Chapter 2

Meanwhile, Alexander had just finished greeting yet another wave of guests. He paused, glancing toward the bridal suite.

"I wonder how my sister and Celeste are getting along. They haven't met before."

His friend Ryan walked over.

"Relax. Your sister's a people person — everyone says so. And Celeste is gracious and well-mannered. For all we know, they're already thick as thieves."

Alexander still couldn't shake his unease. Seeing this, Ryan called over another groomsman to cover and went to check himself.

A moment later, Ryan returned. Alexander asked immediately.

"How's it going?"

Ryan shook his head, looking puzzled.

"No idea where they went. The room was empty, but there were smashed fruit platters all over the floor."

Alexander frowned, anxiety rising, and turned to go find them himself.

But Celeste’s father Gerald appeared with a guest in tow.

"Mr. Whitfield, this is my son-in-law, Alexander Sterling."

Alexander had no choice but to stay and exchange pleasantries. He shot Ryan a look.

At the swimming pool.

By now, Celeste was consumed with fury.

She had me bound and shoved my head into the pool over and over again.

The suffocating rush of water combined with the throbbing pain in my skull made the world spin. I was on the verge of blacking out.

Celeste stood over me, her foot pressing down, looking at me with supreme contempt.

"Didn't you say you were my husband's sister?"

"He just sent someone to check the bridal suite."

I lifted my head, a flicker of hope in my eyes.

But Celeste saw it, ground her foot down harder, and hissed through clenched teeth.

"He saw the blood and didn't come. He doesn't give a shit about you."

She threw her head back and laughed, then kicked me into the pool. With my hands and feet tied, all I could do was thrash as I sank.

Margaret, ever the showwoman, lowered the camera into the water so the livestream wouldn't miss a single moment of agony on my face.

I tried to scream for help, but the instant I opened my mouth, water surged into my lungs.

Just when I thought I was going to drown, Celeste hauled me out.

Her hand struck my face over and over, slap after vicious slap, her mouth never stopping its torrent of abuse.

"You slut, didn't you want to hit me? Go on, fight back! Hit me!"

"Had enough already? You wanted attention? I'll give you attention."

*Go bride! If she chose to be a homewrecker, she deserves what she gets!*

*Agreed — let every guest see her face!*

*A woman like that should be stripped naked and paraded through the streets!*

By now my mind was slipping in and out of focus. All I could do was murmur weakly.

"Don't... don't... I'm Alexander's sister."

Celeste sneered, seized a fistful of my hair, and dragged me across the ground. The rough surface shredded the skin on my back until it was raw and bloody.

Margaret kept the camera shoved in my face. I tried to cover my exposed chest, but with my hands and feet bound, no amount of struggling made a difference.

It only made Margaret laugh harder.

"Celeste, you have no idea what the viewers are saying about this little tramp."

"The comments are blowing up — they want to see more!"

Celeste stopped in her tracks and turned to look at me with mocking amusement.

"Well, since they're so eager, let's show them just how shameless she really is!"

She spun around and tore my gown up to the thigh. The sudden rush of cold air ripped a scream from my throat.