Chapter 1

I shot up from my seat, the glass in my hand shattering into pieces on the floor.

The room was full of music and laughter, so no one really noticed, except Melvin Frazier. Sitting right next to me, he turned his head, his eyes sharp and watchful.

His voice came out soft, almost too soft. "Sheila, what's wrong?"

I shivered, teeth clenching as I looked at the man in front of me—the same man who would one day hit me so hard until I lost my baby, the same man who'd push me, fresh out of the hospital, to sleep with clients.

As I recalled the tragedy that was my past life, the feelings I thought I had for him disappeared in an instant. It was as if I had woken up from a dream and realized I didn't love him anymore.

"My stomach hurts. I need to use the restroom," I whispered, my face pulling into just enough pain to sell the lie.

"Go on. I'll wait for you," Melvin said smoothly, not doubting me for a second.

I nodded like a good girl, stood up, and walked out slowly. But the moment the door shut behind me, I bolted through the halls toward the hotel rooms upstairs.

-

I had just done something incredibly stupid.

I'd handed my brother, Ryan Cobbett, that glass of drugged wine myself.

His eyes were already red when he looked at me, asking if he really had to drink it.

I was cruel enough to smile and say, "Of course. If you don't drink it, I'll drink it for you."

He couldn't fight me when I was risking myself. He'd always been helpless against my stubbornness.

So he took the glass and downed it in one go.

I laughed and touched his face. I praised him for being so obedient and told him to stay this way forever.

His eyes got redder. I thought it was because he hated alcohol.

Ryan had always been the perfect one. He was everyone's golden boy.

But after seeing the whole story play out, I finally understood. Ryan wasn't perfect but obsessive and dangerous.

He already knew Melvin and I were setting him up. The scary part was that he walked right into it willingly.

The drug worked fast. His cheeks were flushed, his body swaying. Melvin ordered his guys to carry Ryan up to a hotel room for the second part of the plan.

Right before they dragged him away, I heard Ryan calling for me.

"Sheila… Sheila, I don't feel good… Take me away…"

But I didn't even glance back. I leaned against Melvin, giggling while begging for his approval.

I was nothing more than a cheap prop on display.

Blinded by love, I couldn't see that I was just one of Melvin's disposable pieces that was easy to toss away the second I wasn't useful.

The only reason Melvin ever treated me specially was because Ryan, the one man he could never defeat, loved me too much.

At that time, I was still Ryan's only weakness.

-

Every hotel room looked the same.

I had no clue which one they'd locked Ryan in, so I had to check them one by one.

I kept knocking on doors, and if I got the wrong one, I just apologized and moved on.

I kept running, my eyes stinging, but never daring to stop.

Until I stumbled into a room with the door left ajar.

I heard water running in the bathroom.

I crept closer, pushing the door open inch by inch, only to find Ryan in the tub, half-dressed, soaking in the water.

Thank God, he was safe for now.