The day I said yes to him, he knelt before me with such sincerity, swearing he'd never let anyone hurt me again.
Now, every wound I carried came from him.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. I closed my eyes and stopped fighting.
Then—tires screeched behind me.
Julian and his bodyguards rushed over. He kicked the man on top of me so hard the thug went flying.
"Get lost! Who gave you the guts to touch her!"
He pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around me, his hands trembling.
I must have been hallucinating—I could have sworn I saw a flicker of pain in his eyes.
It vanished in an instant, replaced by his usual contempt.
"Doris, I really didn't misjudge you. You're exactly as cheap as I thought!"
"Seducing street trash just to get sympathy? Have you no shame?"
He let go. I crumpled to the ground.
A sneer curled his lips.
"Then again, someone who'd throw away years of love for five hundred thousand dollars—what shame could she possibly have?"
I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood. I didn't say a word in my defense.
Back when we were together, Aileen had come to me many times.
Pressuring me to leave him, raising her offer each time.