Tempted by My Buddy after Getting Cheated On

Chapter 5 You're So Cool!

The shock on everyone's faces was palpable. That photo shattered any illusions they'd had about Kiana. No one could believe she was that kind of woman.

The scornful looks from our classmates made Kiana's face go pale.

I didn't feel sorry for her. This was what she deserved.

I noticed Elrod giving me a thumbs up through the crowd, almost like he was applauding me.

And then, Kiana burst into loud laughter.

They thought she had completely lost it!

But just then, something unexpected happened.

From the dressing room came the unmistakable sounds of passionate moaning.

It was a s*x recording!

The sounds were like waves crashing on the shore, relentless and vivid, one after another, so loud and unavoidable.

Each breathy, ecstatic cry, "Ah, yes, that's so good! Baby, faster... faster..."

It shocked everyone in the room.

As everyone tried to figure out who the woman was in the recording, we all heard Ash's voice, filled with desire and satisfaction.

"Melissa... Melissa..."

So, it was me!

Its absurdity hit me all at once.

That wasn't me having s*x with Ash.

When we were together, it was never like that.

For a long time, I'd believed Ash was a gentleman.

But now? He was nothing but a complete jerk.

I stood there, my face a mask of fury and disbelief. Without thinking, I marched up to Ash and slapped him hard across the face.

Ash seemed a bit dazed, but the slap brought him back to his senses.

But the recording kept looping, and Ash knew it was beyond his control. He grabbed my arm.

"Melissa, please, you have to trust me! I didn't play that recording! This... this is a misunderstanding!"

I didn't say a word. I just shoved his hand away with disgust.

I think the biggest regret of my life would always be meeting him.

He was kicked away but still clung to me.

I knew it wasn't him who played the recording. No matter how wild he could get, he wouldn't invite the whole school to listen to it. It was clearly Kiana's doing, her game, her move!

Finally, I snapped, "Fine, it's a misunderstanding. Then explain to me where this recording came from. Who is the woman in it?"

I glanced at Kiana and saw her staring at me with that challenge in her eyes.

The message was clear. She wasn't someone to mess with. This was her retaliation for what I'd done to her earlier.

Ash went silent, and I couldn't help but scoff. My disappointment in him deepened.

He was nothing but a coward, someone who couldn't take responsibility!

"Turn it off. Turn it off now!" Ash could only redirect his frustration to the recording.

But no one could figure out where it had come from.

Then, Elrod stepped out from the crowd, his face gloomy, his eyes locked onto something. He walked straight over without hesitation.

He pulled out a phone and a speaker.

Right in front of everyone, he crushed the phone under his boot and smashed the speaker against the ground.

His movements were swift without hesitation.

He tossed some cash onto the ground. "Here's compensation."

His eyes flicked toward Kiana, who had shrunk behind Ash, looking guilty. Without another word, Elrod grabbed my hand and pulled me away.

At that moment, Ash seemed to snap out of it. He stepped forward to block Elrod.

"Let go of Melissa, you..."

Before he could finish, Elrod landed a punch.

His fist was hard. The punch landed with a sickening thud, and Ash's nose instantly started bleeding.

Elrod didn't even look at him. He just gave the crowd a cold, dismissive glance.

And just like that, a path cleared in front of us.

I was simply led along, my hand held tightly in Elrod's grip, and despite the chaos, I couldn't help but think he was so unbelievably cool.

Once we were outside, Elrod kept walking, his shoulders tense, radiating anger.

My hand was gripped so tightly it hurt, but I kept up with him, trying to explain, "Elrod, the woman in that recording isn't me, I swear."

But he didn't say a word.

He suddenly stopped, and I didn't have time to react. I bumped straight into his rigid back.

He turned around angrily, grabbing my shoulders with a force that startled me.

I thought he was about to yell at me, but then he kissed me. His kiss was intense at first, fierce and demanding. But then his tongue teased my lips, pulling me deeper into the kiss, which shifted from fierce to tender as if trying to soothe me with every movement.

He kissed me for what felt like forever before pulling away, and I saw the guilt in his eyes.

I realized, then, that he wasn't angry with me. He was trying to comfort me.

I was just about to tell him, "Elrod, you don't have to do this. It's nothing. It won't hurt me," but before I could speak, he spoke first, "Melissa, I was careless. I thought forcing her to delete the video would be enough. I didn't realize she kept a backup."

"What video?" I asked, confused.

It was only then that Elrod told me Kiana had used someone to make a fake video, swapping Ash's and her heads with Ash's and me, making it look like we were the ones in bed together.

But the worst part? That bastard Ash actually called out my name while he was banging Kiana.

I felt a rush of gratitude toward Elrod. He had been silently protecting me all along.

If not for this recording, I wouldn't have known that Elrod had forced Kiana to delete that video.

I was so angry at myself for not seeing Ash for who he really was sooner.

But then again, it wasn't too late.

The humiliation Ash and Kiana had put me through, I was going to make sure I paid them back!

To make up for the bittersweet victory I had earlier in the competition, Elrod took me out for a drive. We went to an amusement park and rode roller coasters, and I could feel the excitement coursing through me as he stayed by my side through every thrill.

At that moment, I felt a warmth spread through my chest.

I had separated from Elrod with a light heart, ready to enjoy the day, but then, I spotted Kiana.

She was charging toward a man, fury in her eyes. Without warning, she slapped him across the face.

"You bastard! You promised me you wouldn't take the money unless you finished the job. Now give me my money back!"

The man simply touched his cheek, unbothered, his voice dripping with indifference. "You can't blame me if you couldn't handle it. I gave you the video, but you lost it. That's on you."

With a sneer, he dropped a business card at her feet. "Feel free to call me next time. I still have the original footage."

He clicked his tongue, his eyes roamed over Kiana's body, his grin widening. "Nice body. And the way you moaned in bed was so wild... I like that."

Then, he shoved her aside and walked off, leaving Kiana screaming after him like a wild animal.

She stamped on the business card, shouting at the top of her lungs.

"You're all bastards! Melissa, it's your fault, all your fault! You demon! When Ash was with me, he was calling out your name! Do you know what that felt like? I hate you! I want to kill you!"

Just like that, my good mood was ruined by her. I had planned on dealing with her later, but she had to make this scene in front of me!

I clenched my fists, my jaw tight, and stepped toward her.

"You want to kill me, huh?" I taunted, my voice dripping with mockery. "Well, I'm right here. Come on, show me how you're going to do it!"