Chapter 1
I slammed my finger on the elevator button, muttering under my breath.
“Stupid… stupid…”
Why had I come here without calling first? I knew Noah’s landlord was too strict about women visiting. But tonight wasn’t about rules—it was urgent.
I needed to see him.
Besides my dad and my brother, only two people had ever truly had my back—Noah, my boyfriend of years, and Miley, my best friend since forever. Miley was out of town, so Noah was my lifeline tonight.
We’d built dreams together. Planned our future, laughed about what our kids might look like. He was training to be a public servant officer—exactly the kind of career I admired. Just like my dad.
The elevator dinged, and I walked down the hallway. Heart pounding. When I reached his door, my hand froze mid-knock.
It was slightly open.
Weird. Noah always sleeps by ten. Something felt off.
Then I saw them. Red high heels by the door. Not just any heels—heels I recognized. I even wore them once.
I stepped inside quietly. From the bedroom, the panting sound was clearly loud. I wasn’t a kid who didn't recognise such panting.
“Aaahhh… your dick… take it deeper… faster…”
I froze.
That voice… was Miley’s.
My brain scrambled for an excuse. Maybe she was here with her boyfriend? Maybe they had no place to have a sex.
But then my eyes caught the trolley bag and damp clothes scattered across the floor. She was staying here?
Another voice made my blood turn to ice.
“Miley, why are you still so tight? We’ve been fucking for over a year. You’re still incredible.”
It was Noah.
The air was sucked out of my lungs. For over a year. They’d been sleeping together behind my back—for over a year.
“When are you dumping that bitch?” Miley’s voice dripped with venom. “Don’t tell me you’re actually marrying her.”
I stood there, numb, staring into nothing. Was she ever my friend?
“You know her dad is a high ranking police officer,” Noah replied casually. “He was going to refer me after his retirement. Once I get it, I’ll toss her aside.”
A fresh wave of nausea hit me.
“It’s been six months since I even touched her. God, I hate her body. She’s the worst in bed. No orgasm, nothing.”
The words sliced through me like knives. My fists clenched. The sound of their bodies moving together pounded in my skull.
I could have screamed, thrown something—but no. I wasn’t going to let them see my pain.
I stepped into the room.
“You know,” I said coldly, “most people talk about themselves after sex, not during.”
They froze. Miley’s face was drained of color. Noah’s jaw fell open.
“Gene… what are you—?”
I yanked the quilt right off their naked bodies. Noah cursed, scrambling to cover himself. I pulled out my phone and went live on SSM.
“Gene! Are you insane?!” Noah lunged for me, but I dodged him.
“Let’s show the world what two backstabbing liars look like.”
Miley shrieked, covering her face. Noah’s eyes went wide.
He snatched my phone and smashed it against the floor. “You crazy bitch! Do you have any idea what this could do to me? I’ll never get my job if this leaks!”
“That’s the point,” I spat. I ripped the ring off my finger and hurled it at him. “We’re done.”
I stormed out, Noah stumbling after me, still trying to shove on his pants.
“Gene! Stop!”
“Never,” I snapped over my shoulder. “I’ll find someone else to sleep with. Then we’ll be even.”
“That’s impossible.” He laughed sarcastically. “I knew you would never do that. You will come back to me tomorrow, and that too, crying. Regretting.”
He taunted me.
“Even If I come, I had already fucked some other man. Probably more handsome and wild than you in bed.”
I said and pushed him away.
I jumped into a cab.
“Where to?” the driver asked.
I stared blankly. Where could I even go now? What could I do?
One cruelest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies.
I couldn’t go home.
Not after what happened earlier. Not with Monty there.
Monty. My stepmother’s nephew. Average in every possible way. Except for the way his eyes crawled over me whenever we were in the same room.
Tonight, while everyone was out of town, I woke up to him in my bed. His hands on me, trying to force himself. I fought him off, ran… but I knew he’d be waiting if I went back.
“Go straight.” I told the driver.
Dark roads. Aching heart.
The neon lights caught my attention. It’s the only place that would shelter me tonight. I slipped out of the cab and entered through the Neon bulbs.
Only place where a heart breaker takes shelter.
At the bar, I ordered vodka. Then another. And another. But with each burning swallow, the memories came flooding back.
“Noah… why?!” I muttered to the empty stool beside me. “I trusted you. I loved you. And you—” My voice cracked. “You gave me betrayal.”
I slammed my glass down. “I’ll find someone tonight. I’ll take a picture. And tomorrow, you’ll know exactly what you threw away.”
A hand on my shoulder startled me. “Ma’am, we’re closing.”
I’d stumbled out of Pamela’s Bar—a place where half the women outside were selling themselves. My heels wobble with every step.
“I’ll do it,” I muttered to myself. “I’ll sleep with someone tonight. That’ll be my revenge.”
And then—blinding headlights. A black luxury car screeched to a stop inches from me. I fell against its hood, dizzy.
Two men in black suits stepped out.
“Excuse me, miss—” One reached out to help me. They looked handsome but not what I wanted. I wanted to make Noah jealous.
I blurted out, tears spilling, “Is there anyone who’ll have sex with me tonight? My boyfriend said no one would ever want me…”
The two men exchanged a look.
“Would she work for the boss?” one asked quietly.
“This girl? We don’t even know her. What if she’s with the Red Pigeon?” the other whispered.
“We don’t have time to find someone else. If we don’t bring a woman to him tonight, we’re dead.”
My head was spinning. I barely processed them grabbing me, shoving me gently but firmly into the backseat.
“Where are you taking me?” I demanded.
“You wanted sex, right? Our boss is… in urgent need.”
“Urgent need?”
“He’s been poisoned with a… drug. He’s like a beast right now. Only you can help him right now.”
The other man looked at me nervously. “You think she can handle him? She looks fragile. She would be crushed under our boss.”
I was drunk yet my heart fluttered by their conversation. Their boss, he was going to crush me under him.
Before they could answer, the phone rang.
“It’s him.” Their faces drained of color.
“Did you find her?” The voice on the line was low, rough, and dangerous.
One of them hesitated. “We… have someone.”
“Get her here. Right now.” He roared.
“But her clothes are wet. Shall we change it?”
“Don’t touch her,” the voice growled. “I’ll take care of that myself.”
Within minutes, the car pulled up to a towering, gleaming hotel.