CHAPTER 2

With the phone pressed to my ear, I could hear Nicholas's voice all around me, his words heavy and hanging in the air between us. However, my thoughts were elsewhere, caught in a storm of feelings and recollections that was about to take me over even as he was speaking.

I was left with a painfully clear memory of every instant of last night's scene, which played out in my head like a menacing tune. The warmth of our bodies entwined in the dark, the feel of James's hands, the fire in his eyes, the dance of our tongues, the fullness of his shaft deep inside me. That brief diversion from the disarray of my everyday life was a passionate and perplexing time.

But now that I could hear Nicholas's voice echoing in my ear, the truth of my predicament hit me hard. My acts caused me much shame and guilt, which felt like a quiet indictment of my own foolishness and frailty.

"I think... I think we should break up." His voice broke through the haze of my thoughts, his words hitting me like a physical blow.

My breath caught in my throat, the sting of his words cutting through my chest. "Break up?" I repeated, the words feeling foreign and strange on my tongue.

"Yeah," he replied, his tone somber. "I just don't think this is working anymore. We're both going in different directions, and... I don't want to hold you back."

A lump formed in my throat as I struggled to find the right words to respond. "But... But I love you," I finally managed to choke out, the words coming out in a desperate whisper.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and I could almost hear the weight of his own sorrow echoing through the static. "I know," he said softly. "But sometimes love isn't enough."

As I listened to his words, tears pinched at the corners of my eyes, the wave of feeling that was the sorrow of rejection sweeping over me.

"But it’s not enough reason to give up; we can work it out if you’re willing to do the same with me," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my own heart.

“It’s not as easy as you say, Audrina.”

Nothing else could be said; there were no more words that could heal the rift that had formed between us. I hung up the phone with a heavy heart, and while I was reeling from the aftermath, the sound of the door burst open, startling me out of my thoughts.

I looked up to see Paige standing in the doorway, her eyes widening in shock as they landed on me.

"What the... Audrina, what the hell happened to you?" Paige exclaimed, her voice a mix of disbelief and outrage.

I instinctively crossed my arms over my chest, suddenly self-conscious under her scrutinizing gaze. "It's nothing," I muttered, hoping to brush off her questions and avoid any further confrontation.

But she wasn't about to let it go that easily. She stepped further into the room, her eyes narrowing as she took in the sight of me. "Nothing? Are you kidding me?" she scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. "You're covered in hickeys, Drina. And... and is that a love bite on your neck?"

I felt the heat rise in my cheeks as I realized what she was referring to. I had been so caught up in my own turmoil that I hadn't even bothered to check my reflection before facing my sister. Now, as her accusing gaze bore into me, I felt a surge of shame wash over me.

"It's not what you think," I protested weakly, my voice barely above a whisper.

She took another step closer to me, her expression incredulous. "Not what I think? Audrina, you spent the night with a man who isn't your mate," she hissed, her words laced with anger. "Do you have any idea what you've done? You've violated the sanctity of the marriage, Audrina. You've brought shame upon our family."

I had known that what I did was wrong, but to hear it spoken aloud by her was almost too much to bear.

"I didn't mean to," I whispered. "I was confused, Paige. I didn't know what else to do."

But she wasn't interested in my excuses. She shook her head in disgust, her eyes blazing with fury. "That's not good enough," she spat, her voice cold and unforgiving. "You knew the consequences of your actions, and you chose to ignore them. You've brought shame upon us all."

“Why can’t you believe me? I would never intentionally do anything to ruin dad’s reputation, and I’m sorry if you think I did.”

Not that the apology was necessary for her to hear, but still, she just shook her head, her expression hardening. "Sorry isn't going to fix this," she said, her voice steely. "You've made your bed; now you have to lie in it. And don't expect me to clean up the mess you've made."

But before I could gather my thoughts, Paige was already advancing towards me, her phone held aloft in her outstretched hand. "I need evidence," she declared, her voice cold and unyielding.

My heart sank as I realized what she intended to do. "No, Paige, please," I begged, desperation creeping into my voice. "Don't do this."

But she ignored my pleas, her fingers moving deftly over the screen as she snapped pictures and recorded videos of me, capturing every damning detail of my shame.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I watched helplessly. The humiliation of being exposed for all to see was too much to bear or think about. How could I have let things spiral out of control like this? How could I have been so foolish?

And then, as if her drama had suddenly made me pull back to my senses, "Did you drug me last night?" I asked her a question that could connect all the dots for me.

She halted, her eyes meeting mine, and for an instant, I could see hesitation flickering in her eyes. However, it was soon replaced by a calculating, cold gaze, and her lips curled into a sneer of hatred.

"Don't be ridiculous, Audrina," she scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. “You want to blame this on me now? How low can you stoop?”