CHAPTER 5 FRAMED AND SUPPORTED

The toy.

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The doors broke open, I froze, cameras flashing from every direction.

“What happened?” “Did you attack Ms. Beckham because you are jealous?” Reporters bombarded me with questions.

How could I explain that Lucy had framed me and that she did this all to herself?

I could see Lucy muttering things to someone who looked like her mother. Damon stood silently, doing nothing at all.

The woman approached me, fire blazing in her eyes. “How dare you ruin my daughter’s beautiful face?” Striking my face with her hand. “You are Maniac, Crazy Bitch." She struck me again.

“Your daughter is the maniac." I screamed, nearly ripping my vocal cords. “She did that to herself.”

“Liar.” She was about to strike a third time. Damon intervened. “Enough,” he muttered, catching her hand mid-air.

“Are you picking her side over your fiancée?” Her eyes widened.

“I’m not picking sides—I'm trying to de-escalate the situation.” His face was stern. “Call the security to escort her out.” He ordered.

Collapsing to the floor, a stream of tears flowed down, soaking my lashes. As the security men roughly lifted me up by my arms, Damon muttered, “Handle her with care.”

As I was thrown outside the building, I hissed as I grazed my elbows and knees on the hard ground.

“Are you okay?” Logan ran down the stairs and cradled me in his arm.

“I didn’t do that to her; she did it to herself,” I said, my voice shaking from crying.

“It’s okay.” Logan said, pressing my head against his chest as he gently stroked my hair. “Let’s get you out of here.” He lifted me and walked me towards my car.

“Your key? You are in no condition to drive.”

I handed it over before stepping into the passenger seat.

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After a thirty-minute drive, I arrived at my apartment. With my suffering heart, I collapsed onto my sofa.

“You have a first aid kit?” Logan questioned.

“Yeah, kitchen, first cupboard on your left,” I replied. He went to grab it.

The door was unlocked, and Jessie ran towards me, sitting down next to me. “What the hell happened?” She demanded.

Trying to explain, I burst into tears. She pulled me into a hug. “It’s alright.” As she patted my back.

I recounted the whole experience.

“That bloody bitch. She was lucky I wasn’t there; I would have ripped her hair from her scalp.” Jessie uttered.

“This is going to be everywhere in the headlines.” I whimpered.

“Baby, it’s already in the headlines. How did you think I heard about it?”

That was true. I hadn’t called her, yet here she was.

“Let me see.”

“It’s better you don’t.” Jessie advised.

Ignoring her, I picked up my remote and turned on the TV, revealing Lucy talking about the incident:

“She said she wanted to tell me about my fiancé and that we should go somewhere private. I had no idea how crazy she was, so I did. When we got into the room, she locked the door and started attacking me, saying, I should stay away from Damon because he’s hers,” Lucy said, bursting into tears—obviously fake tears.

She was a good actress—I had to give her that.if I wasn’t the victim here, I would have believed her.

“She broke a bottle over my head and said she was teaching Damon a lesson for leaving her to be with me,” Lucy continued.

“This bitch is twisting everything.” Jessie blurted out. Her tone was laced with anger.

“Thanks to my fiancé, who broke the door and saved me.” Lucy turned to Damon.

“What do you have to say about the incident?” A reporter asked, turning the camera to Damon.

“No comment.” Damon replied.

“No comment! That’s all he could say? He couldn’t tell them his fiancée is a psychopath, and she should be locked up in a mental institute.” Jessie yelled, turning off the TV. “You don’t need to see this rubbish.”

I forced a smile.

“This is it.” Logan walked in holding the first aid kit.

“Oh! Logan is here.” Jessie asked.

“Yeah, he brought me home,” I replied.

“Hey!” Logan casually greeted her.

“Since you are not alone, let me rush back to my event.” Jessie grabbed her bag. “I’ll call later.” She gave a funny smile before leaving.

I winced as he rubbed my wounds with cotton wool dipped in spirit.

“Sorry.” He smiled at me before applying bandage. “All good.” He added.

“Thanks. And I’m sorry for being a disturbance,” I stated.

“Not at all.”

“Are you sure you can stay alone? Or should I stay still until your friend comes back?” He suggested.

I didn’t want to stay alone; I didn’t want my head running with thoughts it shouldn’t. I was already devastated. The world probably thinks I’m a crazy woman. On Monday, I might receive a sack letter from my boss.

“Fine, I’ll stay with you till Jessie returns,” he replied. “But please, tell me you have alcohol.” Logan chuckled, flashing his fine smile.

“Yes.” I lead him to the kitchen.

Although it was Damon’s alcohol, I couldn’t give a fuck or two if another man drank it. That’s the only punishment I could give him.

I brought two cups and a bottle of alcohol and placed them on the slab.

“Are you taking juice?” He asked.

“Not after this incident.” I smiled, pouring the amber liquid into the cups.

I tightened my face as I took a shot.

It’s a bitter taste—I hated it. But I would drink it as long as it could ease my pain, even if it was just temporary.

“I do believe you.” Logan blurted it out. “You don’t look like a crazy ex, but Lucy does.” He chuckled before taking a shot.

“Have you ever had a crazy ex?” I asked, taking in another shot.

“Yeah, that’s how I know what one looks like.” He leaned in, pouring into our cups.

“What did she do?”

“She destroyed my car and threatened to un-alive herself if I didn’t come back." He clicked his tongue.

“How did you deal with her?” I asked, the effect of alcohol already kicking in.

“I ran to New York, got a new line, and changed my socials.” He poured me another cup.

I giggled very hard; thanks to alcohol, everything was sounding funny to me.

We engaged in a lengthy conversation, and it was already 12 a.m.

“I should be going.” He suggested.

“Alright.”

I led him to the door. “Thanks for tonight.” I smiled, my eyes locked with his, and I felt tension building up between us.

“You are welcome. Good night. Still up for our date tomorrow?” He leaned in.

“Yeah. Sure.” I replied. I nodded farewell before closing the door.

Walking towards the living room, a knock at the door made me turn back. Opening it, I asked, “Did you forget something?”

Logan put his strong hand around my waist, pulling me in. My eyes widened as his lips met mine.

“I just couldn’t leave without doing that,” he whispered in a husky voice, sending a shiver through my body. I hesitated for a moment before pulling his lips back to mine. As our tongues intertwined, a warmth grew between my legs. He kicked the door closed with his foot and picked me up, my legs wrapping around his waist. He placed me on the dining table. His scent intoxicated me, and his green eyes stared at me with eagerness. He pinned my hands to the table and kissed me again, his lips trailing down my neck, giving me tiny bites. I felt a river building between my thighs. My breath grew heavier as he yanked my dress off, leaving me in my bra and pants. He took off his shirt, revealing his perfect body.

My head raced with different thoughts—desiring him, wondering about Damon, who hadn’t even touched me yet. Was I really going to let another man, not Damon, inside me?

Was it too late to stop now?