I raised my hand to block her, and the back of my hand grazed her wrist.
"Ah!"
Audrey cried out as the glass shattered across the floor.
She clutched her wrist, eyes glistening, and looked at Anthony. "Anthony, I just wanted to say hello to Layla. She still blames me for taking you away."
The room went silent.
Anthony strode over, checked Audrey's wrist, then turned to me. "Layla, are you looking to die?"
The injustice—the bone-deep cold—made my whole body shake. "I didn't push her. She spilled it on herself."
"Why would Audrey spill red wine on herself?" He sneered. "Apologize to her."
No trust in his eyes. Only disgust.
Audrey tugged his sleeve, her voice soft. "Anthony, forget it. Layla didn't mean to. So many people are watching…"
His gaze on me turned colder. "Don't make me say it twice."
Whatever backbone I once had—whatever self-respect—had long since crumbled to dust in front of this man.
I bent toward Audrey. "I'm sorry, Ms. Swanson. I wasn't careful."
Anthony wasn't satisfied that I gave in so quickly.
He pointed at the row of liquor on the table. "Since it was 'not careful,' drink these to make up for it. Finish them, and we'll let this go."
Five or six bottles of hard liquor.
I looked up at him. "Mr. Vance, I have a serious stomach condition. If I drink that, I'll have internal bleeding."
"That's your problem."
He wrapped his arm around Audrey and walked away without looking back.
Everyone watched.
With trembling hands, I picked up the first glass.
The liquid slid down my throat, and burning pain flared through my stomach.
One glass. Two. Three…
By the fifth, my stomach spasmed.
I covered my mouth and rushed to the restroom.
I threw up until the world spun. By the end, it was nothing but bright red blood.
I wiped the blood from my mouth and stared at the ghost in the mirror.
Outside, men's laughter drifted in. "Seeing her so pathetic, begging like that—damn, that felt good."
I stayed in the stall for a long time, until my phone buzzed nonstop.
The hospital.
"Miss Sullivan, your brother developed sudden complications and needs emergency surgery. Please pay $50,000 immediately, or the procedure can't proceed."
Fifty thousand.
To the old me, that was just the price of a handbag.
To the current me, it was a life.
I rushed out. Anthony was at the jewelry counter, helping Audrey pick out a diamond ring.
I ran over and grabbed his sleeve. "Mr. Vance, please—give me $50,000. Right now. My brother is being resuscitated!"
Anthony frowned and shook off my hand. "What are you doing, making a scene in a place like this?"
Audrey covered her mouth and laughed. "Layla, even if you're begging for money, pick the right moment. Anthony's choosing my engagement ring."
"Anthony, that's a human life! That's William! He used to call you brother!"
Anthony's hand paused.
Then his eyes turned even darker. "He's a Sullivan. What does that have to do with me? It'd be better if everyone in that family died off."
He turned back to the rings. "The contract says payment per session. You made me very unhappy tonight. This one—no money."
"What do I have to do? I'll do anything."
Anthony turned, his gaze dropping to my knees. "I want you to kneel down and tie my shoelaces."
