"Relax, sweetheart. Just be a good girl and take care of me. Don't worry—I'm not a complicated guy. Never bother with protection, hahaha..."
In the depths of my despair, a deafening crash erupted from outside.
The metal shutter was forced open, and people stormed in.
"Let her go!"
It was the police from the nearby station.
The café owner had kicked out all his customers so he could assault me in peace. But someone had seen him slip something into my drink and called the cops the moment they left.
They rushed me to the hospital to have my stomach pumped, took my statement, and left me with a thick coat.
I borrowed a charger from the front desk. The next morning, I called the calligraphy studio and resigned.
After that, I went to the mall next door, grabbed a cheap set of casual clothes, and headed for the airport to fly home.
But the second I stepped out of the mall, several of Neil's bodyguards blocked my path.
"Miss Henson, Mr. Sanchez is hosting a banquet at the Imperial Monarch Hotel today to celebrate his two-year anniversary with Secretary Cobb."
"He's specifically requested that you come and perform for Miss Cobb. If you'll follow us, please."
I frowned.
"Get out of my way, or I'm calling the police."
The lead bodyguard, George Whitney, let out a contemptuous laugh.
"Go ahead. We'll file a report of our own."
"Mr. Sanchez says that dress you burned yesterday was worth a hundred grand. That's enough to land you behind bars for a good while."
I laughed in disbelief. So this was the trap they'd been setting.
"A hundred grand? I'll wire it to him right now."
George snatched the phone from my hand and smashed it on the ground at my feet.
"The hell is wrong with you? Someone offers you an inch and you take a mile?"
"Without Mr. Sanchez, you couldn't even feed yourself. Who do you think you're fooling, acting all high and mighty? You two haven't even registered the marriage. You really think you're some CEO's wife?" He jerked his chin at the others. "Take her."
They dragged me into a car and sped off.
When we arrived, the entire banquet hall had been decorated to the nines.
Shirley, dripping in designer couture and jewels, hung on Neil's arm as they greeted guests together.
She looked every bit the role of his real wife.
The irony cut deep.
Neil had said he didn't want to make a fuss. So yesterday's wedding had been a bare-bones affair in a cheap little hotel, with only a handful of his personal friends in attendance. Most people in their social circle didn't even know the wedding had happened.
I'd understood. I knew how hard he'd worked to earn his money. Besides, once I brought him home to meet my family, we'd throw a proper celebration. Everyone would see the news coverage and know about us then.
So I hadn't minded.
But the Imperial Monarch was the most exclusive hotel in Capital City, operating on an elite membership system. Only those who met a certain threshold of wealth and status were even allowed through the doors. A single banquet here cost millions.
And he'd booked it for Shirley's anniversary party. He'd even invited the press.
When Neil spotted me, he walked over with a frown.
"The owner of the calligraphy studio said you quit. Said you're leaving town. Where do you think you're going?"
My voice was flat. "Home. To take care of my grandfather. Is that a problem?"
A smug, superior smile spread across his face.
"So you've finally figured it out. Without my protection, you can't survive in this city. Your only option is crawling back to the countryside to slop pigs."
"Tell you what. If you wash all of Shirley's underwear by hand in front of everyone here, I'll forgive you. Tomorrow, we go register the marriage like nothing happened."
He had his assistant bring out a small basket. There had to be at least a dozen pairs inside.
My entire life, my family had guarded these hands like they were made of glass. They'd never let me do so much as a household chore.
I stared at him in disbelief.
"Neil Sanchez, is your brain screwed on backwards? Every word out of your mouth is garbage."
"You two spent my wedding night kissing and sleeping together, and now you want me to wash her underwear?"
