Chapter 2

"Thank you, Don."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, stood up, and walked straight over to the Suttons.

Cheryl pushed her behind her and forced a smile.

"So sorry, Miss Sheldon. She's just a kid running her mouth. A woman of your standing — please, don't stoop to her level."

Oh, we're playing that game.

"Anybody accused of what she just accused me of would fight back," I said, my voice flat. "Drop the sweet act. Otherwise, people are going to think the Sheldons are the bullies here."

Her face froze.

She hadn't expected me to fight back.

Then Serena shoved her way out from behind her mother, tears in her eyes, screaming at me.

"Miss Sheldon! If you've got a problem, take it up with me. Leave my mom out of it!"

"If you weren't such a lying slut, my condition wouldn't have kicked in!"

Just like that — I'm the villain again. The society wives around us started nodding.

"Cheryl is just protecting her daughter. But that kind of behavior from Miss Sheldon? Clearly, her father raised her wrong.

And she's supposed to marry the Sinclair heir?"

My nails cut into my palms.

My father is the Don's right hand. He's spent his whole life protecting this Family.

And now his name is being dragged through the mud because of me?

Absolutely not.

I stared her dead in the eye. Cold. Steady.

"Miss Sutton says I'm not a virgin. Fine. Bring in Diana's private physician and have me examined right here."

Serena fired back instantly.

"Please. There's a hundred ways to fake a medical exam these days. Hymen surgery is a Google search away."

I nodded. Blank face.

"So there's no way I can ever prove myself. Got it."

Serena paused, bit her lip, and started letting the tears roll — the perfect little wounded damsel in her thousand-dollar dress.

"I'm not out to get you. I just can't stand a liar."

The room went quiet.

A smug smile tugged at Diana's lips.

"Miss Sheldon. Anything else to say?"

I looked down.

"No, ma'am."

"Then—"

Locke, Diana's personal assistant, suddenly stepped forward.

"Diana, I have a—crude suggestion. It might help Miss Sheldon clear her name."

"Oh? Let's hear it."

"Medical exams can be faked. But a woman's body can't lie. Bring in a man who knows his way around women. Let him spend one night with Miss Sheldon, and he'll know the truth."

The entire room gasped.

A few guests exchanged uneasy looks.

Someone even snickered behind a cocktail napkin.

Well, that's genius. Prove she's clean by making her dirty. Who'd marry her after that? Guess her daddy will have to hand her off to some guy from the projects.

Another woman shook her head.

"A girl's reputation is everything. Once it's ruined, no decent man will want her."

Diana looked at me, putting on her best sympathetic-mother act.

"Here's an idea. I have a cousin on the Weaver side of the family. He's never held down a real job, already has three ex-wives and a string of girlfriends. Bit of a playboy, but he can settle this quickly."

"Marry him, and I'll personally make sure you're taken care of down the road."

Daisy's hand was shaking on my sleeve.

"Miss, don't. They're backing you into a corner. Don't you dare say yes."

I patted her hand.

Then I spoke, calm as ever.

"Thank you, ma'am. But no."

Diana stared at me. Waited to see if I'd flinch. I didn't.

Her face dropped.

"Fine. You want to do this the hard way? Even if you take the fall alone, the Sheldon family will still pay for covering it up. Security—"

I lifted my chin and looked her straight in the eye.

"Diana. Slow your roll."

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