Chapter 0003

Sarah’s POV

I thought sleeping with a stranger would be the worst thing that could ever happen to me.

I was wrong.

My nude photos were everywhere — circulating like wildfire, drowning in viral headlines meant to shame and destroy.

“CEO Prince’s Mystery Lover Revealed.”

“Club Girl or Gold Digger?”

“Leaked Tape Shocks Society.”

I stared at the screen in disbelief, eyes trembling with unshed tears. All I’d wanted was a night to celebrate John’s birthday. To surprise him with a gift. To fall asleep in his arms and feel like I mattered.

Instead... I was violated, exposed and thrown into a nightmare.

Worse still? It was with him — the arrogant, cruel man who nearly ran me over. The same stranger I’d cursed out.

Now, the world was watching.

How would John react? Would he even believe me?

I took one agonizing step after another, each footfall heavier than the last. I was headed home — my father’s house — though I already knew what awaited me as he had called me earlier.

Dad was out of touch with social media. But Clara, who is my step-mother wasn’t, neither was Eloha and I was pretty sure that either of them must have showed him the video by now.

Nevertheless, I still have to face him.

Sure enough, the moment I stepped inside, the air turned toxic, still, I went.

Because deep down, some naïve part of me still believed my father would protect me. However, the moment I walked through the door, I knew I was wrong.

Clara’s voice was sharp and venomous. “This is not a slut club,” she spat. “Take your filth somewhere else.”

Her hatred for me had always been thinly veiled. Now, it was pouring out freely.

Then, his voice sliced in, louder than thunder."Where have you been?"

I turned, only to be met with a slap so hard it rattled my skull.

Pain bloomed across my cheek.

My father — the man who raised me — had hit me.

“You’ve brought shame on this family!” he roared. “Sleeping with men and flaunting it like some street whore?! Is that what you are?!”

Tears welled in my eyes. “Dad, no! I was drugged — I didn’t know what happened, I—”

Before I could complete my words, his hand slapped me across the face. So, I staggered, as my cheek burned, and my heart splitted.

“Liar!” he bellowed. “I should’ve never raised you. You think I worked day and night to give you a future just to watch you destroy it in one night?!”

Tears mixed with blood. “Dad, please…” I whimpered. “You know me. You’ve known me my whole life. I would never do something like this—”

"You little bitch," Clara cut in. “Your filth is all over the internet. You’ve ruined everything.”

Then it escalated as he beat me. Open-handed, with fists and whatever he could grab. His rage poured onto me like fire on dry grass. So I stopped trying to defend myself.

“You ruined my plans!” he shouted. “I raised you without your mother, hoping to marry you off to someone important! But you destroyed everything! Now I’ll destroy you!”

And for a moment, I didn’t see my father. I saw a monster. With that, Clara grabbed me by the arm and dug her nails in. “Get her out of this house. Now!”

He opened the door and shoved me out — barefoot, bloodied and breathless.

“Get out. You’re dead to me.”

The door slammed shut behind me.

I stood on the porch, clothes torn, cheek swollen, blood dripping from my mouth. My body shook violently as the morning chill cut through me.

I had no one.

Except… maybe John.

****

Clinging to that last hope, I made my way to John’s apartment. I knew his door code so I punched it in and walked in quietly.

He wasn’t in the living room but the lights were dim. "He’s probably still asleep," I muttered.

Then I moved to the kitchen, grabbed a cold bottle of water, and gulped it down like it was air.

Then… I heard it. A wet, rhythmic and familiar moaning.

My heart plummeted. No. No, no, no…

I followed the sound like a ghost, dreading every step, only to discover it came from the bedroom.

Instantly, I pushed the door open and the world stopped right in front of my eyes.

“Eloha?” I choked.

There they were — my boyfriend and my stepsister. Naked and tangled in sheets. Her legs around his waist and their clothes scattered like confetti on the floor.

“John?” My voice cracked, barely recognizable. "What's going on?"

His head snapped up. “You’re asking me what’s going on?” he snapped. “You’re trending all over the internet! I’m the victim here!”

Eloha gave a venomous smile. “There she is. The overnight sensation.” She snickered. “Honestly, John, you deserve better than a girl who sleeps her way into the tabloids.”

“That’s not what happened!” I cried. “I was drugged—”

“Save it,” John snapped coldly. “You disgust me.”

With that I turned to Eloha and said. “You’re my sister... how could you do this?”

She laughed darkly. “You shamed us all. I’m just helping clean up the mess. And honestly? You’ve always been pathetic.”

John kissed her neck as she moaned loudly. “Mmm... right there, baby.”

Seeing all of these broke me, so I stumbled backward, choking on my tears as I turned and ran.

I didn’t stop.

Not when the tears blinded me or when my knees buckled or even when my lungs begged for air.

I ran until the city blurred, until the world faded behind me.

Everything was gone. My family, my relationship, my dignity. I had none left and the only option was to end it all.

Soon, I reached a tall, abandoned building. It was somewhere quiet, empty and dead. So I climbed to the rooftop barefooted, bleeding, and shaking as the wind howled around me.

The city lights sparkled below bright, distant and unreachable, maybe death would be easier than disgrace.

Tears streamed down my face as I whispered goodbye, stepping toward the edge… And then… I jumped but I never fell.

A strong hand caught my wrist midair, causing my body jerking back, and crashing onto the rooftop.

My chest heaved, and my heart thundering in panic so I coughed, gasped, and trembled.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

The voice was sharp, deep, furious, yet familiar. So I turned slowly and through blurred eyes, I saw him.

Vincenzo.