Megan had a delicate, fragile-looking face, framed by soft curls that cascaded down her bare shoulders. She wore a deep V-neck red gown that clung to her curves, revealing a generous expanse of smooth, milky-white skin and drawing the eyes of every man around her.
But Lucien's gaze wasn't on her. The moment he spotted me, his expression brightened. Without hesitation, he strode over and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close before leading me toward his business partners.
His familiar warmth once brought me comfort. Now, it only filled me with conflicting emotions. He introduced me with an air of pride, as if I were a prized possession he was eager to display. Megan was completely ignored—he didn't spare her a single glance.
Amidst the clinking glasses and polite laughter, my gaze unintentionally met hers. Megan smiled, her lips curving ever so slightly, but her eyes told another story. Pure malice gleamed beneath her deceptively gentle expression.
The banquet carried on, reaching its climax as various companies took turns presenting their business strategies. Lucien was well-prepared, leaning back in his chair with a confident smirk as he waited for his moment.
Then, just as he was about to step forward, Megan gasped in panic, her voice trembling.
"Lucien, the USB drive is gone!"
The shift in Lucien's demeanor was immediate. The easy confidence in his features vanished, replaced by an icy glare. His voice dropped, sharp with irritation.
"How careless can you be? You can't even handle something this simple?"
Megan shrank under his harsh tone, her shoulders trembling as if she had reached a breaking point. Then, as if making a monumental decision, she suddenly lifted her hand and pointed—at me.
"It was her! She touched my bag just now!"
A pitiful sob escaped her lips as she took a step closer, voice shaking with desperation.
"Quincy, please, I beg you, just give it back!" Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her distress perfectly crafted. "I know you don't like me, but that USB contains critical company documents. If you don't return it, you'll ruin everything for Lucien!"
A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. The weight of countless eyes settled on me.
My breath caught in my throat. I stared at Megan in utter disbelief.
"I didn't!" My voice was sharp, rising above the whispers. "Stop making things up!"
But Megan didn't give me a chance to defend myself. She lunged forward, reaching for me as if she intended to search me on the spot.
A jolt of panic shot through me. My only hope was Lucien. I turned to him, silently pleading for help, for any sign that he would believe me.
But his expression was unreadable, his brows furrowed in frustration. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, cold.
"Quincy, if you took it, just hand it over. It's almost our turn to present."
A chilling wave surged through me.
Lucien was running out of patience. Megan's frantic search yielded nothing, but instead of questioning her, he acted himself. His grip was rough as he reached for me and in his haste, he pulled too hard—too recklessly.
A sharp tearing sound echoed through the hall.
Gasps filled the air. My dress had ripped open, the fabric giving way with brutal finality.
I stiffened in horror, my hands flying up to clutch my chest. The world around me blurred as mortification burned through my entire being. My pulse roared in my ears.
Then, with a soft clatter, a USB drive tumbled from my clothing, rolling across the polished floor before coming to a stop in the middle of the room.
Silence.
The murmurs started slowly, hushed whispers carrying the weight of accusation and disbelief.
Lucien's gaze fell to the USB, his expression shifting—urgency giving way to something far worse. Disappointment. Disgust.
"Quincy, I never thought you were this kind of person," he said, his voice like a blade of ice, slicing through me without mercy.
