Chapter 2
I didn't resist. I just gave Philip a cold glance. His face was full of complicated emotions, and Monica, who looked all smug.
Just as I was being dragged out of the party hall, I heard Monica's voice, thick with tears.
"Sorry, everyone. Sorry you all had to witness this mess.
"I'm just so upset. I never thought she'd fall so far.
"I treated her like my best friend, and she tried to seduce my husband," Monica said.
The two security guards roughly shoved me out through the hotel doors.
My parents rushed after me. My mom hugged me, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Briana, what on earth happened? How could Monica do this to you?" my mom cried.
"Let's go. We're leaving this hellhole," my dad said, his voice trembling as he took off his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders.
Just then, my phone started blowing up with notifications.
It was a flood of texts from unknown numbers.
I opened one, and my heart skipped a beat.
[Ms. Lane, right? Spotted you at the wedding. You're wild. Name your price. Want to have some fun tonight?]
[Your photos look even better than you in person. Bet you're amazing in bed. How much for the whole night?]
[Heard you can do it all? 6,000 for the night, I'll make you beg for mercy.]
Someone spread my phone number and all the rumors from the wedding everywhere.
Right after, an unknown number called me.
My mom snatched the phone and answered, yelling, "Who are you? Leave my daughter alone."
A sleazy laugh came from the other end. "Ma'am, take it easy. Your daughter has her own business, right? It was announced at the wedding. Why wouldn't we guests want to show our support?"
"You animals. Get lost," my mom yelled, her lips trembling with anger as she slammed the phone down.
But barely a second later, her phone rang again, another unknown number.
People passing by gave us strange looks.
When we got home, the tension was so thick it felt suffocating.
My mom sat on the couch, unable to stop crying, while my dad just kept chain-smoking.
I sent Monica a message: [Why?]
It took her a long time to reply.
She replied: [Briana, I'm sorry. I swear I didn't mean for any of this to happen today. I saw Philip couldn't take his eyes off you, and I got so scared. I was terrified you'd steal him from me.
[I really love him, and you know how much my family had to sacrifice so I could marry him.
[You're so beautiful and talented, and it just makes me feel so insecure. I just wasn't thinking straight and blurted out all that nonsense. Please don't let it get to you, okay?
[We're still friends, aren't we?]
I shut off my phone. I couldn't stand to read another one of those sick messages.
I got up to pour myself a glass of water, but when I turned around, my mom was giving me a hard, searching look.
Mom asked, "Briana, just tell me the truth. What are you really doing for a living in the city?"
Her words felt like a knife twisting in my chest.
Even my own mom believed those outsiders instead of me.
"Mom, I'm a lawyer. I handle civil cases," I replied, keeping my voice steady.
"A lawyer?" Dad crushed out his cigarette, eyeing me suspiciously. "Then why would Monica say all that about you? People don't just make up stuff for no reason. Are you hiding something from us?"
Right then, I felt frozen to the core.
"If I told you I didn't do anything, that Monica made it all up because she was jealous, would you even believe me?" I asked.
My parents exchanged glances, their silence heavy and telling.