Chapter 4

Julian and my parents stood frozen, completely dumbfounded.

None of them anticipated that Chloe would recklessly intercept that specific glass.

The drug took effect almost immediately.

Chloe's limbs went limp, her cheeks flushing bright crimson as she collapsed heavily into Julian's chest.

Forcing an awkward smile toward the crowd, Julian stammered:

"The sisters... they both drank too much. Forgive us, everyone."

"Mom, Dad, hold Chloe. I'll carry Avery. Let's take them to the lounge to sober up."

Inside the VIP suite, I lay sprawled on the leather couch.

Though dizzy, my mind was painfully sharp, and every word they traded pierced my ears.

My father paced anxiously.

"There was only one dose, and it's gone. Damian's men are already downstairs demanding the girl!"

"Should we just send Avery over like this?"

Julian's brow locked in a tight frown as he shook his head.

"No. Avery hasn't been sedated. If we send her clear-headed, she'll fight back."

"Damian is an ex-con with a vicious temper. If she claws at him or sets him off, being ruined won't be the worst thing that happens to her."

I suddenly spoke up.

"I won't fight."

They jumped, staring at me in sheer disbelief.

Julian choked on his words, his face pale.

"Avery... you're not drunk?"

"We were just discussing... uh..."

I pushed against the armrest and pulled myself upright.

I finished his sentence for him:

"Discussing how to deliver me to Damian Pierce's bed. One month of my body in exchange for a three-hundred-million-dollar investment."

Julian's face drained of all color.

"How do you know that?"

I gave a hollow laugh, lifting my chin to meet his eyes.

"Does it matter how I know?"

"Julian, I married you because I loved you. What did you take me for? A piece of meat you can pawn off for cash?"

Julian dropped his head, his voice laced with pathetic guilt:

"Avery, the joint merger between our families has reached a critical stage. We desperately need that funding."

"You just have to endure it for one month. In thirty days, I swear I'll come to the Pierce mansion and bring you home."

A bitter laugh tore from my throat, tears spilling down my cheeks.

"Endure? Why do I have to be the one to endure it?"

"What about Chloe?"

My gaze cut toward Julian, then toward my parents.

Without exception, every single one of them guiltily looked away.

After a heavy silence, Julian stepped forward and grabbed my cold hands, trying to justify himself:

"Chloe grew up delicate. She could never survive that kind of brutal torment."

"Trust me, Avery. No matter what Damian does to you, no matter how broken you become, I will still take you back."

My parents wiped away fake tears, chiming in:

"Good girl, just think of it as repaying us for giving you life."

"Yes, your father, Chloe, and I will be grateful to you for the rest of our lives!"

*Knock, knock, knock.*

The assistant tapped gently on the door, whispering:

"Mr. Vance, their car is waiting outside."

Hearing this, Julian stopped talking. Without caring whether I consented, he scooped me up into his arms, ignored my faint struggles, and shoved me into the sleek black sedan parked in the back alley.

Right before the door slammed shut, my hand locked onto his suit sleeve with desperate strength, my voice shaking:

"Julian Vance. If you hand me over to another man..."

"I will never, ever want you again."

Julian clearly took my threat as empty words. He scoffed dismissively:

"A woman used and abused by a criminal..."

"Besides me, who else would ever want you?"

With that, he ripped my fingers off his sleeve.

He looked at me one last time, offering a condescending pat on my arm.

"Be good, Avery. Wait for me. In thirty days, I'll come get you."

"And I will marry you."

A single tear fell onto the back of Julian's hand.

The car door slammed.

I was whisked away into the dark, toward the Pierce estate.

Julian stood alone on the pavement, staring at the wet droplet on his skin.

Belatedly, a strange, sharp pang tore through his chest.

An eerie, suffocating hollowness settled inside him.

He trudged back to the suite, where my parents had already moved Chloe to a bedroom upstairs.

My father slipped a keycard into Julian's palm with a knowing smile:

"Julian, Chloe drank the spiked wine. She's burning up and restless. Why don't you go up and take care of her?"

"You know how deeply she loves you."

Julian stared at the plastic card, but the only image flashing in his mind was my tear-drenched eyes.

A wave of nausea and shortness of breath hit him. He pushed the card back.

"No. I'm exhausted."

"Once the guests are gone, take Chloe home."

My parents exchanged confused glances, but said nothing.

Over the next month, Julian didn't sleep a single peaceful night.

Ever since the night he sent me away, nightmares haunted him.

He dreamed of me covered in horrific scars, weeping, begging him to save me, screaming why he could be so cruel.

Every spy he sent to dig up information vanished like stones dropped into the ocean. The Pierce estate was locked down like a fortress; not a single whisper leaked out.

Julian had no idea what was happening to me.

The terrifying unknown pushed him to the brink of madness.

His attitude toward Chloe turned frosty and short-tempered.

Until finally, exactly one month later, word came from the Pierce family.

They delivered an official gold-foil invitation.

Julian let out a massive sigh of relief. He immediately assumed Damian was bored of me and had arranged to marry a woman of equal status.

After all, in high society, discarding a plaything was routine.

He didn't even bother reading the names on the card. He grabbed his keys and sped toward the Pierce mansion.

When the butler announced his arrival, Damian was kneeling on the Persian rug, meticulously painting my toenails with soft pink polish.

He arched a brow, looking up with a wicked smirk.

"Well, well. Your ex-fiancé is here. Baby, do you want to see him?"

I gave his rock-hard abs a playful kick.

"Quit being jealous."

"I don't know what he wants either, but since he came all this way, we might as well give him a show."

Damian chuckled darkly, pressing a lingering kiss to the arch of my foot before rising to his feet.

"Go on down first. I'll throw on a shirt and join you."

The moment I stepped down the sweeping staircase, Julian bolted toward me.

But the second his eyes landed on the dark, passionate marks trailing down my neck and collarbone, he froze dead in his tracks.

Disgust flashed behind his eyes, but he still reached out, grabbing my wrist.

"Avery, come home with me."

"I don't care how dirty you are now. I'll still marry you."

I paused, then looked at Julian with an amused scoff:

"Didn't you read the invitation?"

"Damian and I are getting married next week."