Chapter 2
As more than ten people barged into the room, my hand shook, and my phone slipped from my grasp to the floor. I quickly wrapped my arms around myself defensively.
"Come on, Adaline, no need to be so bashful…" one of the men sauntered over to me, the overpowering scent of whiskey turning my stomach.
He spotted the Victorian-style dress draped over my bed and lifted it with a sneer. "Albert sent us to liven things up on your wedding night..."
"I’m warning you! Get out of here... There are cameras in this room!" I tried to maintain my composure.
Instead of retreating, the man leading the charge seemed even more interested. He plopped down next to me, leering.
"Why so tense? Your husband’s off with another woman on your wedding night."
"Yeah... and after those racy photos, why the innocent act?"
"Innocent? If you were so pure, would your husband really auction off your wedding night? Bet there's a wild side you're hiding..."
"That’s not true!"
Tears started to flow uncontrollably, streaming like a broken necklace of pearls. Those photos, taken by Lakelynn as a favor, were only ever meant for Albert.
The man appeared to lose interest in taunting me just as laughter echoed from the doorway.
"Well now, I couldn't possibly miss Albert’s big day, could I?"
It was Esme Montgomery’s voice. She strolled in, her eyebrow raised at the circle of men surrounding me. I immediately noticed a suspicious mark on her collarbone, resembling a kiss. Catching her eye, her smug expression sent my thoughts swirling. Could it be...
"Sorry, Adaline, I’m late. My little pup just wouldn’t let me go." She flicked her hair back, revealing Albert’s wedding ring on her finger.
Esme pulled out two glasses of wine, offering one to me. "I couldn’t make it to your ceremony, so how about a toast to make up for it?"
The men burst into laughter. "Albert’s one of a kind, huh? Esme still has the nerve to flaunt it in front of Adaline?"
"You don’t get it. The West family’s about to go public. The Bennetts will be old news, tossed aside!"
I kept inching backward, recalling the wine Albert had. God knows what Esme might have added to it.
"Get it away! I’m not drinking that!" I raised my voice, only to be mocked further.
"Adaline, are you disrespecting me?" Esme grabbed my wrist, pulling me toward her.
She whispered in my ear, "Sorry, Albert already celebrated his wedding night early. As for yours... Think I’d drug you? Adaline, the drug was in that wedding toast you had with Albert ages ago."
Boom... my mind went blank. The wedding scene replayed vividly in my mind.
"Adaline, let's toast," Albert had said then, his eyes filled with a warmth I couldn’t resist.
Suppressing the blush on my face, I had downed the drink in one go. So that was when he had drugged me?
"Adaline?" I heard Albert’s familiar voice, entering with a gentle smile.
Today, his shirt was buttoned, but the faint marks on his skin revealed his escapades. I bit my lip, my nails digging into my palm, causing sharp pangs of pain.
He sat beside me, gently taking my hand from my lap. "What are you doing? These are all my friends. Don’t you trust us?"
Suddenly, my vision began blurring, and a wave of heat surged through me, making my entire body feel feverish.
"Whoa... Albert, is the drug kicking in?"