I arrived at Soleil just before sunset, the neon glow of the bar sign flickering above me like a warning.
I clutched my phone, heart pounding. I texted Dylan: ‘I’m here. Where are you?’
His reply came fast: ‘15th floor, room 1015.’
My stomach twisted. Something didn’t feel right. My gut screamed for me to turn back. But my heart, still foolish and stubborn, still felt hope. I stepped into the elevator, watching the numbers light up one by one. Fifteen felt like a hundred.
When I reached the floor, I found the room. My fingers trembled as I knocked. The door opened and then I was shoved inside.
“Hey—!” I gasped.
My eyes widened as I took in the room. Five men were inside the room. And a lot of them are distinguished persons. From CEO’s to film director. I knew them because I met them before but it seems that they don’t remember me.
I stepped back, panicked. Another shove. I turned and saw her. It’s Nora. And beside her was Emma, her mother.
Nora tilted her head and smiled sweetly. “Where are you going, Ivy?”
“Where’s Dylan?” I asked, voice shaking.
Nora shrugged, “In a meeting. It was me who wanted you here, I asked him to call you here.”
My chest tightened. “Why?”
“To get along, of course,” she said with a mocking smile. “But let’s be real. That won’t happen. You’re in the way. And when there’s something in my way... I remove it.”
“What are you talking about?” I snapped.
Her eyes glinted. “It’s easy, really. Tarnish your image, humiliate you just enough. Making Dylan believe that you are intimate with these gentlemen and then… He will leave you.”
“You psychopath… I’m leaving!”I turned to leave, but Nora blocked me.
“Oops, You’re staying,” she said coldly. “You need to make them happy.”
I stared at her and clenched my jaw. “You’re insane. Stop this. What if Dylan finds out?”
She laughed. “So what? As if he’ll believe you. He loves me, Ivy. Not you.”
My hands clenched. “But then you’re still just his mistress.”
The smile slid off her face. In a flash, her hand came down hard against my cheek. I stumbled back. A man grabbed my arm. I yanked it, but he held tight.
“She’s all yours,” Nora said to the group. “Originally, I wanted a few pictures. But now? Do what you want. Just send me the photos when you're done.”
“Nora! You fucking bitch!” I shouted.
She smiled and shut the door.
“No—no! Let me go!” I screamed, thrashing.
“You’re a fighter, eh?” one of them laughed. “But a fierce woman is really satisfying to break.”
Pain exploded in my stomach as a fist landed. My vision blurred. Then another hit to my cheek. I couldn’t move. They threw me on the bed. Hands gripped my legs, my arms so I won’t move. One of them was undoing his belt.
I kicked, clawed, begged. A man hovered over me and was about to kiss me…
“Stop, please, don’t—!”
Suddenly, the door slammed open and a dozen men in black stormed in.
“What the hell—who are you? Get out!”
Then I saw him. I saw Asher. He walked in calmly, too calm, a small smile playing on his lips. But behind his eyes was a storm. A glint passed on his eyes. I blinked once. Twice. Then everything went black.
When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. My body ached, every part of me felt bruised. I shifted, groaning. That’s when I saw him, Dylan. Sitting beside me. His face was blank, unreadable.
I reached for his hand. “Dylan—”
He slapped it away.
“You’re really cruel, Ivy,” he said sharply. “Your jealousy has no limits.”
I stared at him. “What are you talking about?”
“Nora told me everything,” he said, eyes burning. “How you tried to set up that whole assault.”
“What?” My voice cracked. What is he talking about?
“She told me she hired a man, to do your request on assaulting her.. And he admitted you didn’t pay him so he beat you up.”
“No, no, Dylan, listen to me—”
“You disgust me,” he cut in. “Also, you went to a room full of men? What were you trying to do? Humiliate me? That I let my wife become wanton? How could you, Ivy? I let you in my house and then this?”
“I didn’t do it! Nora and Emma trapped me there!”
“Tsk. You always lie, Ivy.” His voice was cold. He sighed and shook his head. “Why did I even marry someone like you? A lying, conniving bitch?”
I reached for him again. “Just listen—”
“I won’t hear anything you say! I thought you’re a nice woman that would help me!” he snapped. “After I speak with my father, we’re getting divorced.”
I froze. “Divorce?”
He stood. “I won’t press charges if you sign the papers later.”
Then the door burst open. Emma ran in crying, dramatic as ever.
“Oh, my poor daughter!” she wailed, dropping beside me. “Because of you, Nora can never marry. So many people saw her in such shame—”
“What shame?” I whispered. I didn’t do anything.
“She’ll never be able to raise her head because of you. You’re her sister-in-law but why are you so angry at my baby,” Emma sobbed louder, enough for the nurses outside to hear.
I looked at her, stunned. She and Nora was the one who set me up to be violated. And yet… she blamed me?
Outside, the whispers started.
“That’s her.”
“The one who faked being assaulted.”
“She’s always playing the victim.”
“She’s disgusting…”
I clutched my head, pressing my hands over my ears. ‘Stop. Please stop.’ No one believed me. No one listened. I was the villain. Again.
But If they all wanted Nora and Dylan to be together… Fine.
“Okay,” I said softly, voice flat. “I’ll sign the divorce papers.”
