Chapter 2 Infidelity

Xenia stood there, her heart pounding, feeling completely mortified.

Vickie, on the other hand, didn't blame her. She quickly pulled Xenia behind her, seemingly protecting the latter, and shouted at Vince.

So was Vickie the person who had set her up or not? Xenia wondered.

"Vince, that's too much! Have you no shame? How could you assault my future daughter-in-law? That's just ridiculous!"

Then she turned to Xenia, who was red-faced, and said firmly, "Don't worry, Xenia. I'm here for you."

Xenia didn't say anything, just watched the older woman, confused and suspicious.

Vince, sitting in his wheelchair, just smirked. "Wow, you're early! Planning all this, did you even invite Dad?"

Xenia frowned as Trevor's mom hurried her outside, reassuring her as they went.

"Xenia, don't mind him. Don't be scared. I've got your back!"

Xenia was really confused now, not sure who the true mastermind was, so she politely declined. "Mrs. Morrison, I think I'd better go back alone for a bit."

Vickie wouldn't allow her to go, grabbing Xenia's wrist tightly and dragging her into the hall to confront Stefan Morrison, Vince's Dad.

"Stefan, Vince has defiled my future daughter-in-law! Xenia has lost her virginity to him. We need an explanation today!"

Upon hearing this, Stefan exploded with anger, yelling upstairs, "You bastard, get down here!"

Xenia, frozen in place, dug her nails into her palm, feeling a sharp pain in her heart.

She was supposed to be Stefan's future granddaughter-in-law.

With this turn of events, she wondered how she could face Trevor and Stefan now.

Stefan, clearly troubled, clutched his chest and ordered the butler, "Hurry! Bring that bastard down here!"

The butler obeyed and soon returned, wheeling Vince downstairs in his wheelchair via the elevator.

As Vince entered the living room, Stefan, enraged, banged his cane on the table and demanded, "Explain yourself, now!"

Before Vince could speak, Vickie cut in, "Stefan, Vince was drugged at a business dinner last night. He returned home, saw Xenia staying with us, and made her a target. He commanded a servant to bring her to his room!"

With her words, several guards escorted in a servant with a battered face.

The servant immediately knelt, begging for mercy. "Mr. Morrison, please forgive me! I was forced to follow Mr. Vince Morrison's orders. I couldn't disobey him!"

All evidence seemed to incriminate Vince!

But Xenia felt something was off.

Then, a realization struck her.

No, it couldn't have been Vince!

Last night, when Vince returned to his room and found a woman sleeping in his bed, he was furious at first, ready to kick her out.

He sounded like he didn't know what was going on.

But then, out of the blue, he changed his tune and slept with her, probably because of the drug.

She remembered feeling weak and sleepy after drinking milk, the same milk given by Trevor's mom!

Then it hit her. Vickie had set this up!

Realizing the truth, Xenia quickly said, "No! Stefan..."

Before she could finish, Vince cut in with a hint of sarcasm, "Whatever I say now won't make a difference. I did hurt Xenia. I'll take whatever comes."

Xenia was in shock, staring at Vince.

She couldn't believe he was admitting fault when it wasn't his fault at all!

Suddenly, Stefan angrily hit Vince's shoulder with his cane, shouting, "Bastard! You bastard!"

Vince winced but didn't complain.

Hearing Stefan's angry voice, Xenia felt her heart drop.

"What's your plan for this mess?"

"I'll marry her. I'll own up to it," Vince said straight up.

Stefan scoffed, looking at him with contempt. "Marry her? That's your solution? What a big-head. Are you sure Xenia will want to marry you?"

Then, Stefan looked at the butler. "Bring the whip."

The butler looked horrified and tried to defend Vince. "Mr. Morrison, Vince isn't strong enough. He's still hurt from the car accident. How can he take a whipping?"

"Just shut up and do it!" Stefan glared intensely, silencing the butler with just a look.

Shortly after, the butler returned, holding a long whip in his hands.

Stefan, gripping the coarse leather whip, looked at Xenia and questioned, "Xenia, do you want to marry Vince? If you're hesitant, I'll beat him till he's gone. Consider it your compensation! And you can decide the rest of the compensation yourself."

Xenia, looking troubled, caught Vince's gaze. He looked up, his face pale but managing a weak smile for her.

"If you choose me, I promise you a home. Even though I'm disabled now, I'll do everything to make you happy. If you don't want to, just walk away. You don't need to see me get beaten."

But before he could say more, Stefan ordered the butler to bring Vince to the floor, forcing him to kneel.

In a quick movement, Stefan lashed the whip across Vince's back.

Vince stiffened, pain evident, as his shirt turned red with blood.

Tears formed in Xenia's eyes, her heart aching.

She saw Vince enduring the punishment and was reminded of herself. She was falsely accused of theft by her sister years ago, with no one believing her side.

Both she and Vince were victims of others' plots.

His promise of a home resonated with her, offering an escape from her unhappy family life.

But then there was Trevor...

Her mind raced, thinking of her three-year relationship with him.

How could she possibly end things with him?

Xenia's eyes shut tightly, overwhelmed by memories of last evening when she came to seek Trevor's help.

She had confessed to Trevor about being set up by her family, suggesting they marry quickly to outsmart their schemes.

But Trevor had said, "Xenia, I can't believe a mother would harm her daughter to such an extent. Could you be misunderstanding something? Don't worry, Xenia. My mom will look after you. You're safe with her. Just relax and stay at my home. It's not that I don't want to marry you, Xenia. I just want to plan a proper proposal and then get the marriage license. This archaeological project is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I can't pass it up. Please wait for me. Once I'm back, we'll get married!"

In her mind, Trevor's soothing, almost unreal voice lingered, as if he was still speaking to her, tugging at her heartstrings painfully.

However, the harsh reality of the whip's lashes, one after another, brutally snapped her back to her current, lonely reality.

Things had changed irreversibly after last night's events. Neither she nor Trevor could go back to how they used to be.

Opening her eyes, Xenia's look was now marked by a firm resolve.

"Stefan, I've made up my mind. I'll marry him. Yes, I'm ready to marry Vince!"