The Bennet Scandal

Shattered Reflections

Sophia stood near the main gate of her house, looking at it with teary eyes and a heart full of fear and anxiety. The weight of her father's words hung in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst.

"Get out, Sophia. I never want to see you again," Marshal Bennet's voice echoed in her mind, a jagged knife slicing through her heart. The disdain in his eyes cut deeper than any physical blow.

"You've brought nothing but shame upon this family! You think you can just—just kiss Gabriel Westbrook, my rival, and expect us to stand by you?" His other words replayed in her thoughts, raising her anxiety even higher.

"Dad, please... let me back in. Where will I go?" she whispered under her breath, glancing once more at the closed gate. Terrified, she felt small and helpless. The world outside was vast and cruel, and she didn't know how to survive on her own.

"Don't do this to me, Dad," she cried again.

She still hoped he might change his mind, but with each passing moment, her hopes turned to ashes. She knew the video must have gone viral, that everyone had seen the kiss between her and Gabriel—a small moment of intimacy that was now broadcast for the world to judge.

Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly found herself surrounded by media reporters, descending like vultures, their cameras clicking furiously. They bombarded her with questions, their words piercing her like shards of broken glass.

"Is it true you had an affair with a man twice your age?" a reporter yelled, shoving a microphone in her face.

"Do you regret being a homewrecker?" another chimed in, their tone dripping with judgment.

Pushing through the throng, her heart racing, Sophia shouted, "Leave me alone!" But her voice was drowned out by the chaos. The world that had once been her sanctuary had turned into a suffocating cage.

"Sophia Bennet, how long have you and Gabriel been having an affair?" a female reporter asked, moving closer with a stingy tone.

"Stop this! Leave me alone!" Sophia shouted, starting to move away from them.

"You have to answer us!" a reporter pressed, advancing toward her.

But Sophia began to run, stumbling away from her house.

"Where am I supposed to go?" she asked herself. "I don't even have any money." She remembered how her father had made sure she couldn't take cash, jewelry, or her debit card when he threw her out. She felt empty-handed and miserable.

"I need to find a shelter," she thought and then dialed Jake's number. After a few rings, he picked up.

"Hello, Sophia," Jake said in a calculated tone, lacking any warmth.

"Jake, I need your help. Can I come to your house?" Sophia asked abruptly.

"Sophia, I'm going to a meeting in Australia and won't be back for weeks, so I can't help you," Jake replied seriously. At that moment, she realized he had seen her video and heard about her disgrace; that's why he didn't want to help her.

"Okay, I'll ask Linda," Sophia said, her voice low.

A single leaked video had made her unacceptable to her family and friends, and now she felt like an outcast in the entire world.

"Linda is already at her sister's wedding, remember?" Jake reminded her.

"Oh, right... she told me," Sophia said, closing her eyes tightly.

Another possible way to seek help closed off, and her heart sank into the depths of despair and tension.

"Jake, while you're away, can't I stay at your house? I promise I'll figure something out soon and won't be there long," Sophia pleaded.