Half an hour later, the bridesmaids finally finished Eliza's makeup—a thick, exaggerated influencer-style look.
Her foundation was caked on like plaster, the false lashes were so huge they nearly stabbed her eyebrows, and the blush was so bright it looked almost comical.
But Eliza admired herself in the mirror, turning left and right with satisfaction.
"Perfect! Only this kind of glam suits my status today!"
Suddenly, noise erupted downstairs.
The groomsmen must have arrived.
I let out a shaky breath. Maybe... finally I could be saved.
The bridesmaids poked their heads out the window.
"Eliza! They're here!" one of them squealed.
Eliza shot me a venomous glare. Her eyes gleamed with something dark, and a chill crept up my spine. Sure enough, she smirked.
"Go stall my husband downstairs," she ordered. "And send the groomsmen up first. Let them play a little game."
The bridesmaids immediately understood, sauntering out with knowing grins.
My stomach dropped. What was she planning now?
Before long, lively male voices echoed through the hallway.
"Where's the bride? Bring the bride out!"
"Come on, our Mr. Peterson is already getting mobbed by pretty bridesmaids—shouldn't the bride come greet him?"
As the footsteps got closer, one bridesmaid stepped in front of them.
"You want Eliza to come out? Sure."
"But first, you have to pass our little challenge."
With that, she yanked me out of the room.
I didn't even have time to react before I was shoved into the hallway.
The moment the groomsmen saw me, their eyes lit up.
"Is she a bridesmaid too? She's pretty cute."
The bridesmaid pinched my arm hard—hidden behind a sweet smile.
"Relax. The game's easy."
"All you have to do is find eighty-eight red envelopes hidden on her. Once you find them all, we'll consider letting you in to get the bride."
"Remember—every one of them needs to be found."
"What, from her?" The men looked me up and down, their gazes making my skin crawl.
I snapped, my voice was cold, "I'm telling you—anyone who lays a finger on me will regret it."
The hallway fell silent for a beat. Then Eliza's voice floated out from inside the room, syrupy sweet. "Don't be scared! This is just part of the game!"
"If you can handle the pressure and still finish the challenge, it shows you truly have sincerity, right?"
The men exchanged glances—then grinned.
"Well, if it's part of the game, we can't disappoint, can we?"
"Sorry in advance, Miss. We won't hold back!"
Before I could react, countless hands were suddenly reaching toward me.
The cold shock of unfamiliar touches made my entire body stiffen.
I jerked away instinctively and bolted toward the door—but someone grabbed me from behind, yanking me back.
"Oh—she's running! Another part of the challenge, huh?"
"Makes it more exciting!"
Someone hooked my ankle, and I stumbled forward, crashing onto the sofa.
Laughter erupted around me as several bodies closed in, their weight pinning me down.
Panic surged through my chest—my breath coming in tight, painful bursts.
I clawed at my dress, refusing to let it be pulled away. "Let go of me—!"
But the bridesmaids only laughed harder in the corner, filming with their phones.
"Come on! The livelier the games, the luckier Eliza's wedding will be!"
"Don't hold back—she loves men!"
Very quickly, they started finding more and more red envelopes on me.
But calling it a "search" was a joke—they were openly taking advantage of me, hands creeping wherever they pleased.
I had no idea how many times I'd already been grabbed.
Shame and fear tangled together, suffocating me.
Humiliation surged up like a wave, and tears spilled before I could stop them. But they didn't care at all.
"What are you crying for? It's just part of the game!"
"Yeah, it's not like we're taking a piece of your flesh!"
The bridesmaid picked up the envelopes they'd taken off me, counted them, and sighed dramatically. "Only eighty-seven? That's all?"
Right after that, all of them turned their gaze toward my dress.
Those eyes were shameless, predatory—devoid of restraint.
I immediately pressed my legs together, my voice shaking.
"That's enough! What you're doing is illegal!"
Just then, the bedroom door opened.
Eliza, who had been hiding inside the whole time, leaned lazily against the frame.
Smiling, she said, "Keep searching."
"If you ruin my husband's chance to 'retrieve the bride,' he's going to be furious."
With her encouragement, they grew even more reckless. Hands shot forward, tugging viciously at my dress.
"You've been touched so many times already—what's one more?"
"Please, you were totally enjoying it earlier. Don't pretend now!"
I struggled with everything I had, but I couldn't break free.
The moment I felt my dress about to tear—the front door suddenly slammed open with a deafening bang.
Maverick rushed in like a madman, voice cracking as he shouted, "Stop! All of you, stop!"
"Don't you dare hurt my sister!"
