Humiliating the Fake Innocent

"Alright. Distribution's done."

Ethan Cross nodded to Dr. Chloe, who began packing the remaining supplies back into a sack.

But before she could finish, a shrill, desperate voice rang out from the crowd.

"Ethan! Ethan, I didn't get any! You forgot me!"

It was Claire—her voice trembling with expectation.

She had assumed Ethan would save the best for her. That he'd always put her first.

Next to her, Natalie chimed in anxiously:

"Yeah, Ethan! You didn't give me anything either!"

Ethan looked at them both, eyes playful and mocking.

"Forgot you? Not at all."

Both women lit up, clearly thinking this was some dramatic, romantic gesture.

But his next sentence smashed them like a brick to the chest.

"You were never getting any."

Their faces froze in disbelief.

Claire's jaw dropped. Natalie blinked rapidly, then snapped:

"What the hell?! Everyone else got something—why not us?!"

Claire stumbled forward, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Ethan, please… you're joking, right? You'd never treat me like this. You said you loved me!"

Ethan crossed his arms, eyebrows raised.

"I did say that."

"But come on—did you really take that seriously?"

"I tell a lot of girls I like them. Doesn't mean it's real."

"We were just messing around. Everyone knew the deal."

"Now? I'm not into you anymore. And for the record—I have a girlfriend."

With that, he wrapped his arm around Dr. Chloe.

The contrast couldn't have been more brutal.

Claire, once proud of her looks, now looked like a street rat—oily hair, torn clothes, dirt-smudged cheeks.

Chloe? Radiant. Clean. Composed. A full-package goddess.

One was a club-hopping office flirt, the other a top-tier trauma surgeon.

The room made its judgment instantly.

Claire's face went pale.

Her so-called beauty—her weapon—had just been publicly shattered.

"This isn't real… You invited me to your place! You said I could stay with you!"

Ethan chuckled.

"Yeah, that? I was screwing with you. And you totally fell for it."

Then he turned to the others.

"She bragged about it to you, didn't she? Said I liked her? Said I'd take her in?"

Natalie and another woman, Mindy, nodded vigorously.

"Yep. Total delusional drama queen."

"Girl wouldn't shut up about how she was gonna marry Ethan. Like, please."

"She's a snake. Lied to all of us. Lied about my cousin too—she's the reason he died!"

The crowd started whispering, then laughing—mocking Claire.

Her face drained of all color. She clutched her head.

"Please stop… please…"

Ethan wasn't finished.

"You thought you were some goddess, huh? Hunting rich guys like a pro."

"But guess what? Everyone in Bayview knows who you are."

He turned to Logan.

"Hey Logan, what do the guys in your circle call her?"

Logan, still bruised and bloody on the floor, growled:

"The 'high-class slut.'"

The hallway erupted in laughter.

"Damn! That's cold!"

"Can't believe I used to like her. Bro, I could've had her for fifty bucks!"

"What a joke."

Claire tried to plug her ears, but the shame pierced through.

"AAAAHHHH!!!"

She let out a scream and ran away sobbing.

Ethan reached into his sack and tossed a small bag of crackers at Logan.

"Good boy. You earned this."

Like training a dog—you give rewards when they behave.

Logan's eyes lit up. Despite the pain, the food soothed him. Even his resentment faded.

In his heart, Ethan suddenly didn't seem so unfair.

"It was my fault… I shouldn't have talked back."

Right then, Natalie stepped forward.

"Ethan, I've never wronged you, have I? I even backed you up earlier. Don't you think I deserve a little more food?"

Ethan glanced at her lazily.

"Nope."

Natalie snapped.

"Why?! You were after her, not me!"

Ethan replied casually:

"You just annoy me. That's reason enough."

Natalie's mouth dropped open.

"Y-you—!"

"I brought the food," Ethan interrupted. "I decide who eats. Got a problem? Choke on it."

She burst into tears.

"This is so unfair!"

"Only idiots talk about fairness in the apocalypse," Ethan said flatly.

He waved her off.

Leo and Jesse, ever loyal, stepped in and ushered Natalie away before she could whine any more.

With distribution complete, Ethan straightened up.

"Now—let's talk about defense."

Beside Uncle Ray, Sherry scowled and leaned in.

"We killed two of those bastards. We should've gotten more."

Uncle Ray replied quietly:

"Ethan won't forget us. Don't push it."

Sherry huffed but kept her mouth shut.

Ethan addressed the room.

"There are 47 of us left—excluding kids who can't fight."

"Me, Chloe, Uncle Ray, and Sherry are off the roster. That leaves 43."

"We'll split into six squads. Seven to eight per squad. You'll take turns on 24-hour watches."

"If anyone spots movement from other buildings, hit the railings or anything metal—wake everyone up."

"Pass the alert floor by floor."

Ethan paused, hands in pockets, expression serious.

"My reward policy still stands."

"Kill one enemy—get food for five."

"If you're just standing guard, you'll get a basic share. But only after the fighters eat first. And I don't guarantee the portions."

Then he turned to Uncle Ray.

"You organize the rotations."

Uncle Ray nodded. "Got it."