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Braxton’s arms locked around me as he dragged me forward, pinning my body against his. I thrashed against his grip, but he was far stronger than I was. His mouth crushed down on mine, and panic ripped through me as I struggled. The realization that I was completely at his mercy froze me in place, terror paralyzing my limbs.

Then, just as abruptly, his arms released me. His hands shoved my shoulders, sending me tumbling to the floor. I landed hard, gasping for breath, and stared up at him in shock as he jumped to his feet, looming over me. His face twisted with rage, and his eyes burned with a fury I didn’t understand.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” he yelled, his voice sharp and accusatory. “I’m getting married, Margot! Jesus Christ!” He raked his hands through his hair, glaring down at me with mock disbelief. “Have you completely lost your mind?”

Before I could respond, a small gasp came from the doorway. Both Braxton and I turned to see Constance standing there, her eyes wide and brimming with tears. My heart sank into my stomach.

“Baby, I’m so sorry!” Braxton said, his voice breaking with fake remorse as he rushed to her side. “I don’t know what happened. We were just working on my vows, and then she—she lunged at me. I didn’t want it, Constance, I swear. I feel sick. Please believe me. I love you. Only you.”

“No!” I scrambled to my knees, my voice trembling. “Constance, that’s not what happened! I didn’t—”

“Why couldn’t you just leave me alone, Margot?” Braxton cut me off, his tone dripping with righteous indignation. “I don’t want you. I never did.”

“Constance, please,” I begged, my voice cracking. “This isn’t what it looks like. I would never—”

“Stop!” Braxton roared, silencing me. He wrapped his arms protectively around Constance, playing the victim with nauseating ease. “We’re leaving. Margot, you’re done here. You’re fired, and I’ll make sure you never work in this industry again. You’re nothing but trash.”

Constance’s tearful eyes finally met mine, her expression filled with betrayal. “I trusted you,” she whispered. “I cared about you. You were my friend. And this… I saw it. I saw him push you away. How could you do this to me?”

“I didn’t kiss him!” I cried, shaking my head desperately. “He did this! He wouldn’t let me go, Constance, I swear—”

“Enough!” Constance’s voice broke as she turned away from me, refusing to listen. “I don’t want to see you again, Margot. Please… just leave.”

Braxton guided her out of the room, his arm around her shoulders. As they disappeared, I sank back onto the couch, clutching my face in my hands. The disgust of Braxton’s actions clung to me, but even that was overshadowed by the crushing weight of what had just happened.

I was fired. My reputation would be ruined. Constance, the one person who had believed in me and supported my mother’s care, thought I was a monster. If she withdrew her financial help, my mom would have nowhere to go.

The weight of it all sent bile rising in my throat. I barely made it to the bathroom before I was retching, tears streaming down my face. My body shook with sobs, and as despair wrapped itself around me, I fumbled for my phone. My hands trembled as I dialed Cara Conway’s number.

“H-hello?” Cara’s groggy voice answered after a few rings. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”

“Ms. Conway?” I choked out, my voice cracking through the sobs. “If someone tries to take the money back… can they?”

It took me two more attempts to explain through my crying, but eventually, I got the words out.

“This couldn’t wait?” Cara’s voice was laced with exhaustion, though I sensed a hint of sympathy. After a brief pause, she spoke again. “No. I don’t think so. The money has already been promised and delivered. If they tried to take it back, we’d sue to stop them.”

Relief washed over me, and I exhaled sharply. Sliding down the wall, I sank onto the floor, my back pressed against the cool surface. “Thank god.”

“What’s going on?”

“I… I have to go. I’m sorry.”

I ended the call, letting my head slump back against the wall. I longed for the guys. I craved their comfort, but I felt paralyzed, unable to move. Devastation consumed me. Braxton had destroyed everything—my career, my reputation. He had no reason to do what he did, but it didn’t matter. The damage was already done.

Constance would never look at me the same way again. She thought I had betrayed her after all she’d done for me and my mom. I wanted to make her understand that I would never hurt her like this, but the hurt in her eyes had already sealed my fate. She would never believe me.

If only I hadn’t been so drained, so worn down from everything. Maybe I would’ve had the energy to think of a way to fight back, to save myself. But I was empty. My body felt too heavy, my mind too numb to act.

Braxton had won.