CHAPTER 2: MAID OF HONOR

VERONICA POV

Jason freezes when he notices me, his icy blue eyes blown wide like a kid caught stealing.

Moni doesn’t stop right away—she keeps riding him for one more second, hips rolling lazily, before she finally turns her head, annoyed, like I’ve interrupted her favorite scene.

“Fuck,” he mutters, pushing Moni off him slowly.

Moni scrambles across the bed, yanking a blanket over her naked body. She glances back at Jason, lips pursed in frustration. “Seriously, Jason? I was so close to cumming…”

“Why are you home so early?”

I stare at him, my mouth opening and closing once before the words come out. “Seriously? That’s what you’re worried about?”

“Oh please…” Moni drawls with a bored sigh, stretching like a cat. “Can we drop the pathetic acting already?”

She places a hand against her stomach, then smirks at me, eyes gleaming like she’s showing off a trophy.

“Isn’t it the perfect time to let the poor bitch know I’m pregnant?”

The room tilts. My vision blurs at the edges.

Her words echo like gunshots in my skull. My stomach twists so hard I press a hand to it; afraid I might be sick right there.

“You’re lying…” I whisper, my voice barely audible. I need it to be a lie. I need anything but this.

But Moni only laughs—that cruel little giggle she does when she knows she’s won. “Two months,” she sing-songs, tapping her tummy lightly.

“Congrats, bestie—you’re officially invited to be maid of honor at the wedding. Three months from now.”

I stare at her stomach, then at her face, voice shaking as the math refuses to add up.

“But… How can you be pregnant? You just got into Los Angeles last month.”

Moni’s smile only widens, like she’s savoring every second of my confusion.

Jason finally meets my eyes instead, no guilt, just tired resignation.

“I’ve been going to Dallas to visit her. For a while now.”

The words land like a slap. My chest caves.

“How could you do this to me?”

He shrugs, the smallest movement, like it costs him nothing.

“Well… at least now you know,” Jason says flatly, not even looking at me. “I’d send you the wedding invitation… just so you know the banquet hall only allows plus-ones, and—” I cut him with a look so sharp he shuts up mid-sentence.

Banquet hall? Engagement?

They planned an entire future while I was desperately trying to save whatever was left of us.

My knees buckle slightly; I catch myself on the doorframe, fingers digging into the wood.

“It’s pathetic that you ever imagined I could love someone like you. You’re not just beneath me—you’re irrelevant. No sense of yourself… nothing that could ever make you worthy of anyone, let alone me.

The idea of you walking beside me down the red carpet at my movie premiere? It’s laughable. It'd be an absolute shame to my reputation.

I nod, blinking hard as my eyes sting.

Moni slinks against Jason’s chest again, tracing circles over his skin with her fingertips. “Daddy—don’t waste your time explaining shit to her. C’mon, continue wrecking my pussy. Remember what the gynecologist said: I have to have sex frequently so I can deliver our baby easily.” She licks her lips; eyes locked on mine with sick pleasure. “So… ruin me, daddy.” They kiss, and Jason starts guiding her backward toward the bed again.

She glances at me over his shoulder. “You’re welcome to watch, though,” she giggles, covering her mouth like she’s shy.

I bite the inside of my cheek.

I can’t take it anymore. My chest burns with humiliation. I turn and storm down the hall, tears finally spilling, hot and relentless across my cheeks.

……..*……..*……..*……..*……..*

“Again,” I murmur, raising the empty glass higher.

“Ma’am… are you absolutely sure about this? This would be your sixth shot in less than thirty minutes.” “Yes. Just… pour it.”

He hesitates, then pours without another word.

“Get me a glass of whiskey and a vodka for the lady over here,” a deep voice says from behind me.

I don’t bother turning around. I don’t care who it is right now.

“Is it your cheating boyfriend that got you in the mood?” “No… I’m not even into parties usually,” I mutter.

“Nor am I,” he replies calmly.

Silence stretches between us for a long moment.

Wait—how does he know about a cheating boyfriend? Or is it just a lucky guess? Most women who drag themselves into a club looking as broken as I do right now probably have the exact same story.

The bartender slides my drink in front of me. I take a long sip, waiting for the alcohol to finish numbing everything.

So, this is really it. This is how my entire life completely falls apart. The man I loved more than myself literally cheated on me with my childhood best friend… and she’s pregnant with his baby… and, I can only attend their wedding if I bring a plus-one.

“Thank you for the drink,” I finally say, turning to look at the stranger.

He meets my gaze without flinching. “Right now, the country’s most elusive bachelor, Xavier Cross, is staring at you,” he says. “I’m his personal assistant. My name’s Dr. Kade.” He places a hand over his chest and bows slightly.

Xavier Cross. The name rings loudly in my foggy head. I know he’s someone huge, but everything feels too blurry right now.

“He wants you in the private VIP lounge upstairs.”

My stomach twists again, tighter this time.

I have so many questions, but I’m terrified they’ll come out sounding ridiculous.

“Oh, please,” I manage to say. “As you probably guessed earlier, I just got out of a toxic relationship.”

I swallow hard, forcing the words out. “I don’t think I want to see any man anymore. If he wants me, he can show up himself—that’s more appropriate. I’m done trying so hard for men.”

His brows lift, incredulous. “Wait… you’re seriously turning down the most elusive bachelor? Do you have any idea how rare it is for someone to even get an invitation close to him?” I open my mouth, about to say something, but a sharp, shrill ring cuts through the air.

My stomach drops instantly.

I never get random calls—except from Moni, or Diana about some stupid group project.

“I’m sorry… I have to take this.”

He pulls back immediately, expression tightening.

I scramble for the phone in the pocket of my shirt.

The screen reads “Mom.”

She literally never calls. This is beyond weird.

My thumb hovers a second before I swipe to answer.

“Veronica… where are you right now? Come home immediately. We’re in danger.” Mom never sounds terrified—ever.

The line goes dead.

I stare at the screen, the call duration frozen at four seconds. My heart slams so hard I can feel it in my throat.

“I… I have to go right now… sir,” I say, my voice cracking despite my effort to stay calm.

“Thank you… for the drink, by the way,” I whisper, still clutching my phone.

The moment I burst through the front door at home, I find Mom crumpled on the cold floor, sobbing uncontrollably, while Diana kneels beside her, patting her back gently.

“What’s wrong, Mom? Please, what’s wrong? Somebody say something…”

“Your father was taken away.”