Chapter 3

It felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over my head.

I used to believe Connor and I were in love. He had said so many sweet things to me when we had slept together. But the truth was, I had just been a plaything.

He forced a kiss on me, and I slapped him.

He licked his lips. "Feel better now? If you're done, clean yourself up. Vanessa invited you to dinner to smooth things over. She's being the mature one here, so don't act like a child."

-

Vanessa showed up with a set of expensive jewelry as a gift for me, saying it was an apology. I wanted nothing to do with either of them. We went back and forth, and in the end, I didn't accept it.

At dinner, the two of them were overly affectionate. Connor picked out the bones in her fish, picked off the green onions and cilantro she didn't like, and fed her bite by bite. It was just like what he used to do for me.

It made my chest feel tight. I excused myself and went to the restroom.

Once dinner was over, something unexpected happened.

Vanessa suddenly clutched her purse and shrieked, "Connor, the jewelry I bought is gone!"

She frantically searched her surroundings but didn't find anything. Then her gaze landed on me.

"We both stepped away for a bit. Only Selena stayed here the entire time."

I stared at her in disbelief. "Are you accusing me of stealing?"

Vanessa hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Selena, I don't think it's you either. But maybe you could show us your bag?"

I clutched my bag tightly, refusing to hand it over. Vanessa looked to Connor for help. He shot me a threatening glance, then yanked the bag out of my hands and handed it to Vanessa.

I never expected her to actually pull out the jewelry from my bag.

Her expression turned sour. "Connor said you were spoiled. I didn't believe him at first. You didn't want the gift, so you stole it instead?"

Connor looked at me like I disgusted him. "Selena! You're getting more and more out of control. How dare you steal?"

I stared him down. "You know what kind of person I am. I didn't take it!"

Connor slapped me across the face. "Is this how your mother raised you? Stealing, and still not owning up to it?"

My cheek burned. It was the first time he had ever hit me.

Whispers and murmurs filled the air around us.

"She looked classy, but she's a thief."

"Bet she stole it after pretending to say no. Fake modesty."

"Pathetic. Ungrateful trash."

I felt like my dignity had been crushed.

I bit down hard on my lip. "It wasn't me. We can check the surveillance cameras!"

Vanessa rushed to smooth things over. "Connor, teaching her a lesson is enough. Don't blow it up. It won't be good for her."

Connor smiled apologetically. "Let me talk to Selena in private."

Once inside a private room, Connor seemed like a completely different person. He gently touched my face.

"Did that hurt, baby? I'll put some ointment on when we get home."

His tender expression was completely different from earlier. I stared at him blankly and tried to walk away.

"I'm going to check the cameras. I didn't steal that!" I said.

But he stopped me. "I'm not letting you. I know it wasn't you, but you still need to apologize."

I felt the blood freeze in my veins.

"You knew it wasn't me, and you still went along with it?"

He coaxed me in a deep voice. "She's immature. She's my fiancée. I can't just call her out. That'd hurt her feelings. Just go apologize. I'll make it up to you."

I laughed through my tears. "And what about me, Connor? What about my humiliation and pain? Do those mean nothing to you?"

Connor sneered. "Aw, poor little Selena. But don't forget what I used to threaten you before we came out tonight."

I couldn't even speak after hearing that.

I walked out of the room like a shell of myself and apologized to Vanessa.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have stolen it."

The crowd who had watched it all unfold murmured louder now, their judgmental words washing over me like a flood.

I fled in shame, wanting nothing more than to disappear, but then I ran into Jamie downstairs.