PROLOGUE

Charisse 

SMACK!

My boyfriend, Valentin Egoton, hits me so coldly, so hard, I crash to the ground in the middle of the Michelin-starred restaurant.  

He hisses, “You’re supposed to be home making dinner! Why the fuck are you here? Can't you see that I'm busy!”

Everyone is staring at me in silent contempt and disgust, and I’m burning with humiliation. 

I’ve dreamed of it all: the romantic live music, the servers’ cheer, people chanting ‘say yes’, the maître d’s blessing; his proposal. 

But they aren’t mine. 

They belong to that woman—my boyfriend’s new object of desire. 

“You said you'd marry me!” I scream for the first time in all nine years of our relationship, “Now, you’re on your knees for another woman?”

He grabs my hair and yanks my face to his. “Damn it, Charisse,” he snarls in a low voice because he doesn’t want anyone to hear what he's about to say.

No one but me. 

“You need to grow up. I told you to be careful because you’re a fucking embarassment—this is what I mean! Now, you’re making me embarrassed, and I don’t even deserve it!”

I touch his angry wrists, not to stop him from hurting me, but to remind him of our love. The love we’ve shared, for nine years. Surely that means something to him.  

“Please, Val, I’m sorry, I really am,” I whispered, “I promise to be good. I'll quit the job if it makes you happy. I'll stay at home from now on.” 

I smile. The smile he loves. The smile that captured his heart when we first met, back in college. 

“I'm your good slut, Val…I can make you happy, give you what you want—.”

A sharp voice stabs like a dagger. “You told me she’s your maid, Val.”

Nobody calls him Val but me!  

Before I react to that, Val fists my hair and twitches me toward the woman he had just proposed to, and she comes into full view. 

Earlier, when I saw her from the window, I felt nothing but anger. 

Now, grovelling at her feet, all I feel is shame. 

I’ve never been ashamed of my oversized sweatsuit, the natural curl of my orange hair, and my pale complexion. 

But that exquisite dress, that styled hair and that luscious make-up makes me tiny and pathetic. 

Still gripping my hair, Val hauls my petite body up as though I was a fish for sale. 

”This?” He glares reprimandingly. “She’s one of those girls from college I’ve told you about. She was dying to be my maid, and I felt bad for her, so I did as she asked.”

I’m aghast. “Maid?! I’m not your maid, I’m your girlfrien—!”

SMACK! 

She slaps me and I crash to the ground again. 

“You sick bitch. Leave us alone!”  Her voice blasts above me. “You need serious help. This isn’t college anymore so stop coming after my man.”

I jump up and return that slap perfectly on that pretty cheek, then scream at the top of my lungs. 

“HE’S MY MAN, YOU WHORE! HE’S BEEN MINE FOR NINE YEARS! I’M HIS GIRLFRIEND, NOT YOU—.”

“ENOUGH!” Val swings a kick into my stomach.

I fling back to the ground, my stomach nearly punctured. I cough profusely in excruciating pain, but my boyfriend rushes over to that woman and hugs her protectively. 

The stake of betrayal that’s already in my heart drives in another inch. 

Is this really the end for us? Why, Val? Just last night, you were still making passionate love to me! Just last night, you told me you love me! I know you do, so why–?

“I’ve had enough of your nonsense, Charisse!” He yells like the victim. ”I’ve been understanding about your sick fantasies, but I can’t tolerate your perverted violence!” 

I’m sick? I’m perverted? 

“Just yesterday…,” I croak. 

Blood is seeping from the corner of my mouth but I ignore it to pull myself back on my feet. 

“You told me that you love me… when you fucked me hard and strong—.” 

Yes, I have no shame. I’m going to tell the world if that’s what it takes to get him back. I can’t lose him. I fucking love him! If I’ve to lose my pride, so be it!

The woman cries harder, “Tell me that’s not true, Val! You said I’m the sun of your universe!” 

Val panicked. “Shut up, you sick bitch!” He punches my left cheek and starts stamping his feet on me like I was dirt. A fly that needs to be rid off. 

Over and over, the heels of his Italian leather shoe—a gift from her—jabs my hipbone, and the pain consumes my body until I stop feeling anything. 

I can’t even move. Every breath is a sharp pain up my spine. 

Then, the stomping stops. 

“Ssh, darling, don’t cry.” His tender voice soothes. 

And I feel relieved.  

He’s not mad anymore. He’s done punishing me. This has been all an act. He didn’t propose to another woman; she’s just an actress he hired to teach me a lesson—.

“She’s not worth it, Cilia baby,” he adds and kisses her right in front of me.  

And the stake of betrayal impaled me, right through the heart. 

As I lay there, barely able to move, that vile woman wails in great sorrow. 

“I’ve never been so humiliated in my life, Valentin! Do you know how precious I am? Daddy doesn’t even hit me! How dare she hit me and not apologise? Do something, Valentin! Or I’ll kill myself!”

The cheater hugs her tightly like a precious gem. “No, baby, please. I love you, and that's what matters, right?” 

She points angrily at me. “This is all her fault! Our third anniversary celebration is ruined! She ruined it!” 

Silent tears wash down my face. So they’ve been together for three years. And all this time, I thought I was his only love. 

Valentin Egoton, you—.

“Liar…,” I cough, my body soaked in pain, weak from the broken heart. “Valentin Egoton, you fucking liar—.” 

He glowers at me. ”You’re the liar, Charisse. Your lies are over.” He gives a nod at the maître d, and two burly men come at me. 

*****

Dorian

“Hey, are you sure you wanna stay out of this? She’s getting evicted!” Alfred hisses from the door of the VIP room on the restaurant's second floor. 

I take another sip of whiskey and observe the crystal glass. “You’d rather she stay and ruin everyone’s dinner?” 

He frowns. “But she’s your secretary, isn’t she?” 

“And this is your restaurant, my friend,” I murmur quietly. 

He whips out his phone and types at full speed. “I’m going to tell my boys to go easy on her—.” 

And I grip the glass in a jealous rage. 

“Stop it,” I snarl.  

Alfred pauses and looks up. “Dorian buddy, I know you love me, and I appreciate that you’re putting me first. But she’s a woman—.” 

Bang! I slam the empty glass on the table. “I KNOW SHE IS!” 

And I know damn well she’s not my woman. 

As long as that son of a bitch still lives in her heart, she’ll NEVER see me as a man. 

Alfred sighs. “So you’re just gonna watch him treat her like a human punching bag and do nothing?”

I glower at the slightly ajar door as screams of “You lying sack shit!” piercing from the first floor. 

“Yes, I am. Because it's personal, not business. So I should stay out of it,” I repeat her words. 

If I don’t, she’ll never get over him and come to me.