After My Childhood Friends Sold My Nudes, I Finally Left Them

At the auction where many famous people of North Carolina had gathered, my private photos became one of the main auction items. My childhood friend, Marcel Dougherty, made his friends fight with me during the auction until the very end just to make his female companion laugh.

I had no choice but to call another childhood friend, Adrian Friel, for help.

But during the break in the auction, I accidentally heard their conversation.

"You did better. You got Hannah’s private photos while she was drinking with you. Now that we have this leverage, let’s see if she dares to bully Nancy again."

"The photos weren’t taken by me. I asked someone else to do it."

I froze. Two months ago, I was kidnapped by some bad people. They tortured me for three days and nights and I went through horrible things. It was then I finally understood everything.

All of it was nothing but te part of a plan. They wanted something to control me, just for Nancy Wilkins.

"It’s just a few pictures. It doesn’t matter. When Hannah calls you later for help, you need to act well and not tell her the truth."

I smiled bitterly. I quietly put my phone back into my bag and returned to the auction hall.

When the auctioneer asked me if I would fight to keep my private photos in my hands, I glanced at Marcel and said, “I give up.”

I gave up on everything.

I didn’t want anything anymore.

——

As soon as I said that, Marcel’s face changed. He didn’t expect me to give up.

"Hannah, are you really willing to be this low? Do you just want to let others see your private photos?"

I looked at him with pain in my eyes.

Then, I couldn’t help but ask, "Weren’t you the one who brought out these private photos and let people buy them?"

Marcel couldn’t say anything and became angry.

"What are you talking about? You’re the one who doesn’t respect yourself, going around like a whore and now you blame me for everything?"

Nancy, who stood beside him, also looked upset.

"Hannah, Marcel is so kind to you. How can you say something like that about him?"

Her tearful face made Marcel feel sorry for her. I didn’t want to see their fake faces anymore, so I turned and walked away. My phone kept ringing inside my bag. It was Adrian.

‘Adrian, are you really so eager to work with Marcel just to step on me and insult me?’ I thought to myself.

After that, I walked outside the auction hall and finally answered the call.

"Hannah, I heard everything. Why didn’t you ask me for help? I would’ve helped you."

Adrian didn’t know what I had just heard. He was still pretending.

I answered calmly by asking in return, "Help me how?"

He didn’t notice the coldness in my voice.

"I’ll get the photos back for you, don’t worry. But you know, Marcel and I owe a lot to Nancy’s mother. She saved us when we were young, so now we want to repay her."

I already knew that. They always talked about how they were kidnapped when they were kids and how Nancy’s mother gave her life to protect them. Since then, they had always treated Nancy better than anyone else.

Even when it came to choosing between me and Nancy, I was always the one who had to step back. They kept saying they were repaying a favor. Again and again.

And because of that, I had no power or voice.

I had worked so hard to finally get a chance to prove myself and build my future. But Nancy came to them again and made me give up the only recruitment spot at the research institute this year. But I said no. So, they came up with this plan.

It seemed that it might be time for me to leave them for good.

Adrian was still speaking.

"You should give the spot to Nancy. Don’t worry … I'll be here for you. Whatever you want, I’ll help you get it."

I touched the necklace my mother gave me before she passed away. I remembered her words clearly. She told me not to blame Marcel and Adrian.