Chapter 1

1

My brother, Jace, was getting married. He even bought me a first-class ticket to fly back from London so I could witness his big day.

When I landed, he was there to pick me up, grinning ear to ear. We took a selfie and he posted it on his socials.

"The most important person in my life is finally by my side," he captioned it.

That night, my future sister-in-law, Raina, burst into my hotel room without a word of warning. She looked like a woman possessed.

"You shameless slut! How dare you try to hook up with my fiancé!" she screamed.

"I'm going to ruin that face of yours today. Let's see if any man wants a side piece who looks like a monster!"

She brought a group of girls with her. They swarmed me, beating me mercilessly before dragging me out to the public square.

"I'm going to show everyone what happens to the trash that tries to steal my man!" Raina shouted to the gathering crowd.

She ground her heel into my cheek, laughing as she tried to tear my clothes off. She wanted to strip me naked in front of the whole world.

Just as I thought my life was over, Jace arrived and screamed for them to stop.

I looked at him, my voice trembling but cold.

"It's either her or me, Jace. This family isn't big enough for both of us."

......

When I heard Jace was getting married, I was over the moon. I spent weeks picking out the perfect designer jewelry for his bride.

Ever since our parents' messy divorce, I'd been living in the UK, building my own empire while sending money back to raise Jace. We didn't see each other often, but he was my world.

This wedding meant everything to me. It was the moment I could finally see him settled and happy.

Jace seemed to feel the same way. He went all out, booking me a penthouse suite and planning a massive welcome-back dinner.

I was glowing with pride when we took that photo together. He posted it instantly.

"The most important person is by my side!"

To me, that caption was perfect. I had been like a mother and father to him, working multiple jobs across Europe just to make sure he had the best life.

But Jace looked troubled, sighing every few minutes as we ate.

"Is everything okay? You look like you just lost your best friend," I teased him.

Jace looked at me, his eyes full of confusion.

"It's Raina. She's obsessed with some 'mistress' she thinks I'm hiding. She says she's going to hunt her down and make her pay. But I haven't done anything!"

He looked so innocent and lost. I reached across the table to pat his hand.

"Maybe you've been working too closely with a female colleague? Raina is about to commit her life to you, Jace. Girls get insecure. Just be patient with her."

Jace nodded, though he didn't look convinced. He dropped me off at my hotel and headed home.

I had just started to get ready for bed when my door was kicked open with a deafening bang.

I looked up, stunned, as Raina stormed in with a squad of her friends.

She was my future sister-in-law. I opened my mouth to greet her properly, like a family member should.

Before I could say a word, Raina lunged forward. She grabbed my hair and started raining slaps down on my face.

"You little tramp! You thought you could move in on my man? Is a married man's bed really that much better? You're old enough to be a mother, and this is what you do?"

She was hitting me with everything she had. Within seconds, my face was throbbing and I could taste blood in my mouth.

"Raina, stop! I'm―"

I tried to explain, but the words wouldn't come out. She kicked me hard in the stomach, sending me spiraling to the floor in agony.

I tried to crawl toward the door, but Raina grabbed me by the hair and dragged me back into the center of the room.

"Trying to run? You shameless bitch. You dared to touch my husband."

"I'm going to break your face today. Let's see you try to be a homewrecker after this. Girls, get her!"

Jace had always described Raina as a sweet, reasonable girl with a bit of a temper.

I had high hopes for her. I wanted to love her. But as the blows kept coming, I realized the truth.

She wasn't sweet. She was a mindless, violent psycho.

The hotel staff rushed to the door, hearing the commotion. I looked at them, pleading for help with my eyes.

But they just stood there, watching the drama unfold like it was a reality show.

"Wow, she's a mistress? Living in a place like this? She must have drained that guy's bank account. She deserves what she gets!" one of the maids whispered.

"Exactly. I thought she looked sophisticated, but she's just a snake. I hate homewreckers more than anything," another added.

They watched with a sick kind of satisfaction as my dignity was trampled into the carpet.

Raina climbed on top of me, pinning me down, and spat directly into my face.

"Waiting for a hero? Everyone hates a bitch like you! I bet you'd do anything for a paycheck, wouldn't you? Is your 'talent' really that good? You're just a toy to be used and thrown away!"