𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙺𝙸𝙽 𝚂𝙷𝙾𝚆

EPISODE 16 - THE SKINSHOW

The video had gone viral in what felt like seconds. The number of views kept climbing, and with each passing minute, my sense of dread deepened. Drew had called me with the news, his voice a mixture of concern and frustration. He revealed that the tape was uploaded to a protected site by an anonymous source—someone who had ensured it couldn’t be removed or altered. My stomach churned as I watched the views tick higher.

Marcus, who had been furiously pacing, finally stormed out of the room. I followed him, my heart pounding. The door slammed behind me, and the corridor was eerily quiet. Marcus’s face was a mask of fury as he turned to face me.

“How many people are you sleeping with, Nina?” he demanded, his voice sharp. “How many people are you using?”

The accusation hit me like a physical blow. My eyes welled up with tears, and I struggled to keep my composure. “I saw you with Vanessa,” I said, my voice trembling. “That’s why I was upset.”

His eyes widened in rage. “Vanessa? Is that why you think you can throw accusations around? You think you know everything, don’t you?”

I wanted to argue, to explain myself, but the anger in his eyes was too overwhelming. “You’re right. I’m just a mess,” I whispered, feeling the weight of my own inadequacies. “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”

Marcus didn’t respond. Instead, he turned on his heel and walked away, his footsteps echoing down the corridor. “Don’t contact me again,” he said over his shoulder, his voice cold and final.

I stood there, my heart breaking. I wanted to call out to him, to make him understand, but the words caught in my throat. Tears streamed down my face as I turned and walked back to my house. I ran upstairs to my room, before anyone could see me.

At home, Mimi Gomez, a new friend and colleague, knocked on my door. Her sympathetic eyes met mine as she walked in. I was shocked, she was the last person I was supposed to face.

“I heard about everything,” she said softly. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head, unable to speak. Mimi sat beside me and wrapped her arm around my shoulders. “Marcus sent me to check on you,” she said. “He was worried.”

My heart sank at the mention of Marcus. “Worried? He left me with nothing but anger and accusations.”

Mimi’s expression softened. “He didn’t just leave you". She took my hand in hers, "he cares for you, he's different for you."

"Yeah, toss me around like an object -" I let my anger speak.

"Vanessa forced him to sleep with her so - . Marcus sold himself to get you that apprenticeship.” Mimi revealed, her eyes had a certain sadness, perhaps because she knew she couldn't get Marcus.

The words struck me like a lightning bolt. “What? No- he wouldn’t- ” My voice trailed off as the realization set in.

“He did,” Mimi said gently. “I just wanted you to know. He cared enough to sacrifice for you, and now-”

I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. I picked up my phone to call Marcus, but he didn’t answer. The voicemail message only made my heart ache more. A week passed in a blur of sorrow and confusion.

Then, one day, Marcus walked into the 'love and lies', looking as impeccably dressed and handsome as ever. My heart skipped a beat, but I couldn’t deny the bitterness that followed. He approached me with a cold, unfeeling demeanor.“I’ve found the culprit,” he said abruptly. “It’s Gabi.”