Chapter 3
Sophia's birthday party was nothing short of extravagant.
The villa was ablaze with lights, guests filling every corner.
Lucas insisted I put on a maid's uniform.
The uniform was so tight that it dug into my stomach, making the pain almost unbearable.
He had me carry a tray, weaving through the crowd to serve drinks to the guests.
Ben was wearing a suit that didn't fit him at all, clutching a glass of red wine, his face flushed from too much drinking.
He was totally wasted, and when he saw me coming, he grabbed my arm.
Wine sloshed out, soaking my sleeve.
Ben shouted, "Hey, everyone, check this out. This is my sister. She's a maid here."
The guests all stopped and started pointing at me, whispering and gossiping.
Ben reached for the hem of my skirt, his intentions clear.
"Lily, you actually look pretty sexy in that outfit. How did I never notice before?" he slurred, his eyes roaming over me.
"Lucas doesn't want you anymore, so why not go with my buddies instead?" he added, grinning like an idiot.
I struggled desperately, trying to shake his hand off. "Let go of me! Ben, are you out of your mind?"
Lucas was standing nearby, holding a glass of champagne, watching the whole scene with a cold, mocking smirk on his lips.
He didn't step in. Instead, he turned away and gave a few sharp claps to get everyone's attention.
The whole room fell silent.
Lucas announced, "As we're celebrating Sophie's birthday today, I have an announcement to make."
He gazed lovingly at Sophia. "I'm going to make it up to her with a grand engagement party."
The crowd erupted into applause and cheers.
Sophia's eyes shimmered with tears as she flung herself into Lucas' arms.
I stood there, frozen, feeling like my blood had turned to ice.
Just then, Sophia glanced over at me, her smile dripping with fake kindness.
"Lily, since we're about to get engaged, I'll let the past slide," she said.
She pointed at a bottle of vodka on the table.
"Just drink this whole bottle and make it up to me, and I'll let the whole necklace thing slide," Sophia said.
Jackson had warned me over and over that not even a drop of alcohol could touch my stomach, or it'd wreck me for good.
If I drank any, it'd be the end for me.
I shook my head, backing away. "I can't drink. I just can't."
Lisa suddenly lunged at me and slapped me hard across the face.
"You don't know how to appreciate kindness. The lady of the house is offering you a drink. Consider yourself lucky," Lisa barked.
"Drink it! Down it right now," she demanded, her eyes blazing.
I held my stinging cheek, looking desperately at Lucas.
I just wanted him to say something, even just one word.
But he only watched me with that cold, mocking smile.
"Since Sophia's being so forgiving, just drink it," Lucas said, his voice icy.
"Don't kill the vibe for everyone," he added.
I closed my eyes in despair. "Lucas, I'll die if I drink this."
Lucas let out a cold laugh and strode over, grabbing my chin in a tight grip.
"Stop acting pathetic. You're like a cockroach. Even a flood couldn't kill you," he sneered.
His grip was so strong that it hurt down to the bone.
He snatched up the vodka bottle and forced it straight into my mouth.
The burning liquid tore down my throat. It felt like I was swallowing knives.
Choking and gasping, I fought desperately to shove him off me.
But he pinned me down, not giving me a chance to break free.
Ben and Lisa stood off to the side, clapping and cheering like they were watching their favorite drama unfold.
Lucas forced most of the vodka down my throat, flooding my stomach with the burning liquid.
An agonizing, fiery pain erupted in my gut.
Lucas finally let go, tossing the empty bottle to the floor.
Gasping for air, I crumpled to the floor, hacking uncontrollably.
My stomach was in knots. That sickly taste of blood hit my throat, and before I knew it, I was coughing up a mouthful of blood.
The bright red splattered all over Sophia's spotless white dress. The sight was enough to make everyone stop and stare.
Sophia shrieked, "Ew! My dress! Gross!"
Lucas recoiled, his face scrunched up in disgust.
He stared at the blood on the floor, and all I saw in his eyes was pure disgust.
"Lily, how long are you going to keep up this pathetic act?" Lucas scoffed.
"You snuck a drink and then purposely spat it all over Sophia. You really are disgusting," he added, disgust written all over his face.
My vision started to blur, and the voices around me faded into the distance.
I collapsed onto the floor, blood kept frothing from my mouth.
I wanted to explain that it was not wine but blood.
No matter how hard I tried, my voice just wouldn't come out.
Lucas sneered, "Get her out of here. Don't let her dirty up the floor with her blood."