Chapter 5
“That so-called funding-those hundreds of thousands? It was a scholarship from Harperfield. I only covered
her living expenses.”
“I never imagined things would spiral like this.”
Before I could finish, the woman yanked my hair back so hard stars exploded in my vision.
“Oh, so it’s you-the bitch behind all this!”
“My Laney and Professor Sullivan are in love! You should’ve divorced him and gotten out of the way instead
of stirring up all this filth!”
Fists and slaps rained down on me like a thunderstorm. I couldn’t even fight back. In the chaos, all I could do
was scream, “Lucian! Lucian-help me!”
But the only thing I heard in return-was his own panicked shout, “Laney? What’s wrong?! I’m taking you to the hospital!”
Through blurred vision, I
atched him scoop Laney into his arms and bolt out the door.
Meanwhile, I lay bleeding on the floor, my body twisted in pain. I tried to curl up, tried to shield myself, but one of them grabbed me by the throat and yanked me upright. My clothes were torn to shreds, and I was exposed-vulnerable-under their greedy, disgusting eyes.
“Not bad for some city professor. Looks real soft. Let me get a feel.”
“What, you dare fight back?! You bitch!”
I don’t know how I made it out alive.
By the time I came to, I was wrapped in a blanket, dazed, sitting on the couch. Security had finally arrived- with the police in tow. The mob was restrained.
They still refused to admit fault, screaming like maniacs that I deserved it.
And now I might as well be dead, my body was covered in bruises, swollen and aching in every joint. It wasn’t much better than what Laney had suffered.
Right then, my phone lit up. Lucian.
I didn’t want to answer. But the ringing kept coming.
I stared at his name on the screen, then finally picked up.
There was a pause. Then his voice, faint and hollow, as if from a thousand miles away.
“Margot… I didn’t expect Laney to be pregnant. With one of their kids.”
“Her family knows. Her reputation’s destroyed. Back in Westover, by their law-she’ll be locked in a cellar.”
“I have to see it through now. Let’s just finalize the divorce.”
Chapter 5
“I already signed the papers. The courier’s on his way to you.”
Right on cue, the front door burst open again. A delivery guy stepped in, out of breath, holding an envelope
high.
“Divorce documents from a Mr. Sullivan. Who’s signing?”
Lucian must’ve heard it through the phone. His voice grew rushed.
“Wait-Margot, listen. Just lay low for a while, okay? I’ll explain everything later. Be good.”
I didn’t respond. I forced my fingers, still stiff and throbbing with pain, to rip open the package.
Page by page, I flipped through the papers-until my eyes landed on Lucian’s signature.
Bold. Confident. Just like him. Once, I was mesmerized by that name.
Now? It was a joke.
I stared at it for a long time. Then, gritting my teeth, I scribbled my name at the bottom.
Just then, the phone rang again. It was Professor Jonathan.
His voice was tight with urgency.
“Dr. Blake-you and your husband need to get away from that woman. She’s a fraud…”
