Chapter 2

Rhys and Nolan Campbell left me with no way out.

As soon as Rhys and I got upstairs, that heavy dose of aphrodisiac kicked in.

Rhys was completely out of it, dazed and fumbling with his own clothes. I helped him onto the bed.

Then, acting all considerate, I said, "Rhys, you don't look so good. I'll go out and get you some medicine."

With that, I left without a backward glance.

After a short while, two men walked into Rhys's room. Not long after, muffled groans could be heard from inside.

More than two hours had passed before Liora, Rowan, and Nolan finally arrived with the rest of the group.

Liora's eyes were red with worry, her voice filled with panic as she said, "It's all my fault. I didn't pay attention to the pink diamond Mom bought for me at the auction. Sorry to trouble everyone with helping me look for it."

My mom said, "Liora, you're just too thoughtful. You're my daughter, and everyone here today is your aunts and uncles. We all love you.

"And we're all worried about you losing something. There's no way we'd ever think it's a bother."

The people around immediately chimed in, "That's right, Liora."

"We'd never think anything you need is a bother."

"Where did you last see the pink diamond?"

As Liora was about to answer, a sudden ruckus from a room near the stairs made everyone turn to look.

The sounds were so heated it made more than a few people blush.

Someone muttered, "Who the hell is in there? Seriously, have they no shame? Can't control themselves in someone else's house?"

Liora looked scared, her eyes wide and innocent, hand covering her mouth as she said, "That sounds like Willa's room. But didn't Rhys just leave because something came up? So who's the man in there..."

Liora's words faltered, unfinished and hesitant.

But everyone in the room was seasoned enough to catch her drift.

My mom, who'd spent her whole life guarding her reputation, suddenly looked like a thundercloud.

"That shameless Willa! I always knew she never belonged in decent company," she snapped. "She caused a scandal at her own wedding three years ago, and now she's acting like this at Liora's birthday party? Absolutely shameless.

"Don't expect me to go easy on her. I'll make her a public disgrace and have Rhys dump her all over again today. A shameless woman like her doesn't deserve someone like Rhys, the golden boy of Hesperian!"

I felt a dull ache as I stood in the shadows, hearing my mom's words.

Mom... what a precious word.

All those years stuck out in the remote small town, enduring blows and mistreatment from my foster mother, I had only ever longed for a real mother who would stand up for me.

But three years ago, when I was humiliated so badly by others, she didn't bother to find out who was behind it or stand up for me.

Instead, she and my dad cut me off immediately, like I was nothing to them.

She went around telling everyone I was some kind of sex addict, a shameless slut. She made sure everyone knew I was nothing but a disgrace.

Because she said that about me, it sent me straight to hell.

I lost my reputation.

I lost the teaching job I loved.

Now, with everything so messed up and obvious, she still jumped to blame me first. She was always the first to try to ruin me.

Everyone at the scene got riled up by my mom's words.

I saw Lisa, the queen of Hesperian gossip, whip out her phone and start a live stream. She was ready to broadcast a live scandal right then and there.

Nolan instinctively tried to stop her from starting the live stream.

But Liora reached out and gently held him back.

I stood in the shadows, a cold smile curling at my lips.

Since Liora was so eager to destroy me, I'd make her crash and burn first.

Just as Lisa started her live stream, my mom kicked the door open, with Liora's eyes full of anticipation. Then my mom stormed in, dragging everyone along with her.

But when the lights flicked on, everyone was stunned speechless by what they saw inside.

Then, no one knew who called out, "Mr. Fitzgerald?"

"How could it be you?"

"You're with men? Oh my god, two of them?"

"Wait, where's Willa?"

"Isn't this Willa's room?"

Amid all the gossip and whispers, Liora was the first to snap out of it. "Turn off the live stream. Hurry."

But it was already too late.

I'd paid to push the livestream to the top of the trending charts, and it was already blowing up.

Rhys's embarrassing moment was broadcast to hundreds of thousands of viewers.