The noise around me felt like blades slicing through my skin.
“I didn’t take anything,” I pleaded, gripping the golden locket so tightly my fingers went numb. “I only picked it up to check it. It’s mine—it was my grandmother’s. I planned to buy it. I swear.”
My explanation vanished beneath mocking laughter.
“She’s lost her mind,” someone jeered.
“Look at her—acting like she belongs,” another voice scoffed.
The crowd closed in, eyes full of contempt. Heat flooded my face as whispers became accusations. Then someone gestured toward the jewelry I was wearing.
“Those stones aren’t even real!”
A woman seized my wrist and tore off the bracelet Dorian once bought for me. “Cheap copy,” she said, tossing it away as if it were trash.
Then something hit my shoulder.
A roll of bread.
Next came wine splashing down my dress. Then plates, napkins, scraps—whatever they could throw. The crowd rained humiliation on me until I felt smaller than dust.
Through it all, I searched desperately for Dorian. I scanned every face, praying I’d see him stepping forward, defending me, stopping the madness.
He never did.
He stood there like I was a stranger.
That was the part that broke me.
They forced me out of the building, shoving and striking until I collapsed on the pavement outside. My gown was ruined, my body aching, and my heart… beyond repair.
No one followed. No one helped.
As I lay there, another memory cut through me—years ago, when a vendor falsely accused me of stealing bread at a market. Back then, Dorian had shielded me with his own body, shouting for everyone to back off, proving my innocence.
But tonight he had turned away.
We no longer belonged to the same world.
I staggered to my feet and limped through the streets until I saw the faint glow of a pawnshop sign. My hands trembled as I removed the necklace, the rings, every piece of jewelry he had ever given me.
“Please,” I told the clerk softly. “Tell me the truth. Are these genuine?”
He studied them carefully, then slid them back toward me. “They’re replicas. None of it has value.”
My legs nearly gave out.
That was when everything finally collapsed. His love, his vows, the symbols I treasured—they were all lies.
I left with nothing in my hands and nothing in my heart.
From there, I went straight to the police station. “I want to file a complaint about what happened tonight,” I said, forcing calm into my voice. But even as I spoke, I knew it wouldn’t change anything. Their world didn’t answer to people like me.
Later that night, I was barely lying down when the door burst open.
Dorian charged in, rage blazing across his face. Before I could react, he slapped me so hard I fell back onto the bed.
“Have you lost your mind?” he shouted. “You think you can accuse those people after trying to steal from them?”
“I didn’t steal anything!” I cried. “That locket was my grandmother’s—”
“Enough!” he snapped. “You don’t stand a chance in court. You don’t have the money or the power. Drop it now before you disgrace me again. You’re nothing but dead weight. I should have left you rotting in that slum apartment.”
Tears spilled freely now. For an instant, something wavered in his eyes—but it vanished just as quickly.
Then Vivienne appeared in the doorway.
“Dorian,” she said calmly. “Don’t be so cruel. She’s clearly humiliated.”
She approached me with a smile that never touched her eyes. “Cancel the report, Camille. I’ll pay for the locket. You can have it back.”
Dorian scoffed. “Stop encouraging her. She’ll start thinking she deserves things.”
He turned back to me. “Embarrass me again and there won’t be a wedding.” Then he left.
I didn’t move until Vivienne bent down and yanked my hair, forcing my head up.
“Disappear before the ceremony,” she whispered. “If you bring shame to this family again, you’ll regret it.”
She shoved me to the floor and walked away.
Hours later, my phone vibrated in the darkness.
With blurred vision, I picked it up—hoping it was my friend.
It wasn’t.
A man’s unfamiliar voice came through. “Miss Camille, this is Landon. Dorian’s biggest competitor. How would you feel about becoming my wife instead?”
