Chapter 5

My fingers trembled as I dialed Adrian's number. He picked up on the second ring.

"Adrian," I rasped, my throat raw.

"Ah, you've seen them," he said, his voice dripping with cold satisfaction. "Do you like them? I thought it was only fair. An eye for an eye."

"Why?" I whispered, tears stinging my eyes. "Why would you do this to me? I told you it wasn't me!"

"Stop lying, Ellery," he sneered. "You were jealous of Cassie. You've always been jealous. You did this to hurt her, and now you're getting what you deserve."

The line went dead. The dial tone buzzed in my ear, a flat, final sound that echoed the emptiness inside me.

I was discharged a few hours later. Adrian had at least paid the bill. I walked out of the hospital wearing a ridiculously expensive dress he had bought me months ago, a silent, cruel reminder of the life I was leaving behind.

The whispers followed me down the hallway.

"That's her. The one from the pictures."

"I can't believe she'd do something so disgusting to Cassie Tate."

"She looks like such a snake."

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. I held my head high and walked out into the sunlight, refusing to let them see me break.

Outside, a group of rich, bored young men were lounging against a sports car. They recognized me instantly.

"Well, well, look who it is," their leader jeered, stepping in front of me. "If it isn't the internet's new favorite star."

His friends snickered.

"Get out of my way," I said, my voice cold.

"Feisty," he said, looking me up and down. "I like that. How much for a private show?"

He reached out to touch my face. I slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me."

He laughed and grabbed my arm. "Come on, don't be like that. We'll show you a good time."

He started to drag me toward his car. I struggled, my heart pounding with a new kind of fear.

Then I saw him.

Across the street, Adrian was helping Cassie into his car. He was so gentle with her, his movements full of a care and concern he had never once shown me.

"Adrian!" I screamed, a desperate, last-ditch cry for help.

He paused. For a split second, his eyes met mine across the street. He saw the men grabbing me. He saw my terror.

Then, he turned away. The car window slid up, a sheet of tinted glass sealing me out of his world forever. The car pulled away from the curb and disappeared.

He saw me. And he left me.

The sound of the men's laughter brought me back to the horrifying reality. "Looks like your sugar daddy dumped you," the leader sneered.

He tore the sleeve of my dress. I fought back, kicking and scratching, and managed to break free. I ran.

They chased me, shouting obscenities. I stumbled, my ankle twisting, and fell hard onto the pavement. The rough concrete scraped my knees and hands.

They were on me in a second, their hands grabbing, pulling. I screamed, fighting with every last bit of strength I had.

Suddenly, they were ripped off me. Two big men in black suits, Adrian's bodyguards, had appeared out of nowhere. They dealt with the men quickly and efficiently.

One of them turned to me. "Mr. Payne was worried you wouldn't be able to get a cab," he said, his voice flat. "He sends his regards."

I just stared at him, at the blood on my hands, the torn dress, the raw scrapes on my knees. And I started to laugh. A wild, broken sound that bubbled up from the depths of my despair.

He sent his regards.

He watched me get assaulted, drove away, and then sent his men to "help."

The last thread snapped. Whatever lingering, sick attachment I had to him, it died right there on that dirty pavement. It was over. Truly, finally over.

As the world started to go dark, the last thing I saw was an image in my mind. Kellen. His kind eyes, his gentle smile.

"Kellen," I whispered into the encroaching blackness. "Wait for me."