Chapter 2

2

As a dozen men crowded into the room, my hand jerked, and my phone clattered to the floor.

I instinctively crossed my arms over my chest, trying to shield myself.

"Don't be shy, gorgeous..." one of them said, stepping forward.

He reeked of expensive bourbon and cheap intentions.

He spotted the silk nightgown on the bed and picked it up with two fingers, a greasy smile on his face.

"Gideon told us to come over and make your wedding night... memorable."

"Get out! Right now!" I yelled, trying to sound brave. "There are security cameras in here!"

My defiance only seemed to excite him more.

He sat on the edge of the bed and looked me up and down like I was a piece of meat.

"Why so cold? Your husband is currently in the arms of another woman."

"Exactly," another one chimed in. "You already shared those spicy photos with him. Why act like a saint now?"

"Saint? If she was a saint, her husband wouldn't be auctioning her off. I bet she's a real wild one under that dress."

"That's not true!" I screamed.

Those photos were private. I only took them because my best friend suggested it, and I only sent them to Gideon.

The men seemed to lose interest in just talking.

Just as one reached out to grab me, a woman's laugh drifted from the doorway.

"Oh, Gideon's big day! How could I possibly miss this?"

It was Misty.

She walked in and saw the circle of men surrounding me.

She smirked, and I immediately noticed the fresh marks on her neck.

The look in her eyes told me everything I needed to know.

"Sorry I'm late, Elara. My pup was being a bit too clingy," she said, tossing her hair back.

That's when I saw it―Gideon's wedding band was on her finger.

Misty picked up two glasses of champagne from a tray and offered one to me.

"I missed the ceremony, so let me apologize with a toast."

The men began to hoot and holler. "Gideon must be losing his touch if Misty still has the energy to come here."

"Shut up. The Sterling family is going public soon. Who needs the Hales anymore? They're just trash to be tossed aside."

I backed away, the image of those white pills in Gideon's hand flashing in my mind.

I had no idea what she had put in that drink.

"Get away from me! I'm not drinking anything!"

My voice was shrill, but it only made them laugh harder.

"Elara, are you really going to be that rude to me?"

Misty grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward her.

She leaned in close to my ear, her voice a poisonous whisper.

"Sorry, honey. Gideon and I already had our wedding night. As for yours... you're worried about the drink? You already drank the poison during the wedding toast."

My brain felt like it exploded. I remembered the toast vividly.

"Elara, let's drink to our future," Gideon had said, looking so deeply into my eyes.

I had been so touched that I drank the whole thing.

He had drugged me during our own wedding ceremony.

"Elara?" A familiar, gentle voice called out.

Gideon walked in with a warm smile, looking like the man I thought I loved.

He had buttoned his shirt all the way up, but he couldn't hide the marks Misty had left on him.

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood.

Gideon sat beside me and pulled my hands away from my chest.

"What's the matter? These are my friends. Don't you trust us?"

Suddenly, the room began to spin. A wave of heat washed over me, starting deep in my stomach.

"Whoa... Gideon, the stuff is working!"