But damn, girl, you’ve really got a body like that.”
Another laughed as he stepped closer, his voice laced with menace. “You walked in on your own. I guess we’ve got to see what you’re packing.”
The door clicked shut behind me. My breath hitched.
A dozen men began to close in, circling like wolves. Their eyes gleamed not with curiosity, but with hunger.
A sudden crash broke the silence. A wine glass shattered against the floor.
Justin stepped between me and the crowd, tall and composed.
“The auction was supposed to be a joke,” he said coolly. “Who told you it was okay actually to touch her?”
Stacey’s eyes widened. She shot to her feet.
Justin turned to me. “What are you even doing here? Just get out.”
5 5 + 4
“Hold on! Wait!“!
A few men reached for Justin’s arm, trying to calm him.
Come on, man. We’re serious. She’s worth it. Trust us–we’ll take care of her.“D
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“Shut your mouth.”
Justin’s voice sliced through the room. “Try laying a finger on her. Then see what happens.“>
Silence fell across the room. No one dared speak.}
Even Stacey looked shaken.
She stepped closer, leaned in, and hissed softly so only I could hear.
“Go to hell…”
Before I could react, she grabbed my wrist and slammed it into her face. Then she flung herself backward, crashing into the champagne tower with a scream.
Justin rushed to catch her, his hands trembling as he wiped champagne from her dress.
“Justin…” Stacey’s voice trembled. “Rhian said she’s calling the police. She said she’ll have me thrown in prison. She said she would get a dozen men to ruin me. I don’t even know what I did to her…“}
I caught it. There was a flicker in Justin’s eyes. Something inside him shifted.}
I turned to run, but he caught me and yanked me back.
“You really haven’t changed,” he growled. His voice was cold and sharp. “Not one bit.”
He glanced over his shoulder and gave a subtle nod. Then, like nothing had happened, he led Stacey out of the room.§
I scrambled forward and reached after him.
“Justin! Stop! What are you doing?“}
He paused in the doorway and looked back. His face was blank and emotionless.}
“Just teaching you what grown–ups need to know,” he said flatly.
Then Justin sneered. “Maybe the reason you’re so bitter is because you’re just plain boring.”
He pulled the door shut behind him with force. The echo of it rang down the hallway like a sentence passed.
I lunged for the door, but a dozen hands seized me. They grabbed, clawed, and dragged me back.}
My heart thundered in my chest.
Panic closed in around me like a vise.
Then the memories returned…}
Ten hours I had buried deep.
The screaming. The fear. The helplessness.
‘No… No… Not again.
I had promised myself I would never feel that again.
My eyes scanned the floor. There it was, a broken wine glass. The jagged stem protruded like a blade.§
I snatched it.}
With a cry, I smashed it against the side of one man’s head.
Then I ran.
S
I burst into the bathroom, slammed the door shut, locked it, and braced myself against it. My shoulders shook as I pressed into the wood. Outside, chaos broke loose.
“Fuck! You let a little girl get away?!“}
“Break the door down! We’re not letting her off that easily!“)
Then their voices shifted. They softened and turned syrupy.
“Come on, sweetheart… the door’s not locked, right?”
“We just want to talk. We’ll teach you a little something…” The wood groaned under pressure. The frame splintered.}
My hand slid across the tile and found the window.
It was the third floor.”
The door cracked. A hinge popped loose with a sickening snap.
I clenched my jaw.
There was no more time.>
I threw the window open. The night air struck my face like a slap.
And I jumped.}
Behind me, the shouting resumed.”
“Shit! She actually jumped!“}
“You had one job! She was right there!”
1 did not look back. I did not stop. I ran.
Their voices vanished behind me, swallowed by the silence of the empty streets.
apter
圭
D
9:23 AM
As I kept running, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
Justin’s name appeared on the screen.
[Admit you’re wrong. I’ll come pick you up.]
I stared at the message. My fingers trembled.
Then I tapped his profile and blocked him.
Looking up, I thought I saw him across the street, framed in a window. His arm was draped casually around Stacey.
I smiled to myself. ‘Let him cling to her. Let him call it love.‘
One day, I hoped he would regret this moment with every cell in his body.}
From there on, I’d carve my own future alone.”
“Justin, I don’t need you,” I told myself as I ran faster.}
…0
When I left town, I handed every piece of evidence to the police.
A formal investigation began soon after.”
However, with the Becketts pulling strings through money, influence, and manipulation, Justin and Stacey ended up with nothing but a fine.
