At a gathering with friends, my boyfriend's childhood friend, Heather, decided to humiliate me in front of everyone. With a smug smile, she announced, "Miley Wright just got ashore with a fruit plate." Someone asked what a "fruit plate" meant, and she couldn't hide her glee. "Oh, you don't know? It's the kind of girl who works in bars, nightclubs, KTVs, and massage clubs."
She continued, her voice dripping with venom, "Miley has always lived a wild life in the entertainment industry. But now that she's had her fun, she’s latched onto my friend, Jeremy, who’s honest and reliable, hoping to marry him and clean up her act. She thinks she can leave her past behind by ‘getting ashore’ with a fresh image."
She didn’t stop there. “But she hasn’t changed. She’s still chasing thrills. Just yesterday, I saw her at Jeremy’s company, hugging the boss and calling him handsome!”
The room buzzed with shock and anger. My friends, now filled with outrage, were ready to confront me and expose my so-called "true colors" to Jeremy. He was furious. Red-eyed, he slapped me repeatedly, accusing me of betrayal.
Suddenly, the tide shifted. Someone muttered, "No wonder. Jeremy’s girlfriend didn’t seem respectable from the start."
Another added, "With that figure and that foxy face, she reeks of trouble. Everyone here knows Miley's story. She’s just a fruit plate trying to come ashore!"
I stood at the door of the private room, frowning as I listened to Heather Hall’s ridiculous lies. I had been dating Jeremy for over six months, yet this was my first time meeting his so-called "childhood buddy," who had just returned from out of town.
When I first arrived at the party, I politely greeted her, but she didn’t even acknowledge me. Instead, she gave me a judgmental once-over, her eyes narrowing in disdain. Then she wrapped her arm around Jeremy’s neck, flashing a grin.
“You’re lucky,” she said to him, loud enough for everyone to hear. “She’s so beautiful, but be careful she doesn’t drain you dry.”
I could sense the hostility hidden behind her seemingly carefree attitude, but I brushed it off at the time. However, as soon as Jeremy stepped out to move the car, she wasted no time in spreading her rumors.
“Don’t you know what a fruit plate is?” she sneered, her voice dripping with malice. “How many decent women work in bars, nightclubs, bathhouses, or massage parlors?”
She went on, relishing every word. “Marry an honest guy, get off the fruit plate—that’s how you clean up your act! But she’s still out there cheating, taking advantage of my kind-hearted brother, using him as a fool while she messes around.”
I clenched my fists, disgusted by her audacity. Her words were poison, and I could see the others in the room beginning to believe her lies.
As Heather's words grew more outrageous, I couldn't hold back any longer. I pushed open the door to the private room and walked in, my patience wearing thin.
"Heather, what did you just say?" I demanded, my voice cutting through the room. The friends who had been casually chatting and playing games immediately fell silent, their eyes darting between us.
Heather sat among them, a smug smile tugging at her lips, clearly enjoying the drama she'd stirred up. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. "You should be careful with your words. Spreading rumors is illegal, and you have to be responsible for what you say."
A few of the others waved it off, pulling me to sit down. "It's nothing, don't take it so seriously," they murmured, trying to ease the tension.
But Heather didn’t even acknowledge my warning. She simply turned her back to me, laughing with others and pulling them into another round of finger-guessing games, as if nothing had happened. The energy in the room slowly picked back up, the earlier commotion slipping into the background.
I glanced at my phone. Jeremy had sent a message saying his car had been scratched and he’d be busy dealing with it for a while. I sighed, thinking about going out to find him, when the KTV manager suddenly walked in, carrying a box of drinks.
"Miley, these are for you. Don't be shy, we’re all friends here," he said with a grin.
“No wonder the KTV manager is treating you so well, upgrading the room and sending over drinks,” Heather remarked with a smirk. “So you two are old acquaintances!”
Her voice dropped, dripping with insinuation. “Your smile is so sweet—do you smile at him like that in bed too?”
Laughter erupted around the room, feeding off her cruel words. I looked at her, my patience running thin, but I took a deep breath to keep calm.
“Heather,” I began, meeting her provocative gaze. “This is the first time we’ve met. I’m not sure what I did to offend you, but today’s supposed to be a gathering of friends. I didn’t come here to argue.” My voice was steady, though the anger simmered beneath it. “But you’ve crossed the line with your rumors. It’s too much.”
I glanced around the room. “I’ve known the manager for a while—we’re just friends. How could you twist that into something so vile?”
Several friends quickly jumped in, trying to ease the tension. “Come on, don’t take it personally. Heather’s just like this. Don’t treat her like a woman—she’s Jeremy’s good friend and says whatever’s on her mind.”
“Heather, cut it out and apologize,” one of them urged. “You’re going too far.”
But Heather wasn’t interested in backing down. She slammed her drink onto the table, her eyes cold.
“I’m a straightforward person, and I can’t stand people who pretend to be innocent,” she sneered. “So let me spell it out for you. You’re just a call girl who tricked Jeremy into cleaning up your act. But you can’t stay out of trouble, can you? You’re still out there cheating—playing around with his boss at the company. Don’t think I don’t know!”
Chapter 2As soon as Heather’s words left her mouth, the room erupted in whispers and gasps.
“No way, she’s cheating on him? With the company boss? What’s going on?”
“I just saw Jeremy Miller being all sweet to her—looks like he has no idea.”
“Typical ‘call girl’ behavior. So many tricks up her sleeve, and poor Jeremy, so honest, completely fooled.”
“Getting off the fruit plate and still flirting around? Tsk, tsk. I bet she’s just after a rich guy now—so greedy.”
Their accusations stung like sharp daggers, hitting me without cause. My face darkened, and the room that had once felt lively now seemed suffocating.
"Heather, you're going too far. There’s a limit to spreading rumors!" I snapped, my frustration finally bubbling over.
But Heather, calm and composed, pulled out her phone. "Oh, really? Since you’re so stubborn, let me show you something that will convince you."
She swiped through her gallery, holding her phone up for everyone to see. The first image she displayed was of me at the law firm where Jeremy worked. In the photo, I was hugging a man who appeared to be the boss, my arm around him in what looked like an affectionate gesture. The next image was even worse—me sitting on the boss’s desk, tugging at his tie.
The crowd murmured, some throwing out sarcastic comments. "A picture doesn’t mean anything. Maybe it’s just her being friendly, you know, professional habits," one person said mockingly.
Heather snorted in response, clearly savoring the moment, and then tapped on a video. The screen lit up with a recording of me, acting playfully, my voice soft and coaxing.
"Hey handsome, just promise me—it’s just a small thing. How much could it really cost you?"
Then, the voice of the man in the video responded, "Oh, darling, fine. Whatever you say, I’ll agree to it!"
"Just agree, or I’ll make you suffer."
As the video finished, the room’s mood shifted. Curiosity and suspicion turned into disdain, and I could feel the weight of their judgment pressing down on me. Heather, clearly relishing the moment, took a slow sip of her drink, her eyes brimming with smug satisfaction.
"Miley, are you even worthy of my Jeremy? Keep up the act all you want!"
I gave her a cold smile. So this was how she wanted to play it.
The man in the video, the one she claimed I was seducing, was indeed Jeremy’s boss—but what she didn’t know was that he was also my biological brother.
The law firm where both Jeremy and I worked? It wasn’t just some random company—it was co-founded by me and my brother. My family was wealthy beyond most people’s comprehension. My brother, successful in his own right, had run multiple companies, but I had only recently graduated. To gain real-world experience, my parents insisted I keep my identity hidden and start from the bottom—doing logistics at the firm.
In the process, I met Jeremy. After years of dealing with slick, entitled rich kids like my brother, I was drawn to his sincerity, his quiet diligence. So we started dating. But I never revealed my true identity to him, preferring to be seen as an equal rather than someone with wealth and power.
Yesterday, during the lunch break when no one else was around, I went to see my brother. Originally, I just wanted to talk to him about a case that Jeremy had mishandled.
Jeremy’s friend had been sued for emotional fraud by a wealthy second-generation heir. He tried to defend his friend, but during the mediation, he lost control of his emotions, making the situation worse. Concerned for Jeremy’s career, I did some digging and discovered that the plaintiff—the rich second-generation man—was actually a close friend of my brother.
So, I went to ask my brother if he could intervene and settle the matter quietly. But little did I know, Heather had filmed the whole encounter and was now using it as “evidence” to smear my name.
But why had she been at the firm that day? Could it be that Jeremy’s friend was connected to her somehow? Just as my thoughts were racing, Heather’s arrogant voice snapped me back to reality.
"Miley, does this look like proof that you seduced the boss and cheated on Jeremy?"
Her voice dripped with triumph as she added, “Right now, in front of all of us, kneel down and apologize! Then disappear as far as you can. Otherwise, as Jeremy's best friend, I won’t be so polite!”
I stared at her animated expression, my eyes narrowing.
"Heather, that’s my real brother," I declared, my voice steady despite the chaos around us. "You’ve tarnished my reputation with your lies, and I want you to apologize!"
For a moment, Heather looked taken aback, but then she erupted into a sharp, mocking laugh.
"Love brother?" she scoffed, her laughter fading as her eyes filled with malice. "Bah! Being a 'call girl' is disgusting and shameless!"
Jeremy’s friends echoed her sentiments, their faces twisted in disdain.
"What a joke! Love brother? It’s clear she’s been in the game too long; her words are dripping with seduction."
Another chimed in, "Jeremy said she was his first love? I can’t believe he was fooled so badly."
"It’s not that I look down on those in the fruit plate scene," I retorted, struggling to keep my composure, "but the issue here is that one side deceived my Jeremy into a relationship, while the other side is hooking up with the boss. Who can just stand by and swallow that?"
My brother and I may not look alike—despite being close in age, he carries himself like a boss, dressed in sharp suits that make him appear years older. I never imagined that this difference would fuel their distrust in me.
Heather scanned the room, reveling in her role as the self-appointed arbiter of justice. "We’re all Jeremy's friends here. Who can bear to see him played for a fool by a so-called ‘call girl’?"
She raised her voice, drawing everyone’s attention. "As friends, we need to stand together! Today, I’m going to help Jeremy deal with this shameless bitch who toys with people’s feelings!"
"Still pretending to be pure, huh?" she sneered, her words dripping with disdain.
Chapter 3With a cold expression, I dialed my brother, Kyle, and switched on the loudspeaker. When the call connected, the sounds of clinking glasses and lively chatter filled the line, indicating he was at a lively gathering.
"Kyle, someone is spreading rumors that I’m not your biological sister but a call girl who seduced you. You need to come over and set the record straight!"
I didn’t expect him to be slightly tipsy already.
"Oh, my dear sister, I’m actually out here drinking on your behalf. You think I haven’t had enough? Alright, I’ll have the driver pick me up—”
Before he could finish, Heather lunged forward, knocking the phone from my hand.
“Isn’t this disgusting? We don’t want to hear the dirty words of a shameless bitch!”
With that, she stomped on my phone, the screen shattering into a thousand pieces.
“The phone isn’t cheap. Did you trick Jeremy into buying it, or did the boss buy it for you?”
Heather's words were like daggers, and my anger surged, making me tremble.
“And that bag! It’s a designer piece—did you sleep with several bosses to afford it?”
Just as my emotions were about to explode, Jeremy pushed open the door of the private room.
He halted in his tracks, eyes wide as he took in the scene. “What’s going on?”
Before I could respond, Heather seized the moment, shoving her phone in Jeremy's face, the video playing loudly.
“Jeremy, straight men like you just can’t recognize a scumbag when you see one! I have to vet your girlfriends for you!”
Jeremy’s expression darkened, confusion and anger swirling in his eyes. “Miley, is this true?”
Disappointment washed over me as I struggled to find my voice.
“Jeremy, we’ve been working together for a year and in a relationship for more than half of that time. Don’t you know my personality and character by now?”
Frustration coursed through me as I continued, “That’s my brother. I didn’t want to bring it up, but if you’re forcing my hand, I’ll have him confirm it personally.”
Seeing the doubt flicker in Jeremy’s eyes, Heather pounced, eager to fan the flames of suspicion. She cranked up the volume on the video, letting it loop repeatedly.
“Listen to that voice,” she taunted, a smirk plastered on her face. “How sweetly she calls him ‘handsome.’ I could never sound that coquettish, even if I tried!”
“An ordinary employee like her, with a designer phone, bag, and clothes—where does that money come from? Isn’t it from her ‘brother’?”
Her words dripped with scorn as she continued, “Isn’t it obvious she’s got connections with the KTV manager? And now she’s summoning the boss to come in person! Are you really going to let her insult Jeremy like this? Do you think the hat isn’t green enough?”
Most of the onlookers were Jeremy’s friends, and they couldn’t help but voice their disdain.
“What more is there to prove? Doesn’t the video speak for itself? How can she deny it?”
“The evidence is irrefutable! Kneel down and apologize now—no one can save you!” Heather was practically basking in the crowd’s outrage. “If I were you, I’d slap myself twice right now!”
Before I could muster a response, I felt the weight of Jeremy’s anger bearing down on me. His expression darkened as he spat, “Miley, are you even worthy of me? You’re making me look foolish in front of everyone!”
His words cut deeper than any blade.
“Let me wear a green hat for everyone to see!”
Before he could finish his tirade, a sharp slap landed hard against my face. The sound echoed in the room, and I stumbled to the ground, covering my face, a trickle of blood oozing from the corner of my mouth.
I stared at Jeremy, shock coursing through me. His chest heaved with fury, veins popping on his forehead as if he had been personally attacked.
But it was me who had been slandered!
He didn’t just fail to believe me—he didn’t even bother to defend me. Instead, he relished the chance to punish me for something I hadn’t done. It dawned on me: beneath his facade of seriousness lay arrogance, impulsiveness, and a desperate need to save face.
In that moment, I felt like I had peeled back the layers of his true self.
Heather stepped closer to him, a triumphant gleam in her eye. “Do you want to take care of this yourself, or should we let the brothers handle it?”
With a smirk, she rolled up her sleeves and tossed her coat aside.
“What are you waiting for? Come on, then!”
At her command, the people around me closed in, their faces twisted with malice.
Several of them grabbed my arms, holding me down as icy drinks were poured over my head, soaking me to the bone. Someone shoved spicy snacks into my mouth, the sharp taste burning my tongue. I struggled, but more hands gripped my hair, yanking it mercilessly as fists connected with my sides and face.
Heather, clearly not satisfied with the chaos, picked up a glass bottle and smashed it against the lower half of my face.
“Bitch! Why won’t you apologize?”
Pain radiated through my body, and I gasped for breath, trying to defend myself. “I’m not wrong! You’re the one spreading rumors!”
Her eyes darkened, a feral grin spreading across her face. “Still talking back? Since you had the audacity to deceive my brother with that pretty face of yours, I’ll make sure you can never lie again!”
She tightened her grip, and I felt the sharp shards of glass dig into my skin, biting and tearing.
“What are you doing... ah!”
Fear and pain crashed over me in waves, and a scream tore from my throat. As Heather’s laughter echoed around me, blood mixed with drinks streamed down my face, the metallic taste filling my mouth.
In the depths of my agony, I managed to call out, my voice barely a whisper, “Jeremy! Save me!”
He watched the horrifying scene unfold, hesitation flickering in his eyes as he finally spoke to Heather, “That’s enough.”
But she was riding high on her twisted sense of power, her excitement palpable. “The call girl is greedy! This punishment isn’t enough!”
With that, she gripped my face, inspecting it with malicious glee. “This face is disgusting! If you don’t learn your lesson and apologize, I’ll carve the words ‘call girl’ right into your skin and make it public!”
Cheers erupted from the crowd, phones raised to capture every moment.
“Expose the bitch! Post it online so she can never deceive anyone again!”
“Heather is avenging his best friend—so loyal!”
“Hurry up! The camera’s ready—close-up!”
Panic surged through me as I realized the depth of their cruelty.
“Engrave it deeper, add some ink! It’ll never wash off! Hahaha!”
Amid the raucous laughter and taunts, Heather lifted her hand, a cruel smile twisting her lips. Just then, the door to the private room burst open.
“Who dares to touch my sister?”