Chloe stood in front of the mirror, wiping away the layers of stage makeup to reveal her everyday look. She turned to Thomas with a bright smile. "How do I look?"

"You're always beautiful," he said warmly. "Makeup just makes you look like someone else."

Her smile froze for a split second before she regained her composure, slipping back into her usual soft-spoken grace.

I felt a pang in my chest listening to them, a sharp ache that would not ease. I glanced down at the shoes before me. As I slipped my foot in, a sudden, stabbing pain shot through me—there was a needle in the shoe!

Blood welled up, and Chloe, ever the silent shadow, slipped a silver-gray mask over my face, her breath chill against my ear. "This is my gift to you, Rebecca."

Pushed onto the stage, I danced through the pain, each step a battle to keep standing.

The moment I stepped off the stage, my legs gave out and I crumpled to the floor.

Thomas walked up to me, his eyes icy and emotionless.

I was panting, desperately trying to grab onto his pant leg.

"Thomas, it hurts... There's a needle in my shoe, please help me."

Thomas looked at me with revulsion and kicked my hand away.

"Rebecca, you were just bouncing around on stage, and now you're talking about a needle? What's this act? You think a little blood in your shoe is going to trick me? For all I know, that could be any animal's blood."

Chloe swooped in like she was the good guy, helping me up with a fake look of concern. "Rebecca, are you alright? You were amazing up there, but trying to snag Thomas's attention like this? Not cool. Thomas wants people who keep it real."

As she spoke, her razor-sharp nails dug into my arm, sending waves of pain through me.

I tried to shove her off, but she suddenly seized my hand and pretended I had knocked her violently to the ground.

"Rebecca! I'm so sorry! I know you can't stand me! I'll stay out of your way from now on."

I glared at Chloe, my anger boiling over as I thought of all the women Thomas had paraded around. "Get lost, you homewrecker! You're nothing but a husband-stealer!"

Thomas's hand struck my face, and I touched the blood trickling from the corner of my mouth as I hit the ground.

"You insult her? You're not even in her league."

I lay there, watching Thomas lift Chloe in his arms and walk away.

His back turned to me, and Chloe's smug look burned into my memory.

My heart, already numb with pain, throbbed with a fresh wave of hurt.

In the end, all I could do was hail a cab and head home alone.

I made it back to the villa way past midnight and found Thomas there, waiting for me like some kind of grim statue. He was casually holding a cigarette, his back against the door.

"Come here," he said, his voice icy.

I hesitated, but I moved closer.

"Hold out your hand."

Before I knew it, he flicked the ash into my palm and then snuffed out the cigarette right there on my skin. His other hand clamped down on mine as I tried to pull away. Pain shot through me, and I could not hold back the tears.

Thomas's lips twisted into a mean smirk.

"Some guy came up to me after the show. He's a big deal in the company, kept asking about a girl with a silver-gray mask.

"You're going to take it easy for a couple of days, and then, in three days, you're heading to room 1818 at the Diamond Heights Hotel," he said, each word making me feel sicker.

"Thomas, please... don't make me go to someone else, okay?"

"Smart up, or you're going to regret it."

"Thomas, don't you love me, even a little?"

He actually laughed at that, like it was the funniest thing he had heard all day.

"If you love me, you'll do as I say. You always do what I ask, right?"

After he left, I was trembling. I grabbed my phone and called Tracy in a panic.

When Tracy got to the villa and saw Chloe, she was livid. She did not waste a second before kicking Chloe out.

Thomas was pacing around, all worked up.

"You think getting rid of one will stop me? I can find plenty more. I'm never out of options when it comes to women," he snapped.

"Thomas, remember that Rebecca is your wife! Just think about how many other women you've chased after all these years, and she's put up with it the whole time!

"If I hadn't shown up today, you'd probably be sending her off to some other guy's bed. Thomas, you're acting like a complete monster..."

"What I do with her is none of your business!"

With those final words, Thomas stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

He shot me a scornful look as he passed by. "Looks like you're good at calling for backup."

Tracy came in, her eyes brimming with tears, and wrapped me in a tight embrace. "Don't worry, I'll drive you to the airport today."

Tracy had tried to reach Thomas after he had stormed out, but he was nowhere to be found.

Then, out of the blue, my phone buzzed with a string of texts.

They were from Chloe.

[Rebecca, Thomas only really cares about me. He'd ditch his own sister to be with me. Do yourself a favor and just sign those divorce papers already.]

She had even sent photos of Thomas sleeping next to her.

I looked at them, my heart hardening, and then I yanked out my SIM card and tossed it.

At the airport, Tracy gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"I won't let Thomas know where you've headed once you're gone, Rebecca."

I managed a wry smile. "You don't have to. He's never cared about where I am anyway."

Tracy looked at me, her face a mix of sadness and something unsaid, but she stayed quiet.

"Life's going to be strange in a new country, so take this card. Think of it as a small way for the Wells family to make things right. And hey, if you ever need anything, just call me."

I clutched the bank card Tracy handed me, took one last look around, and then I walked away without looking back.