BETRAYAL AT ITS PEAK

BELLE

"Belle, is that my dress?" Faye's voice sliced through the air. My heart lurched as I spun around to face the defying look on her face.

"What? N-no, it's a gift from Rowan, I swear... he specifically told me to wear it tonight. Otherwise, I wouldn't..." My voice faltered under her piercing glare. 

She took a step closer, her lip pressing into a thin line before twisting into a sneer.

"Rowan? Buy you a dress? Don't make me laugh." She spat in my face. 

"Faye, I promise you, I didn't—"

"Of course, you didn't." Her face twisted into a mocking grin. "Aren't you always innocent?" She took a step closer to the door with a sly grin plastered on her face.

"F-Faye, p-p-please," I wavered.

"What? I haven't even done anything yet," she chuckled before letting out a piercing yell. "Mom! Look what I found!"

Dread clawed at my chest. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself as the sharp click of heels echoed down the hall.

Laura.

When she appeared in my room, the cold disapproval on her face was already set in stone.

"What is going on here?" Laura demanded. She barely spared a glance at Faye before turning her glare on me.

"I... I swear, I didn't..."

"She stole my dress, mom!" Faye cut me off.

Laura let out a weary sigh, shaking her head. "Do you ever learn?" 

"Laura, I didn't..."

"Are you calling my daughter a liar?" She snapped. 

I was cornered. I always was.

It's the only thing that is consistent in my life since my father died. Laura was a perfect mother figure while my father was alive. She never acted like the typical stepmother or maltreated me for once.

Little did I know it was all a ploy to get my father to leave all my mother's properties in her care. Alas! It worked, and I blamed myself every day for being so naive.

"No," my voice came out barely as a whisper as tears welled my eyes.

"Good." She said flatly. "Since you want to dress up so badly, you'll represent Faye tonight. You'll attend the meeting with Mr. Brown in her stead."

"M-mr. Brown?" My blood ran cold at the mention of the name. "You know that is not possible—"

Mr. Brown has the most infamous reputation in the business industry. It doesn't make sense that Laura would set up a meeting with Mr. Brown and Faye, let alone, making me go in her stead.

"Did I stutter?" She stepped forward, forcing me back with her sharp gaze.

"N-no."

"Good. You've five minutes."

"Mom! She can't wear my dress!" Faye whined.

"Let her. It looks cheap on her anyway, and we can't have her misrepresent the Anderson family," she shrugged.

Laura's heels clicked against the marble floor as she walked away.

Faye smirked as soon as we were left alone. 

"I heard Mr. Brown is a pervert who loves young girls." She leaned in, her breath warm against my ear. "Try not to disgust him. Even he has standards."

The night blurred.

I was dragged down the stairs, shoved into a car, and just before we drove off, Faye slipped in beside me, grinning. "I have to watch this. Your downfall? Front row seat."

By the time we arrived, my head was pounding. Maybe it was fear, or maybe it was something else.

I felt hot from within, and I needed... I don't know what I needed. My throat feels dry, and my body feels weird. Every voice sounded like moans in my ear, and it made my pu**y throbbed.

What is wrong with me?

The club pulsated with loud music. Lights flashed in disorienting colors, stinging my eyes. The air reeked of sweat, alcohol and smoke. At this point, I just wanted to empty my stomach.

"Don't just stand there, bitch!" Faye snapped. 

I tried to move, but my legs felt... heavy. The room spun around me, making me feel even more dizzy.

"Can you do anything right? I told mom you were useless," Faye hissed. She grabbed my wrist, her nails digging into my skin as she shoved me through a door.

"Just be a good girl and you will earn us a fortune, huh?" 

The room began to spun around, as my knees buckled. I collapsed onto the floor, twisting my ankle in the process.

"Dumb bitch," Faye's laughter rang in my ear, adding to my headache.

Just then, the door cracked open, and a familiar scent hit me. Even through the haze, my body recognized it immediately. 

Rowan.

I lifted my head to see Rowan, my fiancé and I couldn't explain the relief that washed over me. He came for me. He always did.

I blinked up at him, and my vision were blessed with the sight of his tall frame, his sharp gaze, the way his lips pressed into a frown. He was pissed.

Just then, Faye leaned closer to kiss his cheeks and his frown melted.

WHAT THE HELL?

"I missed you, babe," she cooed.

"I know." Rowan wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her close, and right in front of me, he kissed her.

No.

No. No. No.

"Ro—" I tried to scream, but I could barely hear my own voice.

Tears burned down my cheeks as I clunched my chest in pain. Only then did Rowan turned at the sound of my choked sob.

"What the fuck, Faye?! She's awake!" His eyes widened in shock.

"Barely," Faye scoffed. "I slipped some rohypnol into her drink earlier. She won't remember a thing in the morning."

Rohypnol. Oh my god!

That was why I am feeling so strange.

That was why Faye smirked when I took the wine before we left home. She spiked my drink and came here to watch me embarrass myself.

"We can't afford to—" 

"Shush." Faye silenced him with a kiss. "Trust me, our plan is perfect."

"F-faye, she's watching us."

"Ugh!" She sauntered over to me, and pressed the sharp point of her heels on my cheeks.

"Faye!" Rowan snapped.

"What? Don't tell me you care about her?"

I looked at Rowan hesitantly hoping he'd at least say be cared for me, even though he had been sneaking around my back to fuck my stepsister.

"Care?" He scoffed at her words. "Of course not. I only stayed this long because I pitied her."

My chest tightened in pain, and it felt like it was going to explode. This is the man that I've loved my whole life. The man I was willing to sacrifice everything for.

I wanted to scream. To rip them apart, but I couldn't. It was as if my body no longer belonged to me, and tears burned my cheeks.

"Good, because everything has been settled. We can't allow the board to know how much we have embezzled from the company's account, so mom decided to sell it to Mr. Brown or we will go bankrupt," Faye explained.

My breath hitched at the realization. They are selling my mother's company.

I blinked away the tears that blurred my vision as I recalled how hard mom worked to get the company to where it was. She'd spend all night working. Drinking coffee in an empty stomach. She did everything to give me a better future, but I stupidly hated her for always being absent.

I had no idea. I didn't know and I regret it every single day of my life. While I was busy hating my mom for her absence, she was busy fighting for her life.

I didn't even realized she was dying... what kind of a daughter am I? 

She died on the day she won the law suit against her family to ensure the company is given to me at the right age, and then, I threw everything away the moment I saw Laura, like a starved kid.

I gave up on my mom dreams. Disappointed her and even forgot to visit her on her death anniversary. Maybe this is my punishment for being such a bad daughter.

"I can't wait to get her out of the picture so that I can publicly be with you," Faye pouted.

"Me too... Once the deal is signed, she'd be useless and I can finally be with you. Now, let's get this over with. Mr. Brown is not a patient man, so take her to the room and then, we can finally sign the papers," Rowan said with a proud smirk.

And just like that, Rowan dragged me up with the help of Faye. "Why is she so heavy?" She hissed as they dragged me out of the room.

I wanted to push them away. To spat in their face and call them ingrate because that is who they are, but all I could do was cry.

How pathetic. My mother must be turning in her grave. She died for nothing.

"Which room is it?" Rowan asked as we stood in-between two doors.

"Room 201," Faye whispered. "Or is it 102?" 

"We don't have all day, Faye!" 

"It's 201," she concluded.

Without giving it much thought, they pushed me inside, and my face collided with the cold floor.

My body trembled with pain, but it was nothing compared to the betrayal. I struggled to get up ignoring the pain searing through my limbs. I had to get out of here. I couldn't let them use me like this— I wouldn't.

Staggering to the door, I gripped the door knob, My fingers shaking as I yanked it open. 

A breath of stale air hit my face just when I bumped into something... no, someone.

He was dead drunk.

A large hand clamped around my waist, steadying me. His grip was firm, commanding and even with my state, my breath hitched at the raw power radiating from him.

It is the effect of the drug. 

I tried to brushed it off, but the strong scent of his cologne and the toned chest that is slightly pressed against mine, wouldn't let me back off.

I tried to lift my head, and I couldn't help but licked my lips upon seeing the hot man standing in front of me.

My vision were blurry, but I could make out the sharp edge of his jaw, before a playful smirk spread across his lips.

He leaned closer, studying every inch of my face. "Look who we have here," his hot breath fanned against my neck, and I inhaled a sharp breath.

Before I could catch my breath, his lips crashed against mine roughly. It wasn't the sweet or gentle type I was used to. It was possessive. His fingers dug into my waist, pulling me flush against him, and my body melted.

I should push him away.

But instead, my fingers curled their ways into his shirt, gripping on him like he was the only thing keeping me upright. 

A low moan escaped my lips as he thrust his tongue in my mouth, teasing me, claiming me, and it feels like my body was about to explode from the pleasure, before everything went black.