Chapter 5

I was still processing what she meant when Nancy suddenly lunged at me.

Before I could react, she grabbed my hand and slapped herself across the face. Hard. Once. Twice. Three times.

"I'm so sorry, Miss Martinez. This is all my fault. If I hadn't gotten sick, you wouldn't have to give up your heart. If hitting me makes you feel better, go ahead, hit me."

A gust of air whipped past me before I even saw him coming. A brutal shove sent me flying sideways. I stumbled, my head cracking against the wall. Something warm trickled down my forehead, red flooding my vision. But Gregory didn't even glance at me. He was too busy pulling Nancy into his arms.

"What happened? Are you hurt?"

Nancy collapsed against him, tears streaming down her face. "Don't blame Miss Martinez. She's being forced to give me her heart, of course she's upset. Whatever she does to me, I deserve it."

Looking at her pathetic, pitiful act, Gregory's face twisted, anger mixed with tenderness.

And all of that anger landed on me.

His eyes cut into me like a blade. "What the hell is wrong with you? You're the one who agreed to donate, and now you're causing trouble? I made this decision, not her. Why are you taking it out on Nancy?"

He didn't even give me a chance to speak. He just turned to Nancy. "How many times did she hit you?"

Nancy looked up weakly, biting her lip. "Three..."

"Gregory, please. Just let it go."

He stroked her hair gently, soothing her. Then he turned to his security team. "You heard her. I want thirty."

Dark shadows closed in around me. Through the gaps, I watched Gregory lift Nancy into his arms like she was made of glass.

Then the first slap landed. Then another. And another.

It hurt. God, it hurt so much. My eyes were barely staying open.

If Grayson were here, he would protect me.

But he wasn't. No one was.

---

I don't know how long it took, but eventually the guards dragged me back to the Evans estate.

For the next few days, I was confined to the house. Gregory didn't come back.

I found out what he was doing through the news.

Prime-time coverage. A full ten minutes dedicated to New York's most eligible bachelor and his relentless pursuit of the woman he truly loved.

He bought a luxury yacht. Just to see her smile.

She liked diamonds, so he flew to South Africa and bid on the world's largest pink diamond. Delivered it to her personally.

She couldn't eat, so he brought in Michelin-star chefs. When that didn't work, he cooked for her himself.

Every society girl in New York was green with envy.

I watched it all like it had nothing to do with me.

Three days later, Nancy's birthday.

Gregory's assistant showed up with a gown. I was to attend the party and apologize to Nancy in front of everyone.

I didn't want to go. But the assistant's words were ice. "Mr. Evans said you're coming, whether you like it or not. Even if I have to drag you there myself."

For Nancy, he would toss my feelings aside without a second thought.

I stared at my reflection, cheeks still flushed, marks not fully healed. My eyes burned as I reached for the foundation, patting layer after layer over the bruises, trying to hide what they had done.

Almost there.

I told myself, over and over.

Almost there. The mission would end soon. And I would finally get what I came for.