Chapter 3
Charles froze.
He pressed his burning cheek, staring at me in utter disbelief.
For ten years, I'd always been gentle and obedient around him, never once going against his decisions.
He was convinced my anger was nothing more than another bout of girlish drama.
He grabbed my arm roughly, forcing me toward the door.
"I've spoiled you for too long," he said.
"You've forgotten your place!
"Today, I'll remind you, without the Summers family, you're nothing!"
I stumbled helplessly as he hauled me out, almost falling over with each step.
"Charles, what the hell are you trying to do?" I yelled.
Charles spat, "You'll see how Lily felt. You messed up, and now it's time to pay the price!"
His smile was cold and merciless as he ripped at my collar.
He utterly ignored my resistance and pleas for help.
The black Rolls-Royce tore through the streets of Harbor City, finally screeching to a stop outside an exclusive club.
He dragged me straight up to a luxury suite on the top floor.
Inside sat a handful of bloated businessmen, each one a major client of the Summers Group.
When they saw me, my clothes mussed and out of place, their eyes gleamed with greed.
"Charles, who's the girl?" one of the men called out.
Charles pushed me forward, that cold, detached smirk never leaving his face.
"She's mine," Charles said, his voice like ice. "Got too full of herself and pissed me off.
"Tonight, she's here to entertain you all as my apology.
"Have fun, anything goes."
The men exchanged glances, each grinning as if they'd struck gold.
One of them, a bloated businessman, wiped his greasy hands and swaggered straight toward me.
"I've always heard the famous Natalie Summers was breathtaking, but seeing you now, it's really true," he said.
His grubby fingers reached for my cheek, trying to touch me.
I instantly recoiled, dodging away from his hand.
The big man's face instantly turned sour.
"You think you're too good for this, huh?" he sneered.
Charles leaned back on the leather sofa, eyes cold and indifferent, not even bothering to intervene.
Charles said, "Mr. Zane, no need to hold back.
"She needs to learn her lesson!"
With Charles's silent approval, the fat man started acting even more shamelessly.
He suddenly grabbed my arm, trying to yank me closer into his greasy embrace.
I fought with every ounce of strength, struggling to get free.
"Get off me!" I screamed.
The fat man's face twisted with anger as he lifted his hand to slap me across the face.
Just as things were about to hit rock bottom, the suite door flew open.
Lily burst in, her eyes rimmed with tears.
"Charles, what the hell are you doing?" Lily cried.
"Natalie, why are you here?" Lily asked.
She rushed over to Charles, grabbing his sleeve with pleading, innocent eyes.
Lily begged, "Charles, please don't treat Natalie like this. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have upset you.
"Please, just let her go. I'll take whatever punishment you want; just don't hurt her."
The men started to hesitate.
"Charles, maybe..." one of them stammered uncertainly.
"Wait, we don't want any part in a mess between you and your wife," someone blurted.
At last, those greasy hands finally let go of me.
I slumped onto the icy floor, trembling all over and barely able to hold myself together.
Charles crouched down, grabbing my chin with a rough, merciless grip.
"Down on your knees, Natalie, and apologize to Lily. Don't make me say it twice; this is your final warning," Charles barked.
I spat out the metallic taste of blood, throwing him a cold, mocking smile.
"Charles, I must've been blind. I actually saved an ungrateful snake like you!" I said.
Charles's eyes flashed with a cold, dangerous glint, his grip tightening even more.
"Since you're too stupid to appreciate kindness, let's see how you handle this," he sneered.
He whipped out his phone and snapped photos of me in my most humiliating state.
"I'm going to show you exactly what it costs to betray me," he said.
Under the weight of everyone's stunned and uneasy stares, Charles grabbed the crying Lily and strode out, never sparing a backward glance.