Chapter 2

In the darkness, the female manager said nothing, but raised her high-heeled foot and brutally kicked me in the stomach.

The excruciating pain instantly made me curl into a ball, my stomach churning violently.

“That’s for spending my man’s money!”

“That’s for trying to seduce him!”

She shrieked, her voice distorted by jealousy and rage.

She looked down at me, towering over me, and ordered the two brawny men: “Beat her! Beat her senseless!”

The two security guards, clearly her loyal cronies, didn’t hesitate for a second. A barrage of punches and kicks rained down on me.

I bit down hard, swallowing every cry of pain and groan.

My bones felt like they were being shattered, my internal organs dislocated.

Her shrieks continued. “What do you think you are? Nothing but a pathetic hanger-on!”

“I told you I’m his sister! If you don’t believe me, ask Lucas! Call him right now, I’ll tell him myself!”

I struggled to explain, but the woman in front of me was deaf to my words. Only when my head was swimming and my vision blurring did she raise her hand and call a stop.

Her high-heeled foot pressed onto my shoulder as she smiled, looking down at me.

“You’d better pay that bill today, and then fork over another five hundred thousand.”

“That’s your punishment for seducing my man and spending his money.”

“I’m not afraid of things getting messy. Lucas will have it all smoothed over for me.”

I lay curled up in pain, weakly protesting, “That’s my own money. I told you, if you don’t believe me, ask him.”

Her face twisted in anger, and she kicked me again. The two security guards immediately understood, and their fists and feet came down on me once more.

I knew she wouldn’t listen to anything I said. If this continued, I might actually die here.

After I coughed up a mouthful of blood, I used the last of my strength to fumble for my phone on the cold floor.

“Stop… I’ll… I’ll pay.”

She seemed pleased with my submission, motioning for the two security guards to stop. She knelt down and patted my swollen cheek.

“See? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just do it the easy way? You had to learn the hard way, didn’t you?”

“One million, not a penny less.”

I lay on the cold floor, gasping for breath, my lungs burning.

I ignored her and dialed my best friend Maya’s number.

The call connected quickly.

“Maya, bring two million to Lucas’s restaurant.”

“I need it now.”

Maya on the other end paused, then a note of alarm crept into her voice.

“Sloan? What’s wrong? Your voice sounds…”

“Don’t ask. Just hurry.” I cut her off and hung up.

When Madison heard “two million,” her eyes instantly lit up, a flicker of avarice in her eyes.

She probably thought I’d been beaten into submission and was voluntarily increasing the payment to beg for mercy.

The smug triumph on her face was now impossible to hide.

“Smart move.”