tipsy that night. I had begged, pleaded with Mason to stop recording and delete the video. I thought he did.

No one had ever seen me drunk until now. No one. Not even my two best friends. 

I was the composed, confident, most popular girl that everyone envied.

People began glancing at me and back at the projector screen.

My fingers tightened around my the strap of my purse as I fought to stay composed. 

For a single second, the screen went black. I shut my eyes, praying desperately that it was over.

I was just drunk. People get drunk all the time. It's not a big deal.

I tried to convince myself.

Another video started. I heard gasps, shouts, boys cursing loudly.

Tessa held my hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

And then I looked up. 

On the screen, I stood in a soft lace lingerie set, turning slightly as if showing it off.

“I bought it for you,” my voice said from the video, shy and teasing.

Someone in the crowd barked out a laugh. “Damn, Valeria!”

“Always acting perfect, but she’s a real baddie.”

“She’s two-faced,” a girl hissed.

My palm instinctively clamped over my mouth. 

The video wasn't explicit. But it was private. Private enough for me to send to only one person. 

Mason.

I always had been in control of my life. But this… this was humiliating.

Then, screenshots appeared. Screenshots of our conversations. Texts that made me look clingy and needy. Everything I had believed love was supposed to be.

My vision blurred. 

I couldn't feel my hands anymore. I couldn't feel anything, except the weight of hundreds of eyes now turning toward me. 

All judging and laughing.

I swallowed hard as I finally forced myself to look away from the screen. And that's when I saw them.

Mason and Scarlett.

They were standing near the staircase, Mason's arm wrapped around her waist. 

Scarlett's lips curved into a satisfied smile. And Mason? He didn't look shocked. 

I fixed the puzzle.

They did this to me. 

My boyfriend and my best friend.

I turned back toward the screen. Just then, Tyler, the host grabbed the microphone, grinning like this was the greatest entertainment of the night.

“Well,” he laughed. “looks like we've got our first senior welcome party highlight.”

Laughter exploded across the room.

I cast another look at Mason and Scarlett, my chest tightening painfully.

If I confronted them now, it would only create more drama—exactly what they wanted. And that was the last thing I needed.

In all of the cruel amusement, one thing became clear… my senior year had shattered before it had even begun.