Chapter 62

Vincent King's gaze was wrong.

Susan Thompson felt a chill run down her spine. She instantly realized he'd been drugged. Clenching her fists, her nails dug deep into her palms. This was clearly a trap—and she was the prey.

Slap!

The sharp sound of a slap echoed through the room.

"Vincent, snap out of it!" Susan barked.

Vincent shook his head, a flicker of clarity flashing in his eyes before being replaced by deeper disgust. He shoved her away roughly, his voice dripping with scorn. "Stop pretending. Wasn't this your plan all along?"

"You're insane!" Susan staggered to her feet. "We've been set up!"

She reached for her clutch, only to find her phone dead. Cold sweat trickled down her back. She had to get out of this room—now. If the "witnesses" arrived, everything would be ruined.

But before she could touch the doorknob, a brutal force yanked her back.

"Playing hard to get?" Vincent sneered, his eyes bloodshot. "Disgusting."

Susan crashed onto the floor, pain exploding behind her eyes. She fought desperately, but his strength overpowered her. Despair surged like a tide as she heard the sickening rip of fabric.

Meanwhile, in the banquet hall...

Nicole Capra hurried toward Andrew Lucas, who had just ended a call. Her face was the picture of distress. "Andrew, something terrible happened!"

"Hmm?" He pocketed his phone indifferently.

"It's Susan..." Nicole hesitated dramatically. "Someone saw her upstairs with Vincent..."

Before she could finish, Andrew was already sprinting away. Nicole watched his frantic retreat, a cold smirk curling her lips. Her meticulously laid trap was about to spring.

BANG!

The door burst open with violent force.

Andrew's vision turned red at the sight of the tangled figures on the bed. His fist collided with Vincent's face. The two men crashed into each other, the brutal sound of flesh striking flesh filling the room.

Susan struggled to stand, her clothes disheveled. Instinct made her step forward to intervene—until she saw the blood at Andrew's mouth. Her body locked in place. A sharp pain pierced her heart as she gave a bitter, self-mocking smile.

That tiny expression ignited Andrew's fury.

She was smiling?

Panicked for Vincent, but smiling at his pain? His strikes grew more vicious, each one aimed to kill.

"Stop!" Nicole rushed in, feigning distress as she grabbed Andrew's arm. "This must be a misunderstanding!"

She turned to shield Susan, her voice trembling with fake tears. "Vincent, how could you do this to her?"

In the shadows, Nicole's nails dug into her palms. Though the plan had deviated slightly, it was enough. By dawn, Susan would be branded a harlot—despised by the two men who mattered most.