Chapter 4

“Briar is kind-hearted. She was afraid you’d do something foolish after finding out about the online stuff, so she deliberately set this up. She even wants to formally apologize to you for that incident.”

His gaze fell on my still-swollen face.

“She’s already made such a concession; you can’t be so willful.”

No matter how I refused, he dragged me to the car.

At the club, I cowered in the car seat, terrified of everyone’s stares, but he forcibly pulled me out.

He seemed to hug me tenderly.

“You’re not the one who did anything wrong, why are you hiding? You need to bravely face the rumors, understand?”

He wouldn't let me lower my head. He gripped my arm and pulled me into a private room in the club.

I could feel the gazes of the people inside the club.

Those greasy stares, like snakes, slithered over my body, tightening their coils around me.

“Actresses really do have great bodies, but it’s a shame she’s dressed so conservatively. She looks way hotter in the video!”

“Her entire body has already been seen by everyone, hahaha! Last night, I specifically bought a few extra credits just to see all her private details clearly!”

I shivered, cold sweat instantly soaking my back.

Damian pushed me into the private room they had booked. Before I could even sigh in relief, I was met with even more direct and disdainful stares.

“I’m going home! Let me go!”

But Damian firmly blocked the door, and a pair of cold arms instantly wrapped around my neck, pulling me into an unfamiliar embrace.

I tried to break free but was held down tightly.

“Little sister-in-law, you’re still so good at rubbing up against people. You’re making my heart itch. I really want to have you right here, right now.”

I recognized that voice. It was one of Damian’s friends, the one who was most active in the group and loved commenting on the videos the most.

I struggled to break free from his grip, my back pressed hard against the wall, confronting those pairs of malicious eyes with terror.

Briar stood among the crowd, an expression of enjoyment plastered on her face.

“How can you joke like that with our big star? That’s too much.”

She walked over, grabbed my hand, and flung me towards the crowd.

I was instantly surrounded by a group of strange men, my rationality slowly consumed by fear.

I wanted to run, but there was no escape.

And Damian merely stood at the door, perfectly at ease.

I saw only indifference on his face. He didn’t care about my panic or my fear.

He even took out his phone with a curious expression and snapped a photo.

I couldn’t imagine that a man who was holding me and saying he loved me last night could turn on me so mercilessly.

Briar also walked into the crowd, completely cutting off my last chance of escape.

“Sister Kira, I’m just a newcomer. My acting naturally isn’t as good as yours. I know I haven’t done well enough, so I specifically brought my friends here to apologize to you. What do you think?”

“But before that, we also have a question we’d like to ask you!”

She fiddled with a remote control in her hand. The next moment, the large screen in the private room displayed various uncensored screenshots of me. Her eyes held a smile, but her voice carried a cruel innocence.

“You really are careless. How could you let someone post this kind of thing? Or perhaps, you did it voluntarily? But you should at least consider Damian’s feelings, right?”

She feigned understanding, glancing at Damian.

“Luckily, I’ve said a lot of good things about you to Damian! I don’t ask for your thanks, but how about you stay tonight, and we get along really well?”

Her poised and generous demeanor earned praise from everyone. They surrounded me like hungry wolves. Just as I couldn't dodge them anymore, Damian finally spoke.

He looked at Briar, his eyes full of resignation.

“Briar, don’t play too hard. You need to rest well tonight. You have more filming tomorrow.”

Briar curved her lips into a smile and casually picked up a bottle of red wine nearby.

“Alright then. For Damian’s sake, as long as Sister Kira drinks this bottle of wine, we’ll stop.”

Instantly, everyone looked at me with an expression of anticipation.

And the moment I said no, Damian had someone open the wine.

“It’s just one bottle of wine. You’re a veteran in the entertainment industry; you’re used to it. Just drink it.”

I stared at him, stunned.

Since entering the industry, I’d never touched alcohol. Because he was by my side, I’d always maintained a pristine image.

But it turned out he never cared about any of my efforts.

He just saw me as a plaything, which was why he looked down on me, wantonly demeaning me.

His kindness to me was only to make me more obedient.

I forced a bitter smile and picked up the bottle of wine.

“If I finish this bottle, will it all be over?”

Damian looked at my pale face, but urged by Briar, he hesitated and said,

“Yes.”

The entire bottle of wine was poured down my throat.

I forcibly suppressed the urge to vomit, covered my mouth, and walked towards the door of the private room.

But I didn't expect the dizziness to worsen.

Finally, I stumbled and fell to the floor.

Outside, the door was just a few feet away.

The next moment, someone chuckled and grabbed my ankle, dragging me back into the crowd.

This time, my vision was clouded as if by a thick fog.

The people surrounding me transformed into shadows of devils, enveloping me layer by layer.

A scorching flame ignited within my body. I fought to maintain the last sliver of consciousness, watching Damian, who was whispering to Briar, in utter shock.

“You knew there was something in the wine?”

The man who had held me earlier now pulled out his phone, shoving it in my face and snapping photos.

“I can’t believe how good this drug is! Hahaha, this stuff is hard to get. Even the most virtuous woman will cling to you after drinking it. Damian really went all out for his girl, Briar!”

“And you! Thinking you’re so special just because you’ve got a bit of fame, daring to give Briar attitude. How could Damian indulge you? A few slaps won’t hurt you. But now, I’m really looking forward to seeing you beg me!”

Their mocking laughter turned into whips, lashing at me until I was raw and exposed.

“Let’s see how long you can hold out, you little bitch. Take all your clothes off, now!”

I desperately clung to my last bit of sanity, crawling towards Damian.

“No, don’t do this to me. Please, let me go…”

4