Chapter 2

I didn’t resist. I only gave Ethan, whose expression was complicated, and Chloe, who looked smug, a cold glance.

At the very last moment before I was dragged out of the banquet hall, I heard Chloe’s tearful voice.

“Guests, I’m sorry.”

“You had to witness this embarrassing scene.”

“I was just too heartbroken. I never thought she would sink this low.”

“I treated her as my best friend, but she tried to seduce my husband.”

The two security guards roughly shoved me out through the hotel doors.

My parents chased after me. My mother held me and sobbed so hard she could barely breathe.

“Lauren, what is going on? How could Chloe do this to you?”

“Let’s go. We’re going home. We’re not staying in this awful place!” My father took off his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders, his voice trembling.

Just then, my phone began vibrating nonstop.

One text after another came from unfamiliar numbers.

I opened them, and my pupils suddenly contracted.

[So you’re a hostess? I saw you at the wedding. You’re hot. Name your price and come out tonight.]

[You look even better in your pictures. You must be good. How much for the night?]

[I heard you’ll do any position. Twenty thousand for one night. I’ll keep going until you cry and beg for mercy.]

Someone had spread my phone number along with the defamatory claims made at the wedding.

Then an unfamiliar number called me directly.

My mother snatched up the phone and shouted at the caller:

“Who are you? Stop harassing my daughter!”

A frivolous laugh came from the other end.

“Ma’am, don’t get so worked up. Your daughter doesn’t do business?

“She publicly advertised herself at the wedding. Why are you upset because customers like us want to show our support?”

“You animals! Get lost!” My mother’s lips turned purple with rage as she hung up.

But the moment the call ended, another number called.

Everyone walking past us cast strange looks in our direction.

When we got home, the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

My mother sat on the couch, constantly wiping away her tears. My father smoked one cigarette after another.

I sent Chloe a message: [Why?]

After a long time, she finally replied.

[Lauren, I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to do it today. I saw Ethan looking at you nonstop, and I got scared. I was afraid you would take him away from me.]

[I really love him. You know how much my family sacrificed so I could marry him.]

[You’re so beautiful and capable. I’ve always felt inferior to you.

[I just lost my head and said a bunch of nonsense. Please don’t take it to heart, okay?]

[We’re still best friends, right?]

I turned off my phone. I didn’t want to look at those disgusting messages anymore.

I got up to pour myself a glass of water, only to find my mother staring straight at me.

“Lauren,” she began hoarsely, “tell me the truth. What kind of work do you actually do in the city?”

Hearing my mother’s question felt like someone had stabbed me in the heart.

Even my own mother, the person closest to me, believed an outsider instead of me.

“Mom, I’m a lawyer. I specialize in civil litigation,” I answered calmly.

“A lawyer?” My father stubbed out his cigarette.

“Then why did Chloe say those things about you? Are you hiding something from us?”

At that moment, I felt ice spread through my entire body.

“If I tell you I haven’t done anything, and that she made everything up out of jealousy, will you believe me?”

My parents looked at each other and fell silent.