Chapter 2

2.

Sebastian's eyes flickered with a mix of amusement and hate.

He curled his lip into a sneer. "You want to leave? Then kneel and apologize to me in front of the cameras."

"Tell everyone how shameless you are for trying to seduce Gideon. Do that, and I'll let you go."

I looked up at him. There wasn't a hint of the man who used to cherish me.

I had an old injury in my knee. Sebastian used to massage it gently. He even hired the best surgeons from Europe for me.

He knew that if I knelt, the metal plates in my bone might snap. My leg would be ruined.

I gritted my teeth and knelt. I slammed my forehead against the floor.

"I was wrong. I'm a shameless woman for trying to seduce Gideon Sterling."

I kept going until my forehead bled. The red stains dripped down my face.

Sebastian looked at me with disgust and stepped back. "Get out."

I felt a wave of relief. I grabbed my torn clothes and prepared to leave.

Then I stopped. "Sebastian, do you remember? I was with your mother when she passed away."

"She promised me that you would owe me one favor. A debt of kindness."

Sebastian laughed and kicked me hard in the ribs. "Everything I did for you was an act. Are you still this stupid?"

"Gideon and I will only ever love Seraphina. Give it up."

I collapsed in pain, but I reached out my hand. "I want the photos. Delete them all."

Sebastian stared at me. He seemed confused by how the girl he once spoiled had become so broken and submissive.

He wanted those photos to ruin me. But the memory of his mother's last words stopped him.

He coldly ordered his men to smash the cameras.

I exhaled slowly. I used the wall to pull myself up and limped out.

The winter wind bit through my rags. The drugs were still burning in my veins.

I bit my lip until it bled to keep from crying out. I stumbled into a restroom and dunked my head in cold water.

The dizziness faded slightly, but then I heard voices. I ducked into a stall.