"I said we're really broken up! Do you not get it?! If you still don't believe me… fine. I'll say it right here in front of everyone, one more time: Scott and I are over!"

Scott's smile vanished.

Someone in the crowd let out a derisive snort.

"So, is she for real or what?"

"It's an act. I'll bet five dollars."

"Ten!"

"A grand!"

"No way, seriously?"

"What, you actually think she means it?"

"Psh, figures. Let's keep it small then—ten thousand!"

"Wait, no one's betting that she's over him for real? What's even the point? Hahaha!"

Simone raised her hand.

"100,000 dollars. I bet she's serious."

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

Sharp glares and shrill laughter closed in around me. I clenched my fists.

The elevator doors slid open again, and I turned to leave.

"Hey! Fiona, don't go!"

Simone lunged for me just as the doors began to close.

Her movement was too violent—half my body got caught in the doors. With a loud groan, the elevator jolted downward a short distance.

I staggered and collapsed onto the floor.

Looking at the elevator now suspended in mid-air, a chill ran through me. If I'd been a second slower…

I grabbed Simone's arm and, in one swift motion, slapped her hard across the face.

"Do you have any idea what you just did?!"

"Simone!"

Panic instantly flashed across Scott's face. He rushed forward and scooped her into his arms.

"Simone…"

His trembling fingertips gently brushed the side of her reddened face before he looked up at me. His expression was cold. Distant. Veiled with a hatred I'd never seen before.

So… this was how important she was to him? Even after what she'd done, she couldn't take a single slap?

"Fiona…"

His voice was low, terrifyingly so.

Their friends immediately understood. They moved in, forming a tight circle around me.

I scanned the ring of people. Most were men—some twice as broad as me.

I lifted my chin and met Scott's gaze.

"What are you going to do?"

He hesitated.

I stepped forward.

"Planning to kill me right here?"

The veins on the back of Scott's hands bulged instantly.

I held his stare, unflinching, unwavering.

"Let's go back."

He gritted his teeth and helped Simone to her feet.

She froze.

"Scott? She hit me!"

"I said, let's go back!"

He repeated, his voice icy and final.

"Scott!"

Her teeth were clenched so tight I could almost hear them grind. Tears streamed down her face. But this time, Scott didn't comfort her. He just kept his cold eyes locked on me as he led her away by the hand.

I closed my eyes, letting the storm of emotions settle.

I picked up my towel and swimsuit and took the stairs down to the first-floor pool.

But when I finished my swim and went to shower, all my clothes were gone.

"Well, well, look who it is?"

A familiar voice rang out. I turned.

Simone's friends were holding my clothes, waving them in the air with smug, disdainful smirks.

"Give those back!"

I lunged forward, but another girl yanked the changing room door open and shoved me out into the open.

"Oh my god! She's not wearing anything?!"

"No way, how trashy can you be?"

"Psh! Not bad though. Anyone get a pic?"

"Already did! Posting it in the group chat now!"

The sharp click of leather dress shoes on marble cut through the chatter. Everyone fell silent.

"Huh? Scott is here too?"

I looked up. Scott stood before me, holding Simone's hand.

He stopped directly in front of me.

Behind him, Simone's earlier anger was gone. Every curve of her face now radiated pure, gloating triumph.

"Are you satisfied with this punishment?"

Scott glanced at Simone.

The cold distance he'd just shown me had melted away, replaced by warmth and tender affection.

"Hmph!" Simone pouted dramatically. "For a second there, I really thought you were done listening to me!"

"How could I ever do that?" Scott tapped her nose lightly. "No cameras in the bathroom. Definitely your handiwork, Simone."

"Obviously! Fine… I'll consider forgiving you this time. But—" She shot a razor-sharp look in my direction. "She still owes me an apology!"

"Fiona." Scott looked down at me, his voice flat. "Apologize."

I clenched my jaw so hard it ached, the metallic taste of blood seeping from my bitten cheek.

"What did you say?"

Simone leaned in closer.

The next second, I spat a mouthful of blood directly into her face.

"AHH!"

Her pristine white dress was now splattered with shocking red. "Disgusting! You disgusting trash!"

"Fiona!"

Scott grabbed my chin, his fingers digging in. "I told you to apologize, not make this worse! Why can't you just behave for once?!"

"Behave?" I bared my teeth in a cold smile. "I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I be the one to behave?"

The fury in Scott's eyes flared white-hot, then cooled into something hollow and icy.

"Since you insist on being this stubborn…"

Suddenly, I was yanked to my feet.

Scott gripped my arm and dragged me down the hallway, past stunned onlookers, past a chorus of whispers and gasps:

"What is she doing, running around like that?"

"Has she no shame?"

"Women should have some self-respect! If my daughter ever pulled this, I'd—"

"Damn, though… Quick, get a picture! Ah, it's too blurry!"

"Scott!" I struggled violently, but his grip was a vice. Red welts bloomed around my wrists. "Let go of me! What are you doing?!"

Inside the hotel, most people were just guests. No one intervened.

But the moment he threw the main doors open, my heart seemed to stop.

There I was, completely exposed, shoved into the middle of the busy downtown street. Cars honked and swerved.

One car slammed straight into a lamppost.

"What the hell?! Is she for real?! I just wrecked my car!"

"Whoa… kinky. Someone's little pet acting out?"

"Gotta say, that body's sending a message."

"No… stop… please stop…"

My knees scraped against the asphalt, raw and bleeding. I trembled, hugging myself in a futile attempt to cover up. Pain and despair swallowed me whole.

"Stop talking! Just… stop talking!"

When I looked toward Scott, he was standing behind the hotel doors, looking down at me from above.

Then he raised a hand. Someone immediately pulled the heavy doors shut behind him, sealing off any retreat.

"Is this… legal? Won't we get in trouble?"

"Tsk! Don't you know how powerful Scott is? Do what he says, unless you want problems."

The winter wind cut like a blade, dry and burning.

The crowd watched, unmoved. No one dared to help.

Even the few women who looked like they might step forward were held back by their friends.

"Are you crazy? You saw who did this."

"Exactly. You think you can cross Scott?"

Hands that almost reached out withdrew.

"FIONA!"

A voice shouted. Someone rushed forward, wrapping me tightly in a suit jacket.

"What the hell are you all looking at?! Get back!"

The raw fury in his roar scattered the gawking crowd.

I knew that voice.

Buried in his embrace, I looked up, and my eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Tom… Tommy…"