NO LONGER HIS PLAYTHING：I'm the Heroine of My Own Story novel Chapter 9

I mentally kicked myself for being so pathetic. But years of feelings don't just vanish overnight. It would be a slow, painful detox.

Mom, sensing the tension, stood up: "I'll give you two some space. Going to grab some food from the cafeteria."

Sid politely tried to decline but eventually agreed to stay for dinner. Once we were alone in the hospital room, I looked up at him with a forced smile: "Thanks for coming, Sid."

Sid sat beside the bed, quiet for a moment before saying softly: "You don't have to pretend with me, Phoebe."

"You don't need to smile if you don't feel like it. It's okay."

I felt unexpectedly awkward.

I reached for my phone, needing a distraction.

Sid gently touched my wrist, his eyes concerned: "Maybe don't check that right now. It might be better to wait..."

But after our hands touched, he quickly pulled back. His ears turning visibly pink. "Sorry, I didn't mean to... I just was worried about..."

I unlocked my phone anyway, immediately bombarded with notifications.

Several concerned classmates and friends had sent messages.

I replied to each one until I saw a message from Mason, one of Zephyr's sketchy friends:

Mason: [So what's your rate? $200/hr? Or you giving discounts now that everyone knows?]

I responded with a question mark, completely bewildered.

His replies came instantly:

Mason: [Cut the innocent act, babe]

Mason: [DiscordScreenshot.jpg]

Mason: [The school slut who got railed so hard she passed out in the boys' bathroom? That's prime entertainment]

What had actually been a terrifying moment of standing up to my abuser before collapsing from illness was being twisted into something vile and degrading.

I dropped the phone like it had burned me, a strangled sound escaping my throat.

The room started spinning again.

After everything—after all the humiliation and betrayal—this was how my reputation would end?

This was what people would remember about me?

"Phoebe?" Sid's worried voice seemed far away.

"What's wrong? What did you see?"

I couldn't even form words.

Tears streamed down my face as I curled into myself, my entire body shaking with silent sobs.