001

NOELLE

"What did you just say?!" My adoptive father yells, his spit splashing on my face. My cheek burns, my ear throbbing from the force of the slap he's just unleashed on me. Tears prick my eyes, bile threatening to push up my throat.

"I said, no!" I cry out, my voice cracking. I am so sick of it. I have a family, but it feels like I don't!

"How dare you talk back to me, you ungrateful brat?!" He hisses, and I flinch.

"I'm not marrying a stranger just because you want me to. If you're so desperate to marry off one of your daughters in return for money, Eleanor is—"

The second slap lands harder.

My vision blurs as pain radiates through my face. My short black hair falls into my eyes, and I gasp, barely managing to stay upright.

Behind him, Eleanor whimpers softly, clutching our mother's arm. Her nails are perfectly manicured, her dress spotless. She looks fragile and delicate, she's everything I've never been allowed to be.

"You will not say my daughter's name with that filthy mouth," he roars. "Know your place, you brat!"

I take a step back, my chest heaving. "My place?" I laugh weakly, the sound humorless. "You don't even feed me properly. You don't pay my tuition. I work, I clean, I serve—"

My voice cracks completely. "What else do you want from me?"

Mother scoffs in disbelief. "Didn't you know? You were simply adopted to make life easier for our little girl."

"Little girl?" I choke out in disbelief. "She's 23! She's not a child!"

"You will marry the suitor we have provided for you. If you try anything stupid, you'll pay for it. Now get lost!" Father yells, and I storm upstairs, hot tears rolling down my cheeks.

They hate me. Every single one of them. Still, I've done my best to work hard to fund my studies. I work several jobs, barely managing to attend my classes. I want to work in an office. I want to succeed...not become a housewife at age 20.

I have to leave. It doesn't matter how. I must.

So, I pack my stuff once I get to my room. My hands shake so hard, the tears coming endlessly. Every single time I've tried to escape, they refuse to let me. Will things be different this time?

The thought lingers in my mind as I sneak down the stairs later that night. Thankfully, the coast is clear. Pulling my hood lower, I reach for the doorknob, twisting it as gently as I can.

"Noelle?"

I freeze at the sound of my adoptive mother's voice. She's standing by the passageway leading to the kitchen. Her eyes narrow, fury flashing across her features.

"Get back here!" She yells, lunging for me, only to slip and fall on her backside. She screams for her husband, but I don't hesitate.

I fling the door open and take off, breaking into a sprint. My chest heaves, my stomach churning. I can't believe I'm doing this. I don't stop running until I get to my boyfriend's house. It's only a few streets away. My parents don't even know about him.

Panting, I lift a hand to knock on the door, only to freeze when I hear the sound of feminine laughter ringing through the air. My pulse roars in my ears as I finally push myself to knock.

The door flings open, and every cell in my body freezes at the sight of the familiar face wearing my boyfriend's shirt. I can tell she's naked underneath. Her nipples proudly poke through the material, the hem merely skimming her thighs.

"Eleanor?" I gasp, and she flashes me a smile. Then she turns away from me.

"Babe! Come over here, will you?" She calls out, and blood drains from my face.

Babe?

That can't be right.

She isn't talking about my Alex, right—

A gasp slips from my lips as my boyfriend hurries over, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Why are you here?" He asks me, and my head spins. It feels like I'm on the edge of a cardiac arrest.

"W-what is this?" I croak, barely able to recognize even the sound of my own voice.

"This?" Eleanor drawls, looping her arms around his neck and leaning up to kiss him.

My heart plummets into my stomach.

"Meet Alex, my fiancé," she drawls, and my stomach protests immediately.

"I don't... I don't understand... Alex, I...tomorrow was supposed to be our second anniversary—"

Eleanor bursts into hysterical laughter, tossing her head backwards. My face burns with both embarrassment and a stirring fury.

"You're hilarious, Dumpster," she chortles.

My ears ring, my fingers curling so tight that my nails bite into my palms.

"How long?" I whisper. "How long has this been going on?"

Eleanor laughs. A soft, tinkling sound that makes bile rise in my throat. "Oh, Noelle. A long time."

Alex shrugs. "Before you, actually."

My heart skips a beat.

"So what was I?" I ask, my voice shaking despite everything.

Eleanor tilts her head, studying me like I'm something unpleasant stuck to her shoe. "A bet."

What?

"He said you were... difficult," she continues casually. "We wanted to see if he could take your virginity."

Alex chuckles. "Too bad you were so stingy about it."

My lungs burn. I can't breathe.

"Or maybe," Eleanor adds, her eyes raking over me slowly, "you're just insecure about your body. I mean—" her lips twist, "you're not exactly pretty, are you?"

My fist connects with Eleanor's face before I can second-guess. She screams, stumbling back.

Alex shouts my name, but I'm already moving.

I swing my leg up and kick him hard between the legs.

He folds instantly, choking out a pained cry. Chest heaving, I turn and run. The tears blind me, my chest feeling like it's about to cave in. By the time I stop moving, I find myself standing in front of a bar.

I push inside.

Music thumps softly, faint laughter echoing. I won't be able to afford even the cheapest alcohol in here. But I used to work here. Surely that should count for something, right?

I stumble up to the counter, my hands shaking so badly I have to grip the edge to stay upright.

Dave, the bartender, looks up. He hesitates when he sees my face.

"What'll it be?" he asks.

I swallow hard, my throat burning.

"Something strong," I rasp.

Because if I don't numb this, I'm going to break apart.

Dave doesn't ask questions, thankfully. When my drink reaches me, I gulp it down, fighting the urge to go throw it all up. It burns its way down.

I grip the edge of the bar harder, my knuckles whitening as Eleanor's voice replays in my head. A bet.

Alex wanted my virginity.

To think that I was really going to—

The thought makes me feel sick, anger flooding in so fast it nearly makes me dizzy.

I lift my head and finally look around.

The bar is dim and slightly crowded. Men in tailored suits laugh softly at a corner table. Someone brushes past me, smelling faintly of cologne and whiskey.

I straighten slowly.

Why does my virginity get to haunt me?

My jaw clenches.

No. I refuse.

I refuse to let Eleanor use it as a weapon. I refuse to let Alex turn it into a joke.

If I'm going to lose it, it will be my own choice.

On my terms.

My gaze snags on a lone figure sitting at the far end of the bar. Heart racing, I push to my feet, swaying a little.

He's definitely new.

I can't see his face clearly. But I'm sure I've never seen him before. As if he can feel my gaze, he looks up, and the air whooshes out of my lungs. The prettiest blue eyes I've ever seen lock with mine. My heart goes into overdrive instantly.

Scrambling for my wallet, I pull out every bit of cash I have and stumble towards him. If I'm doing this, I'll do it boldly.

I stop in front of him, and place the money on the table.

"Excuse me?" He speaks in a tantalizing baritone voice that instantly rearranges my internal organs.

“One night. I want one night with you," I breathe.

He blinks, his devastatingly intense gaze setting me on fire.

“You're drunk."

“No, sir. I just want...my virginity gone."

He cocks his head, his pretty lashes fanning against his cheeks when he blinks.

“Ms. Kennedy, do you not recognize me?” He asks, and I freeze.

I don’t…where have I…

He lifts his hand to his head and lowers his hood. The air vanishes from my lungs, my knees nearly buckling when the lights hit his impossibly beautiful face.

Dear God.

“Mr. L-Lakewood,” I stutter, and he arches a perfect brow at me.