Chapter 3: Betrayals Multiply
1093 Words
The illusion of control Ellie had built shattered completely on a cold Wednesday evening.
She was in a upscale Italian restaurant in Chelsea with Richard when his wife, Victoria Thornton, stormed in. The entire restaurant seemed to fall silent as the elegantly dressed woman in her early 40s approached their table, eyes blazing with fury.
“So this is her?” Victoria spat, looking Ellie up and down with pure disgust. “This is the little student you’ve been wasting our money on?”
Richard stood up quickly, trying to calm the situation. “Victoria, not here—”
Ellie felt frozen. Her face burned with humiliation as other diners pulled out their phones. Victoria turned her venom directly on Ellie.
“You think you’re special? You’re just one in a long line, darling. He’ll discard you like the rest when he gets bored.”
Security eventually escorted Victoria out, but the damage was done. Richard’s face was stone cold as he drove Ellie back to her halls in silence. When they arrived, he finally spoke.
“This complicates things. I need to lie low for a while. I’ll send you something to tide you over.”
The money stopped almost immediately.
The next morning, the scandal had leaked into university circles. Anonymous accounts posted photos from the restaurant incident. Though Ellie’s face was partially blurred, enough students recognised her. Whispers followed her across campus.
Sophie was waiting in their room when Ellie returned, looking shaken.
“I heard what happened,” Sophie said. “And… something else. I went to one of those parties Jazz invited me to last week. One of the men got too aggressive. I barely got out of there.”
Sophie’s voice cracked. Ellie reached out to comfort her, but Sophie pulled away.
“This is your fault, Ellie. You brought us into this world. I warned you!”
“I never forced you to go!” Ellie cried.
The argument escalated into a full-blown screaming match. Sophie stormed out, saying she needed space and was crashing with another friend for a while.
Later that evening, Jazz Harrington showed her true colours. She sent Ellie a cold message:
“Sorry babe, but I have to protect myself. Richard’s wife is asking questions and I can’t be associated with this mess. You should’ve known better.”
Jazz had leaked details about Ellie’s arrangement to several people in their circle to distance herself. The betrayal cut deep. The girl who had introduced her to this lifestyle was now throwing her under the bus.
Desperate and financially cornered again, Ellie received a message from Professor Edward Lang. He invited her to his office under the pretence of discussing her slipping grades.
“I see you’re going through a difficult time,” he said, closing the door behind her. His tone was sympathetic but his eyes held something darker. “I can help with your assignments… make sure you pass this semester. But I’d expect a little gratitude in return.”
Ellie felt sick. She knew exactly what he was suggesting. In a moment of weakness and fear, she didn’t immediately say no. The encounter left her feeling even more degraded.
That night, she sat alone in her room, staring at her phone. Marcus had called three times. She finally answered the last one.
“Ellie, I’m worried about you,” Marcus said, his voice warm and sincere. “Whatever’s going on, you don’t have to face it alone. Let me help.”
Tears streamed down her face. “You don’t understand, Marcus. I’ve made too many mistakes. I’m not the girl you think I am.”
“I like the real you,” he replied softly. “Not whoever you’re pretending to be.”
She hung up before she broke down completely.
The worst blow came two days later.
Ellie was nursing a terrible hangover after drinking alone the previous night when her phone rang. It was her mother, Patricia.
At first, the conversation was normal — questions about lectures and whether she was eating properly. Then Patricia’s tone changed.
“Eleanor… I got a call from Mrs. Adebayo back home. Her daughter studies in London and showed her some pictures. Is it true? Are you… involved with some married man?”
Ellie’s blood ran cold. She tried to deny it, but the lie stuck in her throat.
“Mum, it’s not what you think—”
“Don’t you dare lie to me!” Patricia’s voice broke with anger and heartbreak. “I worked my fingers to the bone to get you to university. I sacrificed everything so you could have a better life. And this is what you do? Selling yourself like some cheap girl?”
Tears poured down Ellie’s face as her mother continued.
“I raised you with values. With self-respect. What happened to my daughter? The girl who promised she would make me proud?”
The call ended with Patricia sobbing and saying she needed time before she could speak to her again. Ellie collapsed onto her bed, feeling completely destroyed. The one person whose approval mattered most now saw her as a disappointment.
That same night, she spiralled. Jazz’s circle had completely ghosted her. With no money coming in and rent due again soon, Ellie went out with the little cash she had left and drank heavily at a student bar. Bad decisions followed — she woke up the next morning in an unfamiliar flat with vague memories of the night before. The shame was overwhelming.
Sophie eventually returned to check on her. Seeing Ellie in such a broken state, her anger softened.
“I’m still mad at you,” Sophie said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “But I can’t leave you like this. We’re both in this mess now.”
They talked for hours — really talked. Sophie shared more about her own traumatic experience at the party, and Ellie finally opened up about how scared and trapped she felt. It wasn’t full forgiveness, but it was the beginning of reconciliation.
Richard sent one final message with a transfer of money and a cold note:
“This is the last time. Don’t contact me again.”
Ellie stared at the notification, feeling both relief and deep emptiness. She had compromised everything — her dignity, her relationships, her future — and she was still drowning.
As she stood by the window looking out at the rainy London streets, Ellie whispered to herself:
“How did I let it get this far?”
- Writer
