She didn't even bother changing out of her nightgown before storming over and slapping me across the face.
“Rachel Dickerson! You lied to me! Logan wouldn't even touch me last night!”
“Even……even in a sexy nightgown, he couldn't be bothered to look at me!”
My adoptive parents clapped their hands over their five-year-old son's ears and snapped：
“Joy! Your brother is right here! What kind of nonsense are you spouting?”
Joy had to be shaken to her core to come apart like this.
But since his condition still hadn't been exposed, I offered an excuse：
“Yesterday's wedding was exhausting. Logan was probably just tired.”
Joy slammed the table and shot back：
“Don't give me that! You told me yourself—the night of the premarital compatibility test, he was all over you!”
Her eyes raked over me with open disgust.
“Look at you. No figure, no face—you're a nobody. How could Logan want you and not me?”
An idea clicked into place, and I answered quickly：
“I think I know why. Were you too forward with him?”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“After that night, I figured out that Logan likes being in control. He doesn't like it when the woman takes the lead.”
Joy's expression softened immediately. She grabbed my hand and sat down beside me.
“There's my sweet sister. Now tell me everything that happened between you two that night.”
She grilled me for a full hour before she was willing to leave.
On her way out, she told my adoptive parents to keep a close eye on me.
Clearly, until she managed to get Logan into bed, she wasn't going to let me out of her sight.
From that point on, the Allens kept me under house arrest.
One day, passing by my adoptive parents' bedroom, I overheard them discussing plans to marry me off to Earl Matthews.
I stood frozen outside the door, shaking from head to toe.
I'd been given a second chance at life, and they were still determined to hand me over to that monster.
I decided to take a gamble and sent Dana a message.
It sank like a stone. I wasn't even sure the person on the other end was really him.
Two days later, Joy came home with a coy flush on her cheeks.
“Logan and I finally did it. It's just that……”
Relief loosened something in my chest, but the question followed immediately—Logan couldn't perform, so how had he pulled it off?
“He insisted on turning off every single light before he'd get close to me.”
“And the whole experience felt” uncomfortable.
I had a sinking suspicion—Logan must have relied on something other than himself.
“Everyone has their quirks. You should try to be more understanding of Logan.”
Suspicion flickered in her eyes.
“I was going to suggest something different, but then I remembered what you said about him not liking it when the woman takes charge.”
Watching her tiptoe around a man who couldn't even perform, all I felt was the urge to laugh.
Just then, my adoptive parents' phone rang.
After the call, their displeased gazes landed on me.
“Dana Stephens has been making big moves lately. He acquired several jewelry companies and is throwing a celebration banquet. The Allen family is invited.”
“And before CEO Stephens hung up, he specifically insisted that Rachel Dickerson be there.”
My heart leapt. Dana had seen my message, and this was his answer.
A second later, Joy slapped me again.
“You slut! Did you tell Dana Stephens you slept with him? Is that why he's looking out for you?”
“You're bringing shame on this entire family!”
“I'm calling him right now and telling him exactly what kind of woman you are! You didn't just sleep with him—you were messing around with my husband too!”
I pressed my hand to my stinging cheek and kept my voice steady：
“Calm down, Joy. If I'd told Dana about the premarital compatibility test, he'd be humiliated—furious. He'd never invite us anywhere.”
“But if you call him now and lay it all out yourself? You hand him a reason to cut the Allen family off for good.”
