Chapter 3
The second I stepped outside the Majestic Hotel, control of my body snapped back to me.
A wave of dizziness hit, and I stumbled, grabbing hold of the statue at the entrance to steady myself.
The night wind stung my face, cold and sharp.
What had just happened?
The chaotic scenes from the ballroom flashed through my mind like a movie reel: slapping Ryan's face, yanking his tie, whispering to Chloe, smashing the glass, and shouting that bold declaration.
What was this crazy woman really up to?
This wasn't a prank anymore. This was a declaration of war against the entire Grant family.
I patted my pocket. My phone was still there.
I unlocked it, and to my surprise, the password worked this time.
It was my birthday.
She'd changed it back?
I opened WhatsApp and saw a message she'd sent to Chloe from my account.
It read: [So, how did your first time feel?]
My mind went completely blank.
In an instant, I understood why Chloe had looked as if she'd seen a ghost.
This woman knew every detail of my past with Chloe.
Back when Chloe and I were together, she had been just an ordinary girl from a middle-class family, nothing like the polished, high-society fiancée she was now.
No third person could have known about our private history.
Who on earth was she?
An overwhelming, suffocating fear coiled around my heart like ivy.
This mysterious woman did not just seize control of my body; she seemed to know every secret I'd ever kept.
Before I could process the terror, a black Bentley glided to a silent stop in front of me.
The window rolled down, revealing a face marked by deference and quiet worry. "Mr. Grant."
It was Vincent Quinn, the long-time steward of the Grant family and the only person who still addressed me with that title after I'd been cast out."
"Vincent, what are you doing here?" I asked, caught off guard.
"Mr. Richard Grant was concerned, so he sent me to check on you," Vincent sighed, opening the car door.
"Get in, Mr. Grant. This isn't a safe place to talk."
Warm air inside the car eased the tightness in my nerves as I settled into the leather seat.
"Mr. Grant... what you did back at the banquet..." Vincent trailed off, his gaze complicated.
"I..." I had no idea how to explain the truth.
How could I tell him I'd been possessed by some unknown woman?
"You were right to do it!" Vincent suddenly exclaimed, slapping his knee in excitement.
I froze, utterly confused. "Right?"
"Absolutely right!" Vincent's eyes lit up. "That woman and her son have gone too far. You should have put them in their place long ago. What you did back there was incredibly satisfying."
Satisfying? I was terrified out of my mind.
A wry laugh escaped me. Everyone clearly believed the wild act had been my own doing.
Perhaps that was for the best.
At least for now, no one would write me off as a lunatic.
"Vincent, I need you to look into someone for me." I pulled out my phone and pulled up the photo of the unknown woman.
"I want every detail about her. No information left out."
Vincent took the phone, studied the image, and frowned deeply. "This woman looks familiar. I swear I've seen her somewhere."
He saved the photo and nodded firmly. "Rest assured, Mr. Grant. I'll have answers for you within three days."
The car eased into the city's traffic, blending in with the flow of vehicles.
I leaned back against the seat, watching neon lights blur past the window, my chest still heavy with unease.
That woman was a ticking time bomb.
I had no idea when she would strike next, or what more reckless chaos she would unleash.
I had to find her before she destroyed my life completely.