Chapter 2

The lazy smile on Tristan's face faded. He looked at me, his eyes slowly narrowing.

"Go to hell, Tristan! Don't come to my birthday party. You're not welcome!" The voice on the phone was full of anger.

Then Brett hung up on him.

Tristan stayed silent for a moment, then calmly called another number. "Get me the most expensive sports car I can buy right now."

Finally, his gaze slowly traveled over me. Then he gently stroked my head.

"I'll deal with you when I get back later."

With that, he grabbed his jacket from the couch and strode out of the villa.

I shuddered, then slumped on the couch, looking miserable.

As far as I knew, the Stafford family had set Tristan up with a spoiled rich kid.

Tristan always knew how to play the perfect gentleman around Brett.

But if I didn't reply to Tristan's messages right away, he'd fly into a rage. And if I dared show him the slightest hint of displeasure, he'd make me pay for it.

Yet when it came to the young heir of the Jamison family, Tristan was patient, even when Brett threw a fit.

Now that I had deliberately drawn attention to myself in front of Brett, he was sure to speak up instead of putting up with it.

I hoped Brett's words would carry some weight. Maybe he could convince Tristan to let me go.

Just as my thoughts began to wander, a small bottle of medicine landed in front of me.

When I stared at it in confusion, Luther glanced at my neck for a couple of seconds before looking away.

I didn't need to check to know there were rings of red marks around it.

He said flatly, "Something came up at work. I can't apply the medicine for you."

I shook my head. "I can do it myself. Go take care of your work."

Meeting his deep gaze, I pressed my lips together and hesitated for a long moment before asking, "Am I almost free to leave?"

Luther's brows furrowed ever so slightly.

Silence stretched between us.

Finally, he gave a slight nod. "When that day comes, you can write whatever amount you want on the check."

That night, Tristan didn't come back at all.

I breathed a sigh of relief and lay back on the soft, large bed. I finally felt at ease.

Just before bed, I came across Tristan's social media post.

It was a video filmed by someone else, with people cheering and teasing in the background.

Tristan waved a hand and ordered several bottles of liquor worth tens of thousands of dollars.

With a smile playing on his lips, he told the young man beside him, "Come on. Don't be mad anymore. You're not as cute when you're angry."

The young man was handsome. He rolled his eyes at Tristan without a care.

Tristan just kept smiling lazily, as if he didn't mind at all.

I sighed. If I had ever dared to roll my eyes at Tristan outside the bedroom, he would've made sure I regretted it.

Still, I understood. A plaything was never going to be treated the same as a real boyfriend.

But if Tristan and Brett really got together, and Tristan still kept up his bizarre, inappropriate relationship with me, there was no way Brett would accept it.

I mean, neither would I.

However, Tristan only cared about what he himself thought, not how I felt.

So I could only put all my hopes in Brett!