Chapter 3

A sadistic smirk curled on Selena's lips, and her friends giggled in agreement, acting like this was some fun bachelorette party game.

My scalp tingled with raw terror. Selena was a total monster. Tristan had to be completely blind, and I was an absolute idiot.

But my strength was gone. I let them drag me out like dead weight, completely humiliated as they shoved me into the back of an SUV.

The hotel staff tried to intervene, but Selena just tossed a black Amex at them. "Bill all the damages to the Moore family. As in Vanessa Moore Enterprises."

The manager's expression instantly shifted. He respectfully took the card, not uttering a single word of complaint or threatening to call the cops.

Vanessa Moore Enterprises was named after me. I built that corporate empire from the ground up, only for this woman to use my own name to flex her borrowed power and trample all over me.

After that name drop, none of the bystanders dared to speak up, terrified of crossing a billionaire family.

I was completely at Selena's mercy as the SUV sped toward the busiest downtown plaza in the city.

Even before they pulled me out, I could see massive crowds gathering around the plaza.

"Enough, Selena. Stop," I choked out, fighting for every breath. "I really am Tristan's sister. You are going to regret this."

If she dragged me out there, I couldn't even fathom how I would ever live down the shame.

Selena yanked me out of the SUV and slapped me hard. "Scared already? We haven't even started.

"This is what you get for messing with me. My fiancé's sister is a billionaire CEO. Once I marry into that family tomorrow, she'll cover up whatever mess I make.

"But you? You're just a gutter rat. You'll rot in the mud for the rest of your miserable life."

She dragged me across the concrete pavement, scraping my skin and leaving fresh, bleeding cuts all over my face and body. The pain made me convulse, tears blurring my vision.

A crowd formed instantly. They stared at me shamelessly, whispering and pointing.

"Beating up a mistress? Man, there really is all kinds of trash out there. Look at her age, still playing the side piece."

"Hey, it's quick money, just high risk. Looks like she finally got what was coming to her."

Terrified, I squeezed my eyes shut, not daring to look at anyone. Suddenly, a heavy set, middle-aged woman pinned me to the ground.

She straddled me, raining down punches and slaps. "This is for seducing my future son-in-law! You think a pretty face is enough to marry rich? Look at yourself, you cheap whore. He would never actually want you!"

Her crushing weight dug into my ribs, making my internal organs scream in agony. I felt like I was going to suffocate.

I finally understood exactly where Selena got her psychotic, entitled streak. She learned it straight from her mother.

"Slash her face! How dare she try to steal Selena's man? Who does she think she is? Does she really think just anyone can be the new Mrs. Moore?"

"She's just after Tristan's money. Bitches like her only learn their lesson when you make them bleed."

A whole group of relatives stepped out from behind the heavy woman, glaring at me with enough hatred to burn right through my skin.

They shoved a pocket knife into Selena's hand, actively cheering her on. "Don't be scared. Your sister-in-law has your back no matter what happens. Don't forget, she practically runs this city."

Hearing that was the ultimate, sickening irony. Not a single soul in the crowd dared to step forward.

I genuinely thought I was going to die. There wasn't an inch of my body that didn't burn with pain.

Selena pinned my head down and dragged the blade across my cheek. The sharp, slicing pain jolted my brain into sudden clarity.

I had no idea how long this nightmare would last. I could only chant Tristan's name in my head, praying to God he would get here soon.

Selena had clearly planned this ambush. She must have seen Tristan's social media, threatened him, and then rallied her entire trashy family to destroy me.

A few sympathetic older women in the crowd stepped in. They threw a jacket over my exposed body and physically blocked Selena from doing more damage.

"Have a little mercy, young lady. You're going to ruin this girl's entire life."

"You already beat her up. Slashing her with a knife is a felony. Don't you think you've taken this far enough?"

Selena's mother couldn't handle the criticism and immediately snapped back. "If you can't stand to watch, maybe it's because someone in your family is a homewrecker too!

"Is it your daughter? Why else would you defend a whore? Trash raises trash, plain and simple."

I gasped desperately for air, the mother's screeching voice ringing in my ears.

Selena ignored the crowd entirely.

Her phone rang, and she answered it with an arrogant, triumphant sneer. "Tristan. Did you really think I wouldn't find her just because you hid her?

"Let me tell you right now, I'm not just beating her. I'm making sure no man ever wants to look at her again. A dirty little mistress doesn't get a happy ending."

Tristan was clearly stunned on the other end of the line. It took him a long moment to respond.

"Selena, what the hell are you doing?" he asked. "I will say it one more time. I do not have a mistress. We are getting married tomorrow. You better stop this crazy nonsense right now.

"If my sister finds out you're pulling something like this, we are completely over."

Furious at being scolded, Selena took all her anger out on me. She dug the blade brutally into my cheek before barking out her location to Tristan and hanging up.

My breathing was incredibly shallow now. I prayed Tristan would hurry. I really couldn't hold on much longer. These few hours of torture felt like an entire lifetime, draining every last drop of life from my shattered body.

Selena's mother fussed over her daughter, smoothing out her clothes and patting her back to calm her down.

"Don't be mad, sweetie," she said. "You are marrying a billionaire tomorrow. Who cares about his older sister? At the end of the day, all that corporate wealth is going straight to Tristan.

"You just need to grit your teeth, play nice, and suck up to the sister for now. Eventually, you'll be the one running the show."

"Exactly," another relative chimed in. "That's how these rich families work. No matter how high and mighty a female CEO is, she still has to marry someone eventually and leave the company.

"As long as you keep your man on a tight leash, you'll be swimming in luxury for the rest of your life."

They gossiped back and forth, not even trying to hide their greedy, parasitic plotting against my brother and me.

I forced my eyes wide open, burning every single one of their hideous, twisted faces into my memory.