Chapter 2 "Ugh, Charlie, say something already!" Rachel's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I quickly backed away the hatred in my eyes and replied with a calm, neutral tone "No problem. I'll be right there." "Yey, Charlie, you're the best ! Hurry-Luna Lounge, Suite 3601" The second the call ended , I opened my delivery app and ordered a mini recording device. Once it arrived, I picked up my phone and called Ethan. "Hey, are you busy?" I asked sweetly. "Rachel just invited me to the bar, but it's getting late, and I'm worried it might be unsafe for just the two of us Can you come with me?" Ethan clearly besitated. "Didn't you say you were too tired to go out lately?" I pretended to be offended. "What, are you with someone else and trying to ditch me? Fine, whatever. If you're too busy, I'll just go find some other hot guy to party with.". That did the trick. He agreed immediately and said he'd pick me up in half an hour. Right on the dot-thirty minutes later he was at my door. " You're really showing up like this?" I scolded, reaching out to straighten his messy coller. " You didn't even fix your shirt." While pretending to fuss over his clothes, I discreetly pressed the tiny bug onto the back of his collar. Ethan leaned in and kissed my cheek. "Charlie, you're so good to me." My stomach chumed, but I forced a smile. I had bigger plans. Just like last time, when we arrived at Luna Lounge, Rachel was nowhere to be found in the private room she'd said she reserved. Ethen swallowed nervously. "Maybe she got held up on the way." I stayed calm and popped open a beer. "No big deal. We'll have a drink first" A few minutes passed. Erhan started getting antsy. -Why isn't she here yet? You don't think something happened to her, do you?" I didn't respond. I was too busy mixing drinks, looking completely unbothered, "I can't sit around," he muttered. "You just enjoy the booze.-I'm gonna go find her." *I'll come with you , " I offered lightly. "She's my sister-in-law, anyway. If something really did happen, my brother's gonna come after both of us." Erhan quickly blocked my way. "God, no. Don't make this harder than it already is. You've had way too much to drink, and if Rachel really is in trouble, the last thing I need is to babysit you too." Before I could argue, he bolted out the door . I let a small smile curt on my lips. Awfully eager, aren't they? After finishing my drink-one I'd personally crafted-I picked up my phone, satisfied. "Hi, 911? I want to report a sexual assault. It's happening at Luna Lounge, Suite 3601" My left hand trembled from adrenaline as I ended the call. Right on cue, I fired off a group message to my parents and my brother, who was still out of towns. (Rachel's in trouble at Luna Lounge. Urgent Come quick!) Michael texted a moment later. [Keep me updated. I'm already on my way.) Figures-she'd chosen a bar just ten minutes from my place. In less than that, my parents arrived in a frenzy-along with a few relatives, every one of them holding something they could use as a weapon. 1741 "Where's Rachel? What happened to her?" my mother demanded, face pale and voice shaking I feigned a frightened look *5-she was dragged into one of the private rooms… I tried to stop him, but I couldn't. He even hit me." I showed them my arm-already scraped and bloodied. My relatives recolled at the sight. "Forget that for now," my father barked. "Which room was she taken to?" He grabbed my injured arm, not even noticing the pain he was causing. His eyes were full of panle-but all for Rachel. 3601,1 told them. "Come on. Follow me." Chapter 3 I charged down the hallway, a small army of relatives behind me. The eyes of customers and servers followed us like we were the evening's entertainment " There! That's the room," I shouted, pointing at the number on the door : Suite 3601 Without a word, my dad stepped forward and kicked the door open. What we saw inside brought everything-and everyone to a complete standstill. Ethan and Rachel were tangled up on the couch, completely naked. When they realized we were there, their faces twisted from bliss to full-blown panic. Rachel screamed and scrambled to grab a sheet to cover herself. " Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?" she cried, voice high with panic. Ethan, leapt up, looking frantically for his clothes-only to realize they were scattered near the entrance, out of reach. "What the hell is going on here? my father shouted, veins bulging in his neck. Rachel's eyes filled with tears that fell instantly, like som someone had flipped a switch. "Charlie invited me here for drinks," she said, sobbing. "I thought she just wanted to blow off stearn from work. I never imagined she arranged for me to be assaulted" Erhan didn't even try to put on pants before dropping to his knees. "Mr. and Mrs. Evans, I'm sorry. I had no choice. I didn't want to do it" He looked up, trembling "Charlie kept telling me that ever since you got married, Michael didn't love her the same way anymore. She was jealous of Rachel getting all his attention." "She said if Rachel got 'ruined, Michael would divorce her-and if I didn't go along with it, she'd jump off a building I slapped Etham across the face, hard. My dad reflexively pushed me away. "Charlotte Evans, are you out of your goddamn mind? That's your brother!" His hand shot up, ready to strike me. My mother's eyes were red from crying, her voice barely a whisper. "How could I have raised a daughter like you?" My uncle stepped in and grabbed my father's wrist before he could hit me "Richard, stop it. Calm down!" "Calm down? You're still defending her after this?" my dad yelled, his voice shaking, "Look at what she's done!" His hand pointed at me like it weighed a thousand pounds. Outside the room, a crowd had already gathered. Their whispers grew louder and louder, drowning out everything else. "That girl tried to have her own sister-in-law assaulted?" "What kind of twisted monster does that?" "She's young and already the vicious? God help her future husband." Rachel, seeing the tide of public opinion clearly on her side, cried harder. "Mom, Dad, Michael's coming home tomorrow. After what happened tonight, how am I supposed to face him?" Ethan jumped in quickly, backing her up "Mr. and Mrs. Evans… Charlie told me Michael was coming back tomorrow, She said if I didn't do it tonight, we'd lose the chance. She threatened to kill herself if I didn't." stared at Ethan, my voice ice-cold. "So you're saying I forced you to do this?" He nodded without hesitation, zero wilt on his face. Yes. I even have the messages she sent me on my phone." "ch? What messages?" Title: ReelTalk EP 40 - Contract Lovers & Heartbreak CrushReel's ongoing romance series, Miss You After Goodbye, continues to captivate on the latest ReelTalk episode. Haley Lohrli dives into her daring new character, while Ben and Josh share insights into their own memorable roles, promising a blend of laughter and heartwarming moments. Exploring themes of love, loss, and unexpected connections, this episode delves deep into the intricate relationships that drive the narrative forward. As the stars reveal their on-screen chemistry and off-screen camaraderie, viewers are in for a treat with each unfolding scene. What sets this episode apart is its ability to balance humor with poignant storytelling, offering a refreshing take on modern romance dynamics. Dive into the world of Contract Lovers & Heartbreak, available to read at CrushReel for a journey that promises both entertainment and emotional resonance.