Chapter 2

His grip was iron. My wrist screamed.

But inside, I was laughing.

Half an hour ago, I tied Luca up with my own hands and locked him in that storage room. Three locks.

He couldn't have gotten out to force himself on anyone.

I lifted my chin. Looked Dominic dead in the eye without flinching.

"Dominic. Are you sure it was my brother?"

His jaw clenched. He hissed through his teeth.

"I saw that bastard with my own eyes, hands all over Elena. I knocked him out cold and pulled her free."

"You think I can't recognize my own brother-in-law?"

My stomach dropped.

The certainty in his voice made me uneasy. Had Luca actually gotten out of that room?

"Mrs. Ashford, how long are you going to bully this poor girl?"

An older woman turned on me.

"You're the wife of the Ashford heir! Instead of protecting your husband's family name, you're shielding your no-good brother?"

"You don't deserve to be an Ashford!"

"You want Dominic to look the other way while that thug brother of yours drives Miss Hart to suicide?"

Dominic shot me a vicious glare. "Vivian. Stop embarrassing yourself."

I scoffed. My gaze swept over these self-righteous vultures following the crowd.

"So whether Elena was actually assaulted tonight or not, the blame would still land on my brother. Is that it?"

"You…!"

Elena looked like I'd slapped her. Two perfect tears rolled down her cheeks.

The picture of fragile innocence.

She bit her lip, sobbing.

"I was decent. I had my pride. I never chased after anyone!"

"And now I'm being called shameless, some desperate woman throwing herself at men!"

"Fine. If the Morettis won't own up to it, I'll die."

"And none of this will matter anymore!"

She spun and hurled herself at the floor-to-ceiling window. The women grabbed her, holding her back.

"Miss Hart, don't! Don't do anything rash!"

"It's that Moretti animal's fault!"

"You've suffered so much, don't give him the satisfaction!"

They comforted Elena with one breath and spat at me with the next.

"Miss Hart was going to marry into the Sterling family."

"The Morettis run a mid-tier business, and they think they're old money? You really think Elena would trash her own name to frame your family?"

Dominic frowned, grabbed my wrist again, and put on that concerned-husband mask.

"Vivian. Enough."

"Make Luca marry Elena and apologize publicly."

"If this goes to court, a sexual assault charge alone would put Luca away for ten years minimum."

"Moretti Group stock will tank. What are you going to tell the board?"

"In my past life, I thought Luca had really lost control—that he was drunk.

I handed Moretti Group's biggest contracts to the Harts out of guilt. Treated Elena like royalty.

Then she popped out a baby at seven and a half months—except it came out looking full-term.

Nausea churned in my gut.

I ripped my arm free from his grip.

"If you think I'm letting my family take in Elena Hart without proof, you're dreaming."

Every trace of warmth drained from Dominic's face. His eyes went cold.

Dangerous.

Before he could explode…

Elena's father burst through the doors. Face like granite.

Without a word, he backhanded Elena across the face.

The crack echoed. She hit the floor.

Blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

"Making a scene at a place like this!"

"Get up. You're getting on a plane tonight."

"Go die overseas for all I care—just stop humiliating this family!"

Two bodyguards stepped forward to drag her out.

Elena grabbed a fruit knife off the nearest table and slashed it across her own wrist without hesitation.

The room erupted.

Screams. People lunging to stop her.

Someone grabbed my arm.

"Mrs. Ashford! You're just going to stand there?"

"If your brother hadn't done what he did, would she be trying to kill herself?"

"Does your family have no conscience?"

I watched the show in silence.

Elena's eyes flashed with something dark. Her hand tightened on the knife.

One sharp motion. The blade bit into flesh.

Blood poured.

The women shrieked.

"Dear God! The Morettis have driven this girl to death!"