Chapter 3

After we landed, Enoch passed his luggage to Axel, his assistant who had rushed to meet us.

He turned to me with a proposition. 'There’s a party tonight. I want you to come with me.'

I rubbed my temples, feeling utterly drained. 'You go. Let Axel take me home.'

'Don’t be like that,' he insisted. 'You’ve always complained I never introduce you to my circle. Tonight’s the perfect chance.'

Once, his invitation would have sent me over the moon. But now, after seeing what lies beneath his charming facade, it only chilled me to the bone.

'Enoch, I really need to rest,' I pleaded.

His expression hardened, and before I could protest further, he pushed me into the car.

Axel began to object, but a single glare from Enoch silenced him.

He handed over the keys and flagged a taxi for himself. The car halted before a grand mansion nestled on the hillside.

Enoch yanked me out and steered me towards the garden.

The moment he spotted Charlotte, he released my hand as if it burned him.

'Enoch! Finally, you’re here! And this must be Sage. You’re even prettier than I imagined!' Charlotte greeted me with a saccharine smile that made my skin crawl.

'Charlotte, you've been away, so you might not know. Sage isn’t just pretty—she’s the type who looks stunning in anything she wears,' Hector chimed in, Enoch’s confidant and Charlotte’s admirer.

Back when things were new between Enoch and me, Hector had subtly hinted that Enoch was only with me to fill the void Charlotte left.

I had dismissed it then, but now, the truth stung.

His words drew everyone’s attention to me, their gazes piercing and unapologetic.

I looked to Enoch, desperate for support. His indifferent glance crushed me as Charlotte pulled him away, presenting him with a gift.

'Welcome back, Charlotte,' he murmured. 'Oh, Enoch, I adore you! I feared Sage might stop you from getting me anything, but you chose perfectly!'

Charlotte unwrapped the box to reveal a swimsuit set.

She threw her arms around Enoch, planting a deep kiss on his lips.

He held her tight, lost in the moment, while I stood frozen, a pitiful spectator.

Humiliated, I turned to leave, but Hector blocked my path, his eyes roaming over me.

'Don’t rush off! Enoch might be ignoring you, but we’re not. How about a kiss?'

'Back off!' I snapped.

Enoch’s cold voice cut through the tension. 'Hector, don’t mess with Sage. If she leaves, you’ll answer to me.'

Charlotte sauntered over, her voice a venomous whisper in my ear.

'Sage, you’re nothing but a pawn in Enoch’s game. He used you to hurt me. Now, you’re riding on my coattails but still have the audacity to slight me? Do you know why your trip was cut short? Because I told Enoch to bring you back early—and make sure you attended this party. Enjoy.'

With a sly grin, she grabbed my hand and shoved me.

Screams erupted as Charlotte tumbled into the pool with a splash.

Enoch bolted to her rescue, diving in without hesitation.

Drenched and trembling, Charlotte clung to him, her eyes wide with feigned terror.

'Sage, I’m sorry! I didn’t realize you’d still be upset about the swimsuit. I’ll never wear it again!'

Enoch’s palm struck my cheek with brutal force. 'Sage Woods, you know Charlotte can’t swim! Insulting her is one thing, but laying hands on her? Unforgivable.'

'Enoch, don’t waste your breath on her. Let her experience what it feels like to drown,' someone jeered.

'Exactly. She keeps tormenting Charlotte, knowing she’s your true love. She doesn’t care about you at all,' another added.

Their words turned Enoch’s gaze glacial, his eyes like daggers. The mention of drowning triggered a flashback to my darkest memory.

Panic seized me as I begged and wept.

'No, Enoch! Charlotte fell in on her own! I didn’t touch her, I swear!' Hector and the others closed in, grabbing me and dragging me toward the pool.