6
The man inside yanked my wrist, dragging me in.
The next second, Benjamin burst through the door-frantic, with the two kids at his heels.
‘Ben!”
Sophia cried, flinging herself into his arms. Her voice cracked with drama.
“Ms. Thompson didn’t believe we were just friends! She drugged me-said she needed to see me ruined by another man before she could rest easy!”
She pointed at her tangled hair, the red marks on her neck.
Thank God you came in time. Otherwise, I…”
“I didn’t!” I shot back instantly. “Assistant Chris brought me here! He said this was a business dinner-”
Chris strolled in right then, calm as ever.
“Ma’am, you can say anything, but not that. You clearly told me to drive you here. Said there was a good show about to start.”
The man in the room practically shrieked, “Mrs. Carter told me she was setting me up with a hooker! If I’d known she was your woman, Mr. Carter, I’d never have dared! Please, have mercy!”
Benjamin’s gaze slid from Sophia to me. Disbelief hardened into cold disappointment.
“Ella, even if you wanted attention, how could you stoop this low? You’ve been drugged yourself-you know how brutal it is. And now you’d use the same poison to ruin Sophia’s purity? You’re vicious.”
His voice dropped lower, colder.
“Those who harm others only end up harming themselves.”
He looked down at the man still kneeling and begging.
“I’ll give you a chance to make it right.”
Fear gripped my chest.
“Benjamin! You can’t-don’t do this to me!”
He sneered.
I’m not as filthy as you. You wanted to ruin someone’s purity? I’ll ruin your face. Slap her face. Hard.”
The man scrambled up. His palm cracked across my cheek-again, and again, and again.
By the time he was done, my face was swollen beyond recognition. Blood streaked from my lips like scarlet tears.
The pain was excruciating. But no one in the room cared. Some even looked entertained.
Benjamin didn’t spare me a glance. He leaned only toward Sophia, voice softening.
“Let’s get you to the hospital. The drug will wear off soon.”
“No!” Sophia clutched him tighter, sobbing. “I feel awful-I only want you.”
She kissed him, desperate, not caring who watched.
Benjamin knew he should push her away. But her tears, her heat… his body betrayed him.
In the end, he stopped resisting. He swept Sophia into his arms, carried her into the next private room, and slammed the door shut.
The door blocked the view-
But not the sounds.
Moans, gasps, breathless cries spilled into the hallway, shameless and raw.
“Yay!” Behind me, Ethan clapped, shouting in Italian. “Aunt Sophia is amazing! We put the medicine in Dad’s coffee, just like she said-and they actually
kissed!”
“Yup, we’ll have smart little brothers and sisters soon!”
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My whole body went rigid.
They thought I couldn’t understand, but ever since they started learning Italian and mocking me with it, I’d quietly learned too.
So Benjamin was the one drugged.
And Sophia used children as pawns.
Ethan caught my stare. He just grinned.
‘Don’t be sad, Mom. We know you didn’t do it.”
Olivia chimed in, sweet as sugar.
“Yeah, don’t be mad about the bracelet. We got it wrong last time.”
I laughed softly. “I’m not mad anymore.”
Because they weren’t worth it.
The kids exchanged smug glances, then switched back to Italian.
“Mom’s so dumb. We tricked her again.”
“She loves us-she’s our lapdog. She’ll never stay mad.”
“No, Aunt Sophia said only guys are lapdogs. Girls are bitches.”
“Right! Mom’s a bitch! Aunt Sophia’s way better. She teaches us real stuff.”
I stayed silent.
Italian was supposed to be beautiful. But twisted into insults, it was hideous.
So this was what Sophia taught them.
But if she knew Ethan and Olivia were her own kids… would she still?
Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy DaisyNovel. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.