Zara’s POV
The slap had come so fast I didn’t even see it coming. One second, Kai’s voice was rising, spitting accusations I couldn’t make sense of, and the next—my cheek stung like fire, the metallic taste of shock already pooling on my tongue.
I froze, my chest heaving, my eyes wide as whispers rippled around us like wildfire. The corridor was never forgiving, every secret turned into gossip before the sound even faded. And now, I was the latest scandal.
“You think you can play innocent?” Kai’s voice boomed, hard and sharp, making me flinch even though I refused to lower my chin. “You leaked that video, didn’t you? Pathetic little liar—”
“I didn’t!” My words broke through, my throat raw, trembling, but I made sure they were loud enough to carry. “I don’t even know what the hell you’r
