ist

marble floor of the hotel lobby, the cold shock momentarily

blurry video played-too dark to make out details, but the sounds were unmistakable. A couple, intimately

onnecting with my side. A searing pain shot thro

p on my elbows, my cheek throbbing, the

her face a mask of fury, her hand still raised from striking me. My head snapped back, hit

tomach, a brutal, sickening impact. A gasp escaped my lips, but it was cut shor

from the superficial pain of the kicks, a deep, twisting agony that made

our maid, screamed from somewhere

n, flinched. His eyes widened slightly. He took a hesitant step towards me, a fli

y loud. "She's always so dramatic about it! She probably just got her period, and now she'

treaked face. He looked at me again, then away. The flicker of guilt vanished

mors," he muttered, his voice strained.

y. "She ruined everything! My reputation! My future! My honor! I gave you everything, Collin! My youth, my innocence! And now, because of her, I'm nothing!" She

watched as Collin's face softened. Fo

a shriek of pain. A thin line of blood appeared on her wrist. She hadn't cut

in his arms. He glared at me, his eyes blazing wi

even noticing he'd kicked me again. He didn't look back. Just scooped

his voice echoing through the silent lobby. "And as for her..." His eyes, cold

cally in his arms, leaving me bleedin

nd. The pain was unbearable now, a fire consum

ce pale with fear. "I... I can't, Madam Calista.

in my hand, showed his number. Ring. Ring. Busy.

e. It rang once, twice, then cl

ensified, a suffocating grip. My head lolled to the side. I could hear Maria's frantic whis

of arms scoop me up. A familiar scent, not Collin's cologne, but something

whoever had dared to expose his carefully constructed facade. His phone buzzed, a quick message from his head of security. "Sir, the onl

sure. He called his assistant. "Did you manage to get

her voice crisp. "The hospital confirmed

. So, she was trying to blackmail him. This

oice frantic. "Mr. Fields! The stock! Your compan

, who was still sniffling dramatically in the passenger sea