Chapter 3

The rain was coming down in sheets.

I dragged my injured leg through the downpour, standing in line for a full three hours.

By the time I finally got my hands on those lobster rolls, I was soaked to the bone, looking like a drowned rat.

My knees and calves were so numb from the pain that I could barely feel them anymore.

When I finally dragged myself back to the Midnight Lounge suite and pushed open the door...

The laughter and chatter inside instantly died.

William was feeding Rose bite-sized steak, the two of them all cozy and lovey-dovey, showing off like some picture-perfect couple.

Seeing me standing there, looking like a drowned rat, William's brows knotted up in pure disgust.

"What took you so long? Rose isn't even hungry anymore!" he snapped.

My hands shook as I handed over the bag of lobster rolls, still warm from being hugged tight to my chest.

"Sorry, William... the rain was pouring, and the roads were a nightmare..."

"I'm not eating that!"

She let out a sudden shriek and slapped the bag right out of my hands, sending it crashing to the floor.

The lobster rolls scattered everywhere, and splashed across the back of my hand, raising a bunch of painful red welts.

"Ugh, that's so greasy! Just looking at it makes me want to gag! Nina, are you trying to make me gain weight so William will lose interest in me?"

Rose clutched her chest, looking like she'd just been utterly wronged.

I stood frozen, staring at the pile of buns I'd dragged myself through the rain to get, my heart turning colder with every second.

William jumped up and shoved me aside.

"Nina! What were you thinking? Don't you know Rose has a weak stomach? Why would you bring her this kind of garbage?" he snapped.

I stumbled back, slamming into the hard edge of the coffee table—pain exploded in my side.

"It was you... you told me to get them..." I choked out, my voice trembling.

I stared at him, utterly stunned, my voice shaking.

"You dare talk back?" William snapped.

He strode over and clamped his hand around my chin, his grip so tight it felt like he might crush my jaw.

"Nina, when did you become so disgusting? Not only do you mess up, but you don't even take responsibility—you just try to pass the blame."

"Apologize to Rose!" he demanded.

Here we go again, another apology.

In this relationship, I was always the one to blame.

No matter how much I was humiliated, walked all over, or misunderstood.

I bit back my tears, staring him down with stubborn defiance.

"I'm not wrong... William, I swear I'm not..." I said.

SLAP!

A sharp slap cracked right across my cheek.

My head snapped to the side, ears ringing, and the taste of blood hit my mouth.

The room went dead silent.

William seemed stunned by his own actions—his hand hung in the air, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes.

But in the next second, that panic vanished, replaced by cold indifference.

"This slap is to remind you of your place!

"Nina, just because you're my fiancée doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. In front of Rose, you're nothing!"

I held my numb cheek, slowly turning to face him.

I looked at the man who was my fiancé in name only.

An emptiness washed over me, swallowing my heart whole.

This was the guy the woman I replaced had loved all her life.

This was the mission target I had to make fall for me.

Absolutely revolting.

'William, with that slap, you just shattered the last bit of anything between us.

'Go ahead and rot. I'll make sure you pay for that slap for the rest of your miserable life!' I cursed in my head.

I bowed my head, hiding the hatred in my eyes, my voice barely more than a whisper.

"I'm sorry... Ms. Sutton, I didn't think it through," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Rose smirked triumphantly, snuggling up to William like she was the winner of some twisted game.

"It's okay, Nina, I know you didn't mean it. William, don't be mad at her, okay? Did your hand hurt when you hit her?"

William took Rose's hand and gently blew on it.

"It doesn't hurt. As long as you're not upset, that's all that matters," he said softly.

Watching them, my eyes stung with pain.

Just then, the door to the suite swung open again.

Victor's assistant wheeled him in.

His wheelchair rolled right over the lobster rolls on the floor, making a sticky, squelching sound.

Victor swept his cold, expressionless gaze across the room, finally locking eyes with William.

"William, is this what the Grant family calls manners? Hitting women?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unspoken pressure that made the air feel heavy.

William's expression shifted, and he instinctively released Rose.

"Uncle Victor, it's Nina. She's just being unreasonable, picking on Rose..." William stammered, trying to explain himself.

"Shut up."

Victor snapped coldly, his tone frosty and final.

Victor rolled his wheelchair right up to me.

He took out a spotless white handkerchief from inside his jacket and held it out.

"Wipe."

I was caught off guard.

And it wasn't just me. Everyone else in the room was stunned too.

Victor Lane, the infamous, cold-blooded guy who never even looked at women, was actually handing a handkerchief to a doormat like me?

I was so stunned I almost forgot to breathe as I took it, my fingers accidentally brushing against his cold ones.

In that split second, I caught something—his voice, clear as day, right in my ear.

Not just in my head. He actually spoke, his deep voice so low only I could hear it.

"Hang in there. The real drama's just getting started."