Chapter 1: Embarrassed

“Turn. Hang your legs on my shoulder.” The words came out as a groan, accompanied by a gasp and then the sounds of skin slapping skin.

Lyra stared at her phone screen in disgust, chest tightening with each thrust, tears slipping from her eyes as the sounds grew louder and more insistent.

She'd watched the video at least a hundred times. As though if she watched it long enough, the man on the screen would somehow change from Alex, her fiancé. Or maybe it'll be less heart wrenching if the woman he was thrusting into aggressively wasn't her best friend, Nadine.

The screeching microphone sound tore Lyra’s attention from her device. She wiped her face and removed her earpods, her focus shifting to the noise source. On stage, Alex stood with all eyes on him. 

“Most people think you have it easy once you're born into a rich home—that everything is laid for you on a platter,” Alex began. “But it's quite the opposite. You constantly have to work hard… Prove yourself… Show that you're worthy enough.” He paused for impact and looked around before raising his glass higher. “So here's to being worthy.” 

Despite them knowing everything was in fact handed to him on a platter, murmurs of admiration moved through the crowd. But Lyra’s fists clung to the hem of her dress instead, heart aching as the video kept replaying in her head. 

Then Alex turned to Nadine—who was seated at the front table, clad in a tight scarlet dress—with a smile that made Lyra's breath hitch. “To our beautiful and hard-working Nadine,” he said. “Thank you for working tirelessly. Without you, there’s no Wilson energy.” Nadine’s plump red lips curled into a flattered grin. 

Lyra's eyes stung with tears while a round of applause sifted through the air. "Working tirelessly?" Lyra whispered to herself. Reaching for a passing tray, she grabbed a flute and downed all its contents at a go. The burn as the liquid slid down her throat was a welcome distraction.

“Nad, please, can you join me here?” Alex asked—voice soft, eyes dilated.

Nadine’s cheeks flushed red as she stood. She adjusted her dress briefly before walking. Just as she was about to climb the stage, she almost slipped, but Alex's reflexes were quick. He grabbed Nadine's waist, and they both paused in place, eyes locking like a cheesy romance scene. 

Lyra dug her nails into her palm at the sight, feeling the hall lights spotlight every crack in her makeup. ‘I'm the one who’d get the real deal,’ she chanted, but it didn't make her breathe any easier.

“I was planning to leave it for later, then I thought, 'Why not just get it over with?'" Alex paused for a few seconds before announcing, “Our new director of strategic innovation is Nadine Hale.”

The crowd held their breath for a brief moment before the small murmuring and confused faces turned to applause. 

Wait…

‘It's a prank. I just need to count to 10 in my head,’ Lyra thought.

I mean, she was the brain behind their groundbreaking designs, their models... And Alex had promised her that she'd be the new director. It meant her own team, her own research division. Freedom and resources to complete her mother's research. It was the major reason why she held on even after finding out about Nadine. Even after seeing how he kept putting Nadine first. How he kept hurting her over and over.

But glasses were raised instead. Nadine wrapped her hands around Alex's arm. Congratulations floated through the air like confetti. Lyra’s lungs collapsed.

It wasn't a prank.

So without thinking, she stood. “No! There's been some mistake! I'm the new director. Not Nadine!!” 

Shocked gasps, whispers, and murmurs sifted through the crowd. 

Alex frowned. Nadine smirked. 

Then Lyra glared at Alex, tears pouring down her face as she ran towards the stage. “You promised! You said—” Then she stepped on her dress and twisted her ankle just at the top of the stage. She groaned and lost her balance, arms swinging to regain her balance and stop herself from falling. “Alex,” she called, her hands frantically reaching out for him.

At that point, Nadine suddenly crouched down and gasped. “Lex! I hit my foot.”

Like reflex, Alex ran over to Nadine. “Are you okay?” He asked, examining her perfect foot.

Lyra’s loud scream echoed through the hall as she struggled to grab onto something to break her fall. All to no avail as she landed at the foot of the stairs. 

Agonizing pain radiated through her leg, head, and back, liquid trickling down the sides of her face. Her dress was torn, exposing her underwear to all who had eyes. 

Lyra’s vision blurred. But through that haze, she saw the chaos that erupted. She saw Nadine standing tall…smiling. Smiling?!

That triggered something in Lyra. So she used the last ounce of strength in her to shout. “Slut!! Nadine is sleeping with my fiancé!” Her consciousness was slipping, but she could hear the gasps and murmurs in the background. “T-that’s why he made her… direc—”

Then darkness.