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…"