I would do the only thing I could to get back at Mason: give someone else what I never gave him. I had a plausible purpose. After three years of trying, and failing, to be loved by Mason, at least being desired by another man was enough.
I navigated through the crowd. The lighting was dim, and I could barely make out the drunken bodies around me. I knew I did not have much courage, so I approached the bar and ordered a few shots.
The bartender looked at me with curiosity, after all, the people who frequented that place weren't very shy. I seemed like a little mouse, huddled and looking around with wide eyes at everything.
"On the house, sweetheart," the bartender smiled kindly at me.
I downed the liquid without caring about the burning sensation in my throat. I needed to be quick and get back home before Eleonor noticed my absence, after all, I had snuck out in the middle of the night.
When the music became tolerable, the shame faded, and my head felt lighter, I knew I was ready.
After the second drink, my body grew warmer, and I took off my coat. My attire consisted of only a thin blouse and jeans, unlike all the other women in the nightclub, who were practically naked.
I continued to look around, frightened, so the bartender leaned in over the counter. "Looking for someone?" he asked.
"N-no... not exactly," I stammered.
"Look, I've been working here for 2 years, and there's only one type of woman who frequents this brothel," he shouted over the music.
"What type?" I became curious.
Of course, I did not want to be mistaken for a hooker.
"The type looking for sex," he smiled as my cheeks turned red. "And there's no need to be ashamed of it. You're in the right place," he leaned in closer. "See, we have some male prostitutes here too."
I fell silent. I could hardly believe I was resorting to a brothel to lose my virginity.
What had all my education and class amounted to?
"Thank you for the drink," I said, stepping away from the bar.
I had abandoned the revenge plan. I simply couldn't picture myself... sleeping with a stranger just to level the playing field with Mason. My heart was saddened, but my morals remained strong.
But before I could move away, a tall, strong figure brushed past me. I was already feeling a bit woozy and couldn't see the man's face, but his scent caught my attention.
It was a strong aroma, overpowering all the other scents in the club.
I stood near the bar, staring at the man and trying to discern his features. But the drink had already taken its toll, and my vision was blurry. The only things I could make out were the man's dark hair, black clothing, and strong build.
"I'm about to head out, Peter," he spoke to the bartender, his voice barely audible over the din.
The bartender nodded in acknowledgment.
As the man took a step away from the bar, I reached out and grabbed his arm. I was somewhat tipsy, so I staggered, but I held on firmly. I never drank, and I wasn't accustomed to two shots of tequila in a row.
"You..." I began, my words slurring slightly as I struggled to focus.
"Pardon?" The man turned to face me, his eyes catching the faint glimmer of the bar lights.
"Do you work here?" I inquired.
It was a brothel. Most of the men and women there sold their bodies. This man had to be a prostitute.
"Something of the sort," he replied cryptically.
"I need your services," I blurted out. "I... I want you to spend the night with me."
**
I dragged my sore body as I walked slowly back home. I had gotten out of the taxi two blocks away and taken a short walk to the mansion, so as not to raise suspicions.
The man at the brothel wasn't satisfied with just doing it once. We had tried a few more times, and by the time we finished, it was almost dawn. The prostitute had fallen asleep, and I left some bills for him.
At least the revenge was accomplished: I was no longer entirely devoted to Mason. I was just as unfaithful and dirty as he was.
As soon as I opened the front door, I saw Eleonor stomping towards me. "Oh, you still know how to come back? You are the daughter-in-law of the Donovan family, and yet you went out all night. Tell me, where did you go?"
I was tired, so I ignored her.
Eleonor grabbed my clothes. "How daring of you to act so rudely to me? Did you forget how your family begged our Mason to marry you?"
I snorted coldly and pushed Eleonor away. "They begged you, not me, so you should go and look for them!"
Eleonor accidentally pulled my collar, revealing the marks on my neck. "You!" Eleonor's eyes widened, her voice laced with a mixture of shock and fury. The words tumbled out of her mouth, carrying an unmistakable sense of betrayal. "Arabella Collins, how dare you cheat behind my son's back?! I trusted you, welcomed you into our family, and this is how you repay us? I am going to teach you a lesson you will never forget."
My heart raced, my body trembling with a potent mix of fear and rage.
Eleonor's face contorted with anger, every line etched with disappointment and rage. In that moment, her piercing gaze seemed to strip away my defenses. "Are you going to tell me or not?"
"I do not know!" I looked at Eleonor viciously and felt triumphant at the taste of sweet revenge.
The air crackled with tension, each passing second amplifying the weight of the situation.
As the silence lingered, my eyes met Eleonor's gaze with a glimmer of revenge.
"You do not want to tell me?"
Slap!
Eleonor's hand descended upon my face. Of course, it wasn't the first time I had been hit, but it was the first time I had truly done something. I deserved it.
The pain made me curl up, and I smiled wryly. "Your son can drink and have fun outside, but I can't even find a lover? He does not have any self-control or respect for his wife, that is why I cheated on him!"
Eleonor was so angry that she staggered backwards. "Do you still believe you hold any semblance of authority as the eldest daughter of the Collins family?" she sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. "Your family's luck has long since run dry." With a derisive scoff, she continued, "If it weren't for Mason's pity towards you, you'd be scraping the gutters for sustenance." Her eyes narrowed with disdain. "How dare you?"
"How dare I?" I laughed bitterly. "My family wasn't the only one to benefit from this marriage." I stepped back and walked towards the stairs. "So screw you, screw your son, and screw this marriage!"
Eleonor's voice rose to a venomous crescendo. "Today, I will ensure you learn a brutal lesson!"
As I cautiously ascended the staircase, Eleonor sprang into action, her fingers curling tightly around the delicate porcelain vase perched on the nearby table.
With a primal fury in her eyes, Eleonor charged towards me.
In the fraction of a second, I turned, my eyes widening in alarm as I caught a glimpse of the lethal weapon hurtling towards me. There was no time to evade as the vase crashed against my skull with a deafening shatter, splintering into a shower of gleaming shards.
Pain exploded through my senses, a blinding agony that momentarily stole my breath.
Bang!
Bang!
I crumpled to the ground, my body tumbling and rolling down the staircase, before succumbing to unconsciousness.
"Now you know your place," Eleonor said, watching my faint form sprawled on the ground.
'Is she dead?''Is she in heaven?'My eyes snapped open, a jolt of shock coursing through my body as icy cold water cascaded over my face. The sudden deluge soaked my hair.Gasping for breath, I struggled to regain my composure, my vision blurred as water droplets clung to my lashes. The drenched fabric of my clothing clung uncomfortably to my skin."Oh, First Miss, are you awake?""You were caught red-handed by the Donovan family for having an affair!" My stepsister, Angel Collins, uttered in disdain. "They sent you back, do you know that? The entire Collins family's reputation has been ruined by you!""Angel, what are you talking about?" It was my manipulative stepmother, Felicia.I looked at the gloating faces of Felicia and Angel in front of me, and I smiled bitterly in my heart.It turned out that it was not heaven. It was back to hell. Life with Eleonor and Mason was bad, but life in Collins Mansion could be even worse.I struggled and winced at my aching body as I sat up. I smi
The weight of Mason's grip and the venom lacing his words sent tremors through my body. I felt the sting of his accusations, the sheer injustice of his assumptions weighing heavily upon me."Ha, ha!" In that pivotal moment, I found my voice, my eyes narrowing with determination. "Did you really think that that is considered as good treatment? In that case, why do not you hire a servant instead? At least a servant still has rights and control over her own life." In that charged moment, my words hung in the air, a defiant challenge.The room shook with the weight of the anger everyone felt. None of us dared to even breathe, because the air was too heavy to reach our lungs.I braced myself against his rough grasp, refusing to cower beneath his gaze.The strength within me surged. "Me? I have nothing! If you think that I am having such a good life, why do not you switch with me? I will give you 10,000 dollars every month, and then I will be free to fuck as many men as I want. What do you
Arabella was in front of the mirror, staring at her own green eyes with boredom and discomfort. She patted her face with a napkin, feeling physically and mentally exhausted. Mason had always been a calculative person - he had always brought her along whenever he needed to attend such important events.Honestly if the Collins family did not need Mason and his financial support, she would not give a piece of mind to those men who had always given her dirty looks. But for now, she must bear it all.After taking a moment to freshen up, Arabella emerged from the bathroom, feeling a renewed sense of composure. As she stepped into the corridor, her eyes fell upon a man standing with his back against the wall. She froze in place. He wasn't like the other men in the hall (vultures and repulsive, leering at her shamelessly). He was naturally sexy and attractive.His posture, though relaxed, held a certain disarming quality that intrigued Arabella. His mere presence exuded a captivating aura, d
Arabella's heart raced as she hastily made her way towards the bathroom door, her fingers fumbling to unlock it. The intensity of the moment still lingered within her, leaving her breathless and shaken. With a swift motion, she stepped out into the dimly lit room, her senses reeling.Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions as she tried to compose herself. The encounter with the man had left her stunned, a mixture of excitement and trepidation coursing through her veins. As she straightened her dress and ran her fingers through her hair, she sought to regain her composure, each action a deliberate attempt to reclaim her sense of self.She took a deep breath, steadying herself as she let the intensity of the moment wash over her.There was an undeniable magnetism that had drawn her towards the mysterious man, but now, as she stood alone in the aftermath, she realized the need to gather her thoughts and regain control.She walked back into the world, ready to face whatever lay ahead.Arab
His voice, filled with a bitter edge, pierced the air. "I haven't even asked you yet! Why did Damon ask for you specifically to go to his office? What's the relationship between the two of you?"Arabella Collins pursed her lips and did not say anything. She was still thinking about the way Damon Banks looked her just now.His gaze was so piercing that it sent shivers down her whole body. 'What does he want?''Why did he ask her to go his office?' She could not figure out what he was thinking. "I am asking you a question, did you hear me?" Mason Donovan grabbed Arabella's collar.When he saw the hickeys on Arabella's neck, he could feel his blood boil."Well well, Arabella Collins, it seems that I had underestimated you. Why did you take so long at the bathroom earlier? You are still my woman, and yet you still dare to cheat in front of me? I ought to teach you a lesson today!"Arabella sneered, "Your woman? Aren't the women of the Donovan family just objects to be exchanged for fav
Taking a deep breath, Arabella pushed open the door, entering the office with a poised grace. The space exuded an air of authority, its decor reflecting the high standards and professionalism expected within. As she crossed the threshold, she felt a surge of anticipation, knowing that the meeting ahead would present both challenges.As she stepped inside, the air crackled with tension, charged with anticipation. Her eyes immediately locked onto the sight of a large, extravagant desk dominating the center of the room. There, in the dimly lit space, stood the man she had been longing to see, his silhouette outlined against the soft glow of the room's ambient lighting. With a commanding presence, he leaned casually against the desk."Mr. Banks!" Arabella spoke.Armed with her experience, knowledge, and determination, she stepped further into the office, ready to make her mark."You are here," Banks's voice cut through the silence like a velvet blade, smooth and commanding. His calm demea
Mason Donovan tapped his feet impatiently, the seconds ticking by like eternity as he waited downstairs. When he finally caught sight of his wife rushing down the staircase, his heart clenched with anticipation.He wasted no time in swinging the door open. "How did it go?" he demanded.Arabella Collins pushed past him, her movements frantic and her expression wrought with distress. "Mason, I can't do it," she spat out, her words sharp and cutting. "Go and find someone else!"Mason's features contorted with anger, his jaw clenched so tightly it felt like it might snap. "Arabella, are you f*cking joking with me?" he seethed, his voice rising to a dangerous pitch. "You were up there for so long, and now you are telling me that you can't do it? Can't you do one simple thing right?" The air crackled with tension as his words hung heavy between them, the weight of disappointment and frustration threatening to suffocate them both."Oh... Did you think it is as simple as just negotiating for
Meanwhile, inside the room, Arabella was forcing the door handle. "Do not you dare leave me here, Mason!" she shouted. Despite her boldness, the beautiful woman was afraid of her husband's actions. Mason could very well be a psychopath and leave her locked in the room for days. "Let me out, Mason! You can't fucking lock me inside!"Outside, a smile formed on Eleonor's lips. Finally, Arabella was getting the treatment that the mother-in-law deemed appropriate. She scoffed, "You are the daughter-in-law of the Donovan family. Even if the king comes knocking on our door, we are not afraid!"**Following dayDamon stepped out of his luxurious car as the chauffeur opened the door. He stood before the Donovan mansion, ready for the dinner. When Clint called Mason last minute, requesting a dinner, Mason accepted without hesitation. All Mason wanted was for his project to be accepted.Damon was greeted at the door by Eleonor, who was impeccably dressed, wearing a fur coat over her dress. She k