Chapter 2
Footsteps echoed through the hallway.
Tiana tensed at the sudden sound.
She looked up and saw the woman, still as elegant and commanding as ever.
Was it her… who drugged her?
Tiana tried to run, but she suddenly fell to the ground.
The woman walked forward with graceful steps and slowly closed the distance.
The polished high heels flashed bits of light, reflecting her tear-streaked face.
Tiana's eyes reddened, tears threatening to fall, but she stubbornly held them back.
She looked so delicate, so helpless, like a cat abandoned by its owner.
"M-Ms. Sharp. Please, just let me go." Tiana stammered, her voice trembling.
But before she could finish, Kristen silenced her.
Kristen crouched down, her index finger softly brushing against Tiana's lips.
She whispered, "If you don't want to be ruined, keep your mouth shut."
Tiana blinked in a daze, stunned.
The next moment, Kristen took her hand and pulled her to her feet.
Everything went black as soft, warm arms enveloped her.
A cool, lingering fragrance filled the air, rich and delicate, just like an orchid blooming in the snow.
"Hold on tight. Don't let go." Tiana heard a melodic voice from above her.
Tiana felt her mind get swept up, overwhelmed by surging waves of yearning.
Without even a flicker of confusion, she instinctively clung to Kristen's waist.
Following Kristen's every step without a thought, Tiana let herself be gently led out.
A thick blanket wrapped around her, shielding her completely, like a fortress warding off the outside world.
From beyond her cocoon, she heard a man's unfamiliar voice, and instantly tensed.
"Ms. Sharp, have you seen Mr. Harmon's new secretary?" the man called out.
Kristen replied, "Yeah, I just saw her stumbling that way."
"Thanks," the man said.
As the footsteps receded and Tiana's tension eased, her body slipped downward.
Waves of feverish heat surged through Tiana's lower belly, relentless as crashing storms. She was losing control.
At that moment, a pair of slender but strong arms went around her waist, steadying her.
But then that arm tightened as if trying to snap her waist.
Pain brought a flicker of clarity to Tiana.
She realized she was being held by Kristen. She had no idea where the other woman intended to take her.
Panic surged, but it was already too late.
Kristen opened a car door and shoved Tiana inside.
Tiana weakly pounded on the car door. Her throat was hoarse, and no sound came out.
Suddenly, a blanket was thrown over her.
Then, Kristen handed her a bottle of water.
Tiana looked at the expressionless woman and obediently took the water.
"Drink it. The whole bottle," Kristen said sharply.
Tiana watched Kristen's red lips move, her mind slow and clumsy like a rusty machine, unable to catch up.
She hugged the bottle in a daze.
"Drink it. Now," Kristen snapped. She was clearly losing her patience.
Although Tiana wanted to comply, she didn't have the strength to open the cap.
Kristen seemed to notice and opened it for her.
The cold water slid down her throat and took away some of the heat. Tiana felt her mind clear a little.
*****
"I wondered why you didn't go home in your own car. So it was inconvenient, huh?" The woman in the driver's seat lifted her sunglasses and glanced back.
She continued, "Seriously, what's with Liam? When he's got a stunner like you, he still goes sneaking around behind your back."
I said, "Don't make adultery sound so poetic."
"Alright, alright, Princess Sharp. I was wrong," she teased, then handed me a pair of flats.
She said, "Quick, put them on. Those heels look painful."
Something warmed in my chest, and I slipped on the shoes.
The woman focused on the road. She was my only real friend, Lexie Foley.
In a world full of money and scheming, she was the only one I could truly trust.
When everyone else turned a blind eye to the real culprit, she was the only one who saw through it all and wasn't afraid to call them out.
Lexie said, "Is Liam out of his mind? Doesn't he know how to behave? He never had any scandals before. I thought he was reliable, but he's the same as most men. He can't control himself."
She snapped, "I'm so pissed! Why are those people just running their mouths in front of you? They should've dragged that bastard over and made him apologize to you!"
She added, "Kristen, seeing you so furious at the engagement party is making me scared of marriage."
Lexie took us to her private villa.
She saved up for months to secretly buy the place. No one knew about it.
When she wanted to avoid her family's nagging about marriage, she'd hide out here.
When the car pulled into the garage, she glanced at the weak, helpless Tiana and pursed her lips.
Lexie asked, "What's wrong with her?"
I replied, "Don't know who she crossed. Someone used such despicable revenge on her. And… at my engagement party, too."
Seeing that Tiana had already finished one bottle, I opened another for her.
She shook her head, crying so that her makeup ran. Her voice choked. "I really… can't drink anymore."
"You have to drink even if you can't," I said.
When she clung to the bottle and didn't move, I pinched her chin and forced the water down her throat.
The cold liquid choked her, and she coughed uncontrollably.
Water dribbled from her lips, soaking a messy trail down the front of her shirt.
Tiana's brow creased in pain, and her face looked miserable.
Watching her go through all that pain, I felt an inexplicable pleasure up from inside me.
I felt like something was controlling my emotions.
I hurried to let go and handed the task of forcing water to Lexie.
"Wait, me?" Lexie blinked.
She'd never seen anything like this before.
But she rolled up her sleeves, ready to do it.
Lexie said, "She needs to drink a lot of water to dilute the drug's effect."
Just trying to tough it out would be pure torture for Tiana.
Sure, I could've just dragged over some random guy to "solve her problem."
But as a woman too, even I thought that was just too revolting.
I had better ways to retaliate.
Lexie took over and forced another bottle down Tiana.
After another bottle, Tiana's stomach was so full it had become round and tight.
Lexie and I supported her arms and led her into the bathroom.
After expelling the toxins, Tiana's color improved.
Her cheeks were less flushed, and her skin's temperature dropped.
We wiped her down with a wet towel.
Perhaps from exhaustion, Tiana slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep.
After doing all this, I finally drove back.