Chapter 2

The moment I saw those photos, the blood in my veins ran cold.

The first few showed me crouched, naked, in the hallway of some seedy motel.

Beside me, several other women and men—clearly the aftermath of a vice raid, all rounded up in humiliating disarray.

Chloe smiled wider, triumphant.

"Brandon said when they collared Vivian, she was so terrified she forgot to even put on her underwear."

"On her knees, groveling, begging the officers not to notify her emergency contact."

She turned to me, eyes glittering with contempt.

"Weren't you saying the truth would speak for itself, Vivian? Go on—keep denying it."

Fury boiled up in me.

She'd fabricated all of it from the very beginning.

She'd come here tonight with one purpose: to destroy me in front of everyone I loved.

I looked up—straight into Ethan's blazing eyes.

Before I could open my mouth, his hand cracked across my face.

"Vivian, and to think I actually thought this might be a misunderstanding… The evidence is right here. You're still going to lie?"

Robert and Margaret rose from their chairs, jabbing fingers at me.

"An absolute disgrace. Get out. Get out of my house before you dirty the floor!"

My chest felt like it was collapsing. I couldn't draw a full breath.

It took me a long moment to recover.

I knew nothing I said now would matter.

I wiped the wine from my face, picked up my phone, and began to dial.

Last month, when I transferred into this city, it was Police Chief Daniel Carter who'd personally welcomed me.

All I needed was for him to step in.

And this whole thing would fall apart.

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